Fantastic Voyage (1966)

A diplomat is nearly assassinated. In order to save him, a submarine is shrunken to microscopic size and injected into his blood stream with a small crew. Problems arise almost as soon as they enter the bloodstream.

Director:

Richard Fleischer

Writers:

Harry Kleiner (screenplay), David Duncan (adaptation),

Stars:

Stephen Boyd, Raquel Welch, Edmond O'Brien

Won 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Stephen Boyd	...	Grant
Raquel Welch	...	Cora
Edmond O'Brien	...	General Carter
Donald Pleasence	...	Dr. Michaels
Arthur O'Connell	...	Col. Donald Reid
William Redfield	...	Capt. Bill Owens
Arthur Kennedy	...	Dr. Duval
Jean Del Val	...	Jan Benes
Barry Coe	...	Communications Aide
Ken Scott	...	Secret Service
Shelby Grant	...	Nurse
James Brolin	...	Technician
Brendan Fitzgerald	...	Wireless Operator

Storyline

Scientist Jan Benes, who knows the secret to keeping soldiers shrunken for an indefinite period, escapes from behind the Iron Curtain with the help of CIA agent Grant. While being transferred, their motorcade is attacked. Benes strikes his head, causing a blood clot to form in his brain. Grant is ordered to accompany a group of scientists as they are miniaturized. The crew has one hour to get in Benes's brain, remove the clot and get out.

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Plot Keywords:

scientist | blood | doctor | body | coma | 

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Taglines:

The screen's most fantastic voyage

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Genres:

Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild violence and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 August 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

Microscopia

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles Sports Arena - 3939 S. Figueroa Street, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In his book, special effects man L.B. Abbott writes about making use of a giant champagne glass built for another movie to fill with water and use for the whirlpool sequence when the ship is sucked through a tear in the artery. Althougth he doesn't mention the movie's name, it is most likely the film _What a Way to Go (1964)_ which had a sequence of Shirley MacLaine lounging in a giant champagne glass.

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Goofs

As the car disappears down the lift, delivering Grant to CMDF, it should vanish as it is hidden by the hole. Instead the special effects crew elected to shrink the image; we see at least 20 feet of elevation change at the back wall but the car is still visible at foreground.

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Quotes

Cora Peterson: We're going to see things no one has ever seen before. Just think about it.
Grant: That's the trouble. I am.

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Connections

Referenced in Don't Say No Until I Finish Talking: The Story of Richard D. Zanuck (2013)

User Reviews

Classic SF and great visuals

This movie holds up after nearly 35 years. The TV version is often chopped up for commercials and the print muddy, but if you can get a good video or see it on a premium movie channel, Fantastic Voyage will still produce a sense of wonder as you navigate "inside" an injured man's body with a team of intrepid explorers to find and repair microscopic damage. Some of the Cold War aspects of the film might jar, as well as a 35-year-old vision of "high tech", but the spec effects of the journey of the PROTEUS through the human vascular system was years ahead of its time.