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Retrospective: The Fabulous World of Jules Verne (1958)
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Mark Leeper
Apr 27, 2012, 1:08:26 PM4/27/12
to
THE FABULOUS WORLD OF JULES VERNE (1958)
(a film retrospective by Mark R. Leeper)
CAPSULE: Czech animator Karel Zeman, nearly forgotten
now, was a genius of the animated film. Here, as his
masterwork, he adapts a lesser novel by Jules Verne
into a highly creative screen adventure. Showing
great imagination on a tiny budget Zeman emulates the
look of the lithographs of Verne's early editions and
makes his film a pioneer in the style that since has
been dubbed "steampunk". Even though the style is
satirical it is also loving and the film still has the
power to captivate the viewer. Rating: +3 (-4 to +4)
or 9/10
Karel Zeman was one of the leading Czech animators with a career
from the 1940s to the 1980s, but his prime was in the 1950s and
1960s when he made films like JOURNEY TO THE BEGINNING OF TIME
(1955), THE FABULOUS WORLD OF JULES VERNE (1958), BARON MUNCHAUSEN
(1962) and THE STOLEN AIRSHIP (1966). His animation is punctuated
with impish humor. It is claimed that Zeman was inspired and
influenced by Georges M‚liŠs. But his own work was later much
imitated by Terry Gilliam and even Tim Burton. For THE FABULOUS
WORLD OF JULES VERNE he illustrated a Verne novel with animation in
the style of the Edouard Riou illustrations of Verne. The Riou
illustrations were as closely associated with the Verne narratives
as Tenniel's illustrations were for ALICE IN WONDERLAND. Riou was
a student of great illustrator Gustave Dore, and the early editions
of Jules Verne's novels featured lithographic illustrations by
Edouard Riou. Throughout the film Zeman brings to life the Riou
illustrations. In the Verne-like technology in the detail to show
us detail to the steel plate and rivets. Shades of gray will be
produced by lines of white and black as would be done in
lithographs.
The film claims to have been shot in a process dubbed "Mysti-
mation". This appears to be a process that involves mixing live-
action, animation, model work, puppets, stop-motion, and whatever
it takes to put an image on the screen. If the blend is not
entirely successful that becomes part of the joke. Zeman gives the
viewers the impression he is winking at them and offering a
conspiracy that neither will notice the rough edges. And this
viewer for one readily agreed.
The time is the world of Verne's novels, one with a world obsessed
with the miracles of science. The story starts with the main
character, one Simon Hart, traveling to visit the genius Professor
Roch. On his way he marvels at the then-modern wonders of science,
mostly taken from Verne novels. The effect is a symphony of steam
and steel. There are bicycle-like flying machines, submarines and
ships floating, huge train engines. The flying clipper Albatross
flies over Hart's head and Hart is impressed. The land, the sky,
and the water are filled with marvelous inventions of the modern
age.
Roch, the professor, lives on an isolated and well-protected island
where he is creating a new and highly powerful explosive. Unknown
to either the main character or Roch there are evil men plotting to
assault the island fortress, kidnap the professor, and steal the
secret of the explosive. They do and hart finds himself taken with
Roch. Behind it all is a villain with huge resources, Count
Artigas. Artigas has his own arsenal of very modern weapons
including a submarine that he uses to sink ships that are his
victims. Unable to steal Roch's science, he steals Roch and forces
the scientist to develop weapons for him.
Hart and Roch are taken to an even more isolated lab on a remote
and supposedly volcanic island. But the volcano is dormant. The
smoke that seems to come from it is really from the man-made
manufacturing plant within the volcano's crater. Can Hart and Roch
escape?
While all this is really based on an actual, though obscure, novel
by Verne, one can see a great deal of 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA
and other more familiar Verne stories as well as other Verne works
pulled into the story. Much of the tale is narrated which helps
keep down the amount of dubbing needed. The story is somewhat
rudimentary, but it is the visuals that are the chief attraction.
The plot is not as interesting as the retro-futuristic background.
Zeman creates his effect any way possible and does not worry about
preserving realism of scenes. In one sequence a pirate ropes a
man. The rope winds around the man in perfect uniform rows. The
viewer is fully aware that actor was wrapped very smoothly with the
rope, it is pulled off, and then the film is run backward. But
Zeman knows the effect will be fun and does not try to be
convincing. His style remains tongue-in-cheek and whimsical
throughout.
There is a totally superfluous prolog to the film by NBC game show
host and newsman Hugh Downs. Downs, from his 1961 vantage point,
reminds us how far science has come from Verne's day and how much
of the then-modern world was the fulfillment of Verne's visions.
Perhaps that was inspired by Edward R. Murrow's prologue to AROUND
THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (1956).
It should be noted that this is one of Joseph E. Levine's foreign
film discoveries. Levine was a film producer himself, being
responsible for films like THE CARPETBAGGERS, A BRIDGE TOO FAR, THE
GRADUATE, and ZULU. But he also would find foreign films that were
then not likely to be released in the US and would arrange a US
release. He did this with GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS; HERCULES
(1958); JACK THE RIPPER (1959); MORGAN THE PIRATE; and SANTA CLAUS
CONQUERS THE MARTIANS.
For a film made so far in advance of computer imaging and digital
special effects, this film goes a long way to create the mood of
Jules Verne's stories. It does that perhaps better than any other
film has ever done. I rate THE FABULOUS WORLD OF JULES VERNE a +3
on the -4 to +4 scale or 9/10.
THE FABULOUS WORLD OF JULES VERNE is available on YouTube. Part 1 is
at
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa6JMMItTcs>. At the end of each
part you can link to the next.
Film Credits: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052374/>
What others are saying:
<http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fabulous_world_of_jules_verne/>
Mark R. Leeper
mle...@optonline.net
Copyright 2012 Mark R. Leeper
(a film retrospective by Mark R. Leeper)
CAPSULE: Czech animator Karel Zeman, nearly forgotten
now, was a genius of the animated film. Here, as his
masterwork, he adapts a lesser novel by Jules Verne
into a highly creative screen adventure. Showing
great imagination on a tiny budget Zeman emulates the
look of the lithographs of Verne's early editions and
makes his film a pioneer in the style that since has
been dubbed "steampunk". Even though the style is
satirical it is also loving and the film still has the
power to captivate the viewer. Rating: +3 (-4 to +4)
or 9/10
Karel Zeman was one of the leading Czech animators with a career
from the 1940s to the 1980s, but his prime was in the 1950s and
1960s when he made films like JOURNEY TO THE BEGINNING OF TIME
(1955), THE FABULOUS WORLD OF JULES VERNE (1958), BARON MUNCHAUSEN
(1962) and THE STOLEN AIRSHIP (1966). His animation is punctuated
with impish humor. It is claimed that Zeman was inspired and
influenced by Georges M‚liŠs. But his own work was later much
imitated by Terry Gilliam and even Tim Burton. For THE FABULOUS
WORLD OF JULES VERNE he illustrated a Verne novel with animation in
the style of the Edouard Riou illustrations of Verne. The Riou
illustrations were as closely associated with the Verne narratives
as Tenniel's illustrations were for ALICE IN WONDERLAND. Riou was
a student of great illustrator Gustave Dore, and the early editions
of Jules Verne's novels featured lithographic illustrations by
Edouard Riou. Throughout the film Zeman brings to life the Riou
illustrations. In the Verne-like technology in the detail to show
us detail to the steel plate and rivets. Shades of gray will be
produced by lines of white and black as would be done in
lithographs.
The film claims to have been shot in a process dubbed "Mysti-
mation". This appears to be a process that involves mixing live-
action, animation, model work, puppets, stop-motion, and whatever
it takes to put an image on the screen. If the blend is not
entirely successful that becomes part of the joke. Zeman gives the
viewers the impression he is winking at them and offering a
conspiracy that neither will notice the rough edges. And this
viewer for one readily agreed.
The time is the world of Verne's novels, one with a world obsessed
with the miracles of science. The story starts with the main
character, one Simon Hart, traveling to visit the genius Professor
Roch. On his way he marvels at the then-modern wonders of science,
mostly taken from Verne novels. The effect is a symphony of steam
and steel. There are bicycle-like flying machines, submarines and
ships floating, huge train engines. The flying clipper Albatross
flies over Hart's head and Hart is impressed. The land, the sky,
and the water are filled with marvelous inventions of the modern
age.
Roch, the professor, lives on an isolated and well-protected island
where he is creating a new and highly powerful explosive. Unknown
to either the main character or Roch there are evil men plotting to
assault the island fortress, kidnap the professor, and steal the
secret of the explosive. They do and hart finds himself taken with
Roch. Behind it all is a villain with huge resources, Count
Artigas. Artigas has his own arsenal of very modern weapons
including a submarine that he uses to sink ships that are his
victims. Unable to steal Roch's science, he steals Roch and forces
the scientist to develop weapons for him.
Hart and Roch are taken to an even more isolated lab on a remote
and supposedly volcanic island. But the volcano is dormant. The
smoke that seems to come from it is really from the man-made
manufacturing plant within the volcano's crater. Can Hart and Roch
escape?
While all this is really based on an actual, though obscure, novel
by Verne, one can see a great deal of 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA
and other more familiar Verne stories as well as other Verne works
pulled into the story. Much of the tale is narrated which helps
keep down the amount of dubbing needed. The story is somewhat
rudimentary, but it is the visuals that are the chief attraction.
The plot is not as interesting as the retro-futuristic background.
Zeman creates his effect any way possible and does not worry about
preserving realism of scenes. In one sequence a pirate ropes a
man. The rope winds around the man in perfect uniform rows. The
viewer is fully aware that actor was wrapped very smoothly with the
rope, it is pulled off, and then the film is run backward. But
Zeman knows the effect will be fun and does not try to be
convincing. His style remains tongue-in-cheek and whimsical
throughout.
There is a totally superfluous prolog to the film by NBC game show
host and newsman Hugh Downs. Downs, from his 1961 vantage point,
reminds us how far science has come from Verne's day and how much
of the then-modern world was the fulfillment of Verne's visions.
Perhaps that was inspired by Edward R. Murrow's prologue to AROUND
THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (1956).
It should be noted that this is one of Joseph E. Levine's foreign
film discoveries. Levine was a film producer himself, being
responsible for films like THE CARPETBAGGERS, A BRIDGE TOO FAR, THE
GRADUATE, and ZULU. But he also would find foreign films that were
then not likely to be released in the US and would arrange a US
release. He did this with GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS; HERCULES
(1958); JACK THE RIPPER (1959); MORGAN THE PIRATE; and SANTA CLAUS
CONQUERS THE MARTIANS.
For a film made so far in advance of computer imaging and digital
special effects, this film goes a long way to create the mood of
Jules Verne's stories. It does that perhaps better than any other
film has ever done. I rate THE FABULOUS WORLD OF JULES VERNE a +3
on the -4 to +4 scale or 9/10.
THE FABULOUS WORLD OF JULES VERNE is available on YouTube. Part 1 is
at
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa6JMMItTcs>. At the end of each
part you can link to the next.
Film Credits: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052374/>
What others are saying:
<http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fabulous_world_of_jules_verne/>
Mark R. Leeper
mle...@optonline.net
Copyright 2012 Mark R. Leeper
Madara0806
Apr 27, 2012, 2:50:56 PM4/27/12
to
> Copyright 2012 Mark R. Leeper
I have this on VHS but haven't seen it since it was on TV some 30-odd
years ago. I did see it in a theater when I was a kid. It was the
third film on a triple bill with ONE-EYED JACKS and QUEEN OF OUTER
SPACE. The packed audience included every kid in the neighborhood. We
were in the theater for, like, 6 hours, and two of the films were a
chore for much of the audience. Only QUEEN OF OUTER SPACE was a crowd-
pleaser. There was a riot in the lobby afterwards--all that pent-up
energy--and a bunch of us got trampled. It was insane.
Subsequent triple features at this theater were more kid-friendly,
with such classics as FIVE WEEKS IN A BALLOON, THE MAGIC SWORD, THE
TROJAN HORSE, LAST OF THE VIKINGS, THE MONGOLS, THE MINOTAUR and
Abbott and Costello's JACK AND THE BEANSTALK among the offerings. I've
seen each of these again in the decades since and they all hold up
much better than FABULOUS WORLD OF JULES VERNE, which didn't offer
much in the way of thrills to begin with. I'll watch it again, though,
to see if there's something in it I missed as a kid.
Nil
Apr 27, 2012, 6:50:46 PM4/27/12
to
On 27 Apr 2012, Mark Leeper <mle...@optonline.net> wrote in
rec.arts.movies.past-films:
> For a film made so far in advance of computer imaging and digital
> special effects, this film goes a long way to create the mood of
> Jules Verne's stories. It does that perhaps better than any other
> film has ever done. I rate THE FABULOUS WORLD OF JULES VERNE a +3
> on the -4 to +4 scale or 9/10.
>
> THE FABULOUS WORLD OF JULES VERNE is available on YouTube. Part 1 is
> at
> <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa6JMMItTcs>. At the end of each
> part you can link to the next.
>
> Film Credits: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052374/>
>
> What others are saying:
> <http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fabulous_world_of_jules_verne/>
I remember this film from when I was a kid. I liked it a lot then. I'm
watching it now, and it reminds me why: it has a great look about it!
The flat sets and lots of parallel lines on the sets, costumes, and
props all make it look like a moving engraving or ink drawing. It is a
little slow, but even that makes it more reminiscent of early science
fiction books like Verne and HG Wells, which I was into back then.
Unusual and fun stuff, IMO. Thanks!
rec.arts.movies.past-films:
> For a film made so far in advance of computer imaging and digital
> special effects, this film goes a long way to create the mood of
> Jules Verne's stories. It does that perhaps better than any other
> film has ever done. I rate THE FABULOUS WORLD OF JULES VERNE a +3
> on the -4 to +4 scale or 9/10.
>
> THE FABULOUS WORLD OF JULES VERNE is available on YouTube. Part 1 is
> at
> <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa6JMMItTcs>. At the end of each
> part you can link to the next.
>
> Film Credits: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052374/>
>
> What others are saying:
> <http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fabulous_world_of_jules_verne/>
watching it now, and it reminds me why: it has a great look about it!
The flat sets and lots of parallel lines on the sets, costumes, and
props all make it look like a moving engraving or ink drawing. It is a
little slow, but even that makes it more reminiscent of early science
fiction books like Verne and HG Wells, which I was into back then.
Unusual and fun stuff, IMO. Thanks!
notbob
Apr 27, 2012, 8:00:28 PM4/27/12
to
On 2012-04-27, Nil <redn...@REMOVETHIScomcast.net> wrote:
>
> I remember this film from when I was a kid. I liked it a lot then.
Yeah, I saw it as kid at the theater, too, but didn't care for it much, even
>
> I remember this film from when I was a kid. I liked it a lot then.
though I fully understood the what they were attempting to accomplish
with the drawn backgrounds. I saw it again about 10 yrs ago on TCM.
I clever concept, but still a pretty lame movie ....no more than a
curiosity.
nb
--
vi --the heart of evil!
"Avenge me!" --Bill Burr
Sol L. Siegel
Apr 27, 2012, 11:57:54 PM4/27/12
to
Nil <redn...@REMOVETHIScomcast.net> wrote in news:XnsA042BFB6A85E0nilch1
@wheedledeedle.moc:
>> THE FABULOUS WORLD OF JULES VERNE is available on YouTube. Part 1 is
>> at
>> <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa6JMMItTcs>. At the end of each
>> part you can link to the next.
>>
on YouTube, but I can't seem to find the beginning.
- Sol L. Siegel, Philadelphia, PA USA
@wheedledeedle.moc:
>> THE FABULOUS WORLD OF JULES VERNE is available on YouTube. Part 1 is
>> at
>> <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa6JMMItTcs>. At the end of each
>> part you can link to the next.
>>
> I remember this film from when I was a kid. I liked it a lot then. I'm
> watching it now, and it reminds me why: it has a great look about it!
> The flat sets and lots of parallel lines on the sets, costumes, and
> props all make it look like a moving engraving or ink drawing. It is a
> little slow, but even that makes it more reminiscent of early science
> fiction books like Verne and HG Wells, which I was into back then.
>
> Unusual and fun stuff, IMO. Thanks!
Zeman also did a pretty good version of Baron Munchausen. Parts are
> watching it now, and it reminds me why: it has a great look about it!
> The flat sets and lots of parallel lines on the sets, costumes, and
> props all make it look like a moving engraving or ink drawing. It is a
> little slow, but even that makes it more reminiscent of early science
> fiction books like Verne and HG Wells, which I was into back then.
>
> Unusual and fun stuff, IMO. Thanks!
on YouTube, but I can't seem to find the beginning.
- Sol L. Siegel, Philadelphia, PA USA
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