Invention for Destruction (1958)

An evil millionaire named Artigas plans to use a super-explosive device to conquer the world from his headquarters inside an enormous volcano.

Director:

Karel Zeman

Writers:

Frantisek Hrubín (scenario), Jules Verne (novel)

Stars:

Lubor Tokos, Arnost Navrátil, Miroslav Holub

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Lubor Tokos	...	Simon Hart
Arnost Navrátil	...	Profesor Roch
Miroslav Holub	...	Artigas (as Miloslav Holub)
Frantisek Slégr	...	Kapitán pirátu
Václav Kyzlink	...	Ing. Serke
Jana Zatloukalová	...	Jana
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hugh Downs	...	Self - Announcer (voice)

Storyline

An evil millionaire named Artigas plans to use a super-explosive device to conquer the world from his headquarters inside an enormous volcano.

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel | czech science fiction | scientific discovery | 1950s | millionaire | 

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Taglines:

THE MOST WONDROUS WONDERS EVER TO EXCITE AND DELIGHT THE SCREEN! (original ad for U.S. double feature of "The Fabulous World of Jules Verne" and "Bimbo the Great" - all caps)

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Genres:

Animation | Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The steam locomotive featured early in the film was an actual American design from the 1850s, and the steam automobile was also an actual French design called "Mancelle" from the 1870s.

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Goofs

Lion fish never grow as large as shown. A lot of the fish look bigger than they really are when looking out the window of the submarine.

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Quotes

Himself - Announcer: [This first part is live and only in the original English release version that is sometimes cut out of television viewings] Hello! I'm Hugh Downs! This is a model of one of our newest submarines! A submarine similar to this recently sailed around the world without refueling and without once coming to the surface! Amazing isn't it! And this... a new jet passenger plane! Los Angeles to New York in less than five hours! Flies from New York to Paris in seven! It took Lindberg thirty-three hours to ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

"In the new motion picture technique Mysti-Mation" [US dubbed release]

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Alternate Versions

The original U.S. theatrical release featured an introduction by Hugh Downs. This introduction had been removed from the television release.

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Connections

Featured in Film Adventurer Karel Zeman (2015)

User Reviews

Hats Off, Gentlemen. A Genius!

This is even better than Jules Verne (albeit some minor Verne works) with not only the stories and some of the dialogue but period engravings surrounding live actors, animation magic to boot and uncountable other technical tours de force. It is rather cool, perhaps, with the characters rather distant from the viewers but they take second place to the virtuoso special effects. And what effects they are! The drawings are so real they pop off the screen and the music is absolutely wonderful - full Twentieth Century in this case. This is rather like the most elaborate of magic shows: we are willing to sit back and be amused - and amazed. Bravo Karel Zeman and bravo to the whole team! Curtis Stotlar

Details

Country:

Czechoslovakia

Language:

Czech

Release Date:

August 1958 (Czechoslovakia)

Also Known As:

The Fabulous World of Jules Verne

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ceskoslovenský Státní Film, Filmové Studio Gottwaldov

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min 84 min (Time)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1