Viaje al centro de la Tierra (1976)

User Rating:

4.3/10   

Director:

Juan Piquer Simón

Writers:

Jules Verne (novel)
John Melson (writer) ...

Release Date:

November 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

A Spectacular Adaptation of Jules Verne's Classic!

Plot:

Like in the novel of Jules Verne four persons try to get to the centre of the world by entering into a world of caves by a volcano...

Plot Keywords:

Kids And Family | Based On Novel

Cast

Kenneth More	...	Prof. Otto Lindenbrock
Pep Munné	...	Axel
Ivonne Sentis	...	Glauben
Frank Braña	...	Hans
Jack Taylor	...	Olsen
José María Caffarel	...	Professor
Emiliano Redondo	...	Prof. Kristoff
Lone Fleming	...	Molly
Ricardo Palacios	...	Train ticket collector
George Rigaud	...	Professor (as Jorge Rigaud)
Fabián Conde
Manuel Pereiro
Barta Barri	...	Professor
Ángel Álvarez	...	Professor
Ángel Menéndez

Also Known As:

Fabulous Journey to the Center of the Earth (Philippines: English title)
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Where Time Began (USA)

Runtime:

Germany:90 min | USA:87 min

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:S | Spain:T | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Guadalajara, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

Company:

Almena Films

Movie Connections:

Features Le voyage dans la lune (1902)

Great opening credits!

Essentially a recasting of the 1959 version as opposed to a remake (think a traveling version of your favorite Broadway play and you get the picture). Now that video allows us to experience the original over and over again, this film becomes less unique. The overall film is not so bad (considering the genre) if it weren't for the fact that this film was done so much better twenty years earlier. As far as casting Kenneth More in the James Mason role...what can I say? More is Less. This film was made during the time when films such as THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT, THE PEOPLE THAT TIME FORGOT, and AT THE EARTH'S CORE were successful, and this version shares much with those films regarding style. I think if I were a kid in 1977 watching this in a theater and never seeing the original I would have thought it would be great. If only the director would have introduced new themes or viewpoints to the familiar story it could be enjoyed today. The film can be recommended however for a great gimmick for it's opening credits...a montage of the original Georges Melies silent films of Jules Verne's works set to the film's theme song. I've never seen them used in any other adaptation and it was a nice tribute.