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Master of the World (1961)

In 1868, an American scientist and his team become hostages of fanatical pacifist Robur who uses his airship Albatross to destroy military targets on Earth.

Director:

Writers:

(screenplay), (based on two novels by: "Master of the World" and "Robur, the Conqueror")
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Cast

Complete credited cast:
...
Robur
...
Strock
...
Prudent
Mary Webster ...
Dorothy
David Frankham ...
Phillip
...
Alistair
...
Topage (as Vitto Scotti)
Wally Campo ...
Turner
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Storyline

The world in the late 19th century: A scientist and his team are held as "guests" of Robur on his airship, that he want to use to ensure peace on earth. Peace with all, even if he has to bombard military targets all over the world. Can the scientist stop him ? Written by Stephan Eichenberg <[email protected]>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

The fabulous adventures of the man who conquered the earth to save it!

Genres:

Sci-Fi | Adventure

Certificate:

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Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

May 1961 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Jules Verne's Master of the World  »

Box Office

Budget:

$500,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (including prologue)

Sound Mix:

(StereoSonic Sound) (uncredited)

Color:

(Magnacolor) (uncredited)| (archive material)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Screenwriter Richard Matheson has said in interviews that he thought Charles Bronson was badly miscast. See more »

Goofs

Robur's ship flies over a battle being waged in the African desert. When he looks through his scope, African scenery appears, but out the front window of the aircraft, the scenery is from what looks like the California mountains. See more »

Quotes

Prudent: [debating with Robur over dinner] And you expect us to believe, sir, that because you gave that ship warning, that your actions of this afternoon were justifiable?
Robur: I expect nothing, sir.
Prudent: What you did was an act of pure barbarism, and were it not for the love I bear my daughter, and for the respect and esteem in which I hold Mr. Evans and Mr. Strock, I would rather the four of us perish in the sea than that this hell ship be preserved for the commission of further atrocities.
Robur: Was it not an ...
[...]
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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: THE GREAT EYRIE MORGANTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA 1868 See more »

Connections

Referenced in Richard Matheson Storyteller: Comedy of Terrors (2003) See more »

Soundtracks

Master of the World
Music by Les Baxter
Lyrics by Lenny Adelson (as Lenny Addelson)
Sung by Darryl Stevens
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User Reviews

 
A Pretty Good Action Sleeper
15 November 2002 | by (California) – See all my reviews

I caught this one on cable recently, seeing it for the first time as an adult. I must admit to a slight bias toward this film: when I was growing up in the dreaded BC (before cable) days, it was standard Saturday afternoon TV fare on our local indie channels. I was surprised at how well it's held up after all this time.

Master of the World is actually based on two little-remembered Jules Verne novels. Price is his usual hammy self as the standard Verne not-quite-villain, Robur (read: Nemo in the air) who, like Nemo, seeks to end war through technology. The young Bronson, as a sympathizer who then rebels against Robur's violent methods, is far less wooden than in his later years. But the real star of this movie is its production design. The rendering of what an aircraft might have looked like in Victorian days (had such a thing been possible) is dead-on, and the special effects are pretty impressive for 1961. The script, by Richard Matheson, is a little overwrought, but true to Verne's spirit while eliminating the blatant racism of the original stories. This time around though, I found the sweeping, melodramatic score to be a bit overpowering.

In short, not a perfect film or even a great film, but Master of the World remains a well made, entertaining action fantasy. I'm surprised it isn't better remembered by fans of the genre.


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