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:

Never before seen! Like nothing on this planet! Like no other screen adventure ever seen in America!

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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

This movie is obviously set in the late 19th century - the 1890s. The steamship Savannah in the opening of the film crossed the Atlantic in 1819 - a good 70 years before the story takes place.

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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

There are at least three versions of the U.S. release: (1) The original dubbed theatrical release; (2) a television version that removes the introduction with Hugh Downs and (3) a version that removes the Joseph E. Levine credit and replaces it with the credit "An Illusion Maker's Presentation."

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Connections

Featured in Máme rádi Cesko: Episode dated 27 May 2017 (2017)

User Reviews

All time favorite

I first saw this film I think about 1963 as a 12 year old on KHJ TV in Los Angeles and was totally hooked on it. years later I realized that it was pretty much based on a combination of Verne tales....The Czech title being "A Dangerous Weapon"....I love it!

I was a graduate of Occidental College in LA...Terry Gilliam proceeded me by some 12 years......Why do I comment on this? - Well, if you watch this film it has Gilliam's shtick written all over it....I only wish I'd had the chance to question him at the college bicentennial in 1986.....I have little doubt that he'd deny that Zeman's films had had any influence on him, but it's a obvious as the nose on your face! Anyone notice that?

I love the Professor Serke, the Count's number one quiz kid. If I didn't know better, I'd swear that he was a character right out of the much later "Wild Wild West"...Couldn't you see him as yet another evil genius out to take over the world?. Victorian gadgets galore!

This film makes me feel as thought I'm part of that era, it makes all of it seem so alive!

Oh yeah, the film would not have had nearly the impact that it's had on me were if not for Lisko's fabulous musical score...It emotes the charm of the Victorian era in a manner I've not seen before or since. It's also interesting that his music has certain synthesizer-Esq qualities as used for sound effects.

Has anyone ever noticed the obvious similarities in the small reconnaissance submarine to Professor Fates' craft in the much later "The Great Race"?.......I doubt it!

Captain Spade........Were he and Bluto twin brothers separated at birth?

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