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

Director Trademark: [Karel Zeman][hats] When the island blows up, Count Artigas' hat is blown into the sky and then falls into the sea and sinks.

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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 42nd Street Forever, Volume 5: The Alamo Drafthouse Edition (2009)

User Reviews

Like a dream

I had never heard of this film until earlier this year when a small local revival cinema announced a showing, and being an old fan of Jules Verne I took a strong interest. I thought it was pretty amazing, the effects aren't quite like anything I've ever seen and it just felt like it took place in a kind of dream world! Other reviews say it was based on a Verne story "For the Flag" though the end credits I saw mentioned a different title I thought. I can't remember what that was; in any case I am unfamiliar with it and was obviously a precursor to some of his other better known novels. I found this movie has been issued on DVD.

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