Mysterious Island (1961)

Director: Cy Endfield

Starring: Michael Craig, Joan Greenwood

Run Time: 101 mins

Certificate: U

 

Plot Outline: During the American Civil War, three Union POWs escape prison in a hot air balloon and end up stranded on a Pacific island, inhabited by giant creatures. They also meet Captain Nemo, who has taken refuge there and genetically engineered the creatures to try and solve man's food shortages.

The Review: A sequel to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (although not a direct one), this one has much of the same fantastical feel to it with exotic locations, monsters and a sense of school boy adventure. Who hasn't ever dreamt of being stranded on a island and living with nature in the way the survivors do here, making their own contraptions and instruments to get by with (and of course being stranded with a reasonably hot woman too?) The film is basically one set piece after another - first the escape from the POW camp, then the fight with the crab, then the fight with the Phoracos before giant bees, pirates and volcanic explosions all come into play in the second half. Ray Harryhausen produces some more stop motion monsters for this film including a really impressive giant crab, a chicken which looks pretty ridiculous (and has a cheesy soundtrack too to add some comedic value), an octopus and giant bees. In one of the more impressive moments, one of the bees re-seals the honeycomb, trapping two people inside. This is all accompanied by an excellent score by Bernard Herrmann which really zips along nicely. The acting varies but most of the cast are having fun playing on the beach and swimming in the sea. I'm sure I would have loved it had I been in the film.

Final Verdict: Mysterious Island is a decent follow-up to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and although not exactly faithful to Jules Verne's book, it's still a great fantasy/adventure film which doesn't bore at all and thoroughly entertains. Harmless fun for a Sunday afternoon.

Rating: