Scott LeBrun
From the fertile imagination of famed author Jules Verne came the two novels that inspired this fantasy-adventure with definite similarities to "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea". Only this time, the majestic futuristic vehicle flies the skies rather than motoring through the depths of the ocean. It's commandeered by Captain Robur (Vincent Price), a fanatical pacifist who's willing to go to extreme lengths to engineer some sort of peace on Earth. He takes a few people captive, including government man John Strock (Charles Bronson), arms manufacturer Mr. Prudent (Henry Hull), Prudents' daughter Dorothy (Mary Webster), and Dorothy's fiancée Phillip Evans (David Frankham). Strock admires Roburs' ambitions, but doesn't believe that his ends are exactly justifying his means.While not as iconic as that 1954 Disney film version of "Leagues", "Master of the World" is good, colorful entertainment. Veteran director William Witney capably works from a solid script by Richard Matheson, a writer who was always good at coming up with his own works as well as adapting the works of others. A.I.P. in house production designer Daniel Haller and cinematographer Gilbert Warrenton create a visually appealing look for the film and Roburs' impressive aircraft The Albatross. Composer Les Baxter, too, is in fine form, coming up with a soaring score. The special effects vary in quality a bit, but there is no shortage of genuine thrills to be had.Price obviously enjoys himself getting to do his own version of a Captain Nemo kind of character, and he's just a joy. Bronson may seem oddly cast, but he emerges as an interesting hero, one who prefers to make his moves carefully rather than be a macho good guy "with honor". Frankham is okay, but his character can be infuriating. Hull hams it up sufficiently, as does Vito Scotti as the chef. (Scotti even breaks the fourth wall at one point.) Richard Harrison and Wally Campo are good as two of the primary crew on the Albatross. And Webster is a lovely and endearing leading lady.Well worth a look, especially for fans of Price, Bronson, and Witney. Two songs utilized after the closing credits extend the running time by a few minutes.Seven out of 10.
trimmerb1234
This 1961 film did not lack classic grand fantasy predecessors, most relevantly Disney's "20,000 Leagues under the Sea". Not everything that followed reached that standard but nothing prepared me for this cheap* and ineffective effort. The economy nature of the sets - the flying craft itself- resembles the standard of children's television of the era. Even the great Vincent Price appears diminished appearing as he does in the reduced circumstances of this film.This is B feature stuff in comparison with which the original Flash Gordon serials appear mightily impressive and certainly effective. Given the established high standards of Hollywood feature films and the skill at making low budgets for B features go a long way, it is unaccountable that something so comprehensively second rate in all departments could be released. Other reviewers complain about the weakness of the story. I couldn't summon up the interest to watch long enough to judge this.*The budget for "20,000 Leagues" was $5m in 1954, the budget for "Master of the World" was $500,000 in 1961
ma-cortes
Exciting and thrilling sci-fi adventure movie dealing with a flying machine captained by Robur masterfully played by Vincent Price . Magnificent rendition based on Jules Verne's fantasy-adventure novel with interesting screenplay by Richard Matheson , including good cast and extraordinary scenarios . This first take on for cinema based on the two famous stories by Jules Verne , filmed in Cinemascope widescreen with agreeable casting and an awesome Vincent Price as self-proclaimed god to save the world . The film talks about the known story from Verne novel and previously never rendered in cinema and it's brought excitingly to screen . In the late 19th century , World is no longer safe . A scientist , arms manufacturer ( Henry Hull) and his team ( his daughter Mary Webster, David Frankham and Charles Bronson who is miscasting) are held as guests of Robur on his airship, a cross between a ship , helicopter and Zeppelin as he wants to use to ensure peace on earth. Robur tries to stop war from his ingenious machine even if he has to bomb military targets all over the world . When the group aboard a gas Balloom are suddenly gunned down and thrown into a volcano .They are captured and get thoroughly involved with power-hungry captain Robur and take extraordinary adventures on ceiling in an advanced aircraft. Prisoners at first, they are now treated as guests to view the world and to hunt under the skies. Meanwhile Robur who deplores the modern methods and technical weapons attempts to end wars by means of the giant airship armed to the teeth.This fantastic movie displays sensational adventures, drama, intrigue, marvelous scenarios by Daniel Haller , lots of fun and is pretty enjoyable. Fascinating aerial movie blends action, , disaster spectacle, hokey fun ,suspense and emotional happenings . Our heroes incarnated by a throughly believable casting of the first-rate character players get stuck in the flying machine before it explodes , undergoing numerous adventures and suffering innumerable perils . Surprise-filled entertainment and plenty of action on grand scale with passable special effects and some ships and machine by maquette or scale model or matte-painting . The aerial scenes , explosions , pyrotechnics , flamboyant FX , all of them are spectacular and the film is another exceptional Hollywood product but of B-series. Memorable and great cast as Vincent Price plays a serious revenger Robur ; Henry Hull plays perfectly as intelligent scientific and Charles Bronson as John Strock , a Ned Land role-alike, as an obstinate , stubborn adventurer who spends most of their time devising intelligent ways for escape . Atmospheric and vivid score by Lex Baxter . Colorful cinematography by Warrenton in Cinemascope and Technicolor reflecting wonderfully aerial scenes . This acceptable picture was produced in average budget by American International Pictures with its usual producers , James H Nicholson and Samuel Z Arkoff.This classic as well as traditional movie was marvelously directed by William Witney , containing some vigorous scenes . Witney was a good craftsman who directed 140 titles from the 30s . Oklahoma-born William began his long screen career as a studio messenger in silent days joining Republic Pictures shortly after . By 1936 , he was already script supervisor on serials and his own directorial career started the following year . Witney graduated to director at 21, he was Hollywood's youngest , and he teamed with director John English on many of the period's best serials . He realized many of the era's best serials , most of them highlighted by kinetic fight and chase scenes that helped change the face of action movie-making and from 1956 , he transferred these stirring energies to TV Westerns with prolific and enjoyable results . The favorite shooting was the 1939 serial ¨Zorro's fighting legion¨ . As his pictures were mainly serials , after WWII service with US Marines , he moved on to Roy Rogers Westerns , inserting into them a new tough backbone that offended some Rogers purists . In 1954 he made one of the best films ¨The outcast¨ with John Derek , besides his television work which includes some quite exciting episodes of such series as ¨High Chaparral¨, ¨Bonanza¨, ¨Laramie¨, ¨Zorro¨, ¨The Virginian¨ and ¨Wagon train¨ and he followed to work for cinema and was capable of making large-scale movies as ¨Santa Fe Passage¨ involving a wagon train against Indians , ¨The Bonnie Parker story¨about the famous gun-moll , and specially ¨Master of the world¨ . The motion picture will appeal to fantasy-adventure buffs ; it's an agreeable popcorn story plenty of spectacular scenes , thrills , colorful exteriors and many other things . It's a wonderful popcorn story for kids , teens and old people . Rating : Better than average , the mightiest motion picture of them all , it's a real winner.
