Mysterious Island (1961), Director:
Cy Endfield, rated Approved
A world beyond
imagination! Adventure beyond belief!
 Starring:
Michael Craig, Joan Greenwood, Herbert Lom, Michael Callan, Gary
Merrill, Dan Jackson
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
- good
"What I did was in the name
of peace. Your war, like all wars, glories in devastation and
death." - Captain
Nemo
Why watch this? This
film is a master-class on stop-motion animation by the
undisputed master, Ray H.
Plot Summary:
During the American Civil War, Union POWs escape a Confederate
prison in a hot-air balloon and crash-land on a remote Pacific
island inhabited by giant creatures. Joined by two shipwrecked
women, the group must learn to survive the dangers of the island
and find a way to escape. They eventually encounter Captain Nemo
and discover the oversized animals are part of his scientific
experiments.
Dad's Preview:
Jules Verne's many fantastical stories are perfect vehicles for
filmmakers looking to create larger-than-life
animals. Set during the Civil War, a hot-air balloon ends up on a
strange isle inexplicably inhabited by the infamous Captain Nemo
and creatures of immense size. Still today, I am amazed by the
incredibly nuanced details of the massive crab and the hive of
gargantuan bees.

Ameran Films;
Columbia Pictures |