JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH (1959) ** James Mason demonstrates why you shouldn't climb into a volcano if you aren't strictly a volcanologist. Pat Boone sings under ground, which wouldn't have disturbed many if they hadn't made this video; then dives into a convent without any pants on, which would have disturbed many no matter what. Perhaps the most amusing subtext is listening to Arlene Dahl's efforts to utter a B-movie scream whilst retaining any modicum of dignity. It's a Jules Verne plot and he didn't do particularly well at prophysizing what lies beneath, probably, what with all of the resplendent crystals, giant iguanas, cross-winds...there's probably at least as much to be gleaned by contemplating why any of the characters would have selected these particular garments for what's essentially an all-star spelunking tour. No matter, it's all good fun even if most of us don't need quite 132 minutes of this sort of stuff, and I could have used a few more minutes of Stromboli at the end.
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