Good start, but then it gets ruined

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

James Nicholson and Samuel Arkoff were obviously hoping for another JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH when they were making this film. Come to that, even another MYSTERIOUS ISLAND may have been something. Sadly, whereas both of those films were consistently entertaining, MASTER OF THE WORLD turns out to be one of the dullest Jules Verne adaptations that I've ever witnessed. There are approximately two potentially exciting situations in the entire film, both of which are mishandled. The rest is packed with dialogue and lame characters arguing with each other.Indeed, there are two good things about this film. Their names are Vincent Price and Charles Bronson. Everything else is just below par, especially the supporting cast with whom we have to spend much time. First up we have the token female, a bland presence. It's impossible to understand why two men would fight over her, when she's such a forgettable and personality-free woman. Secondly, there's a crusty old inventor who must be one of the most irritating and plain unlikeable characters in the history of film - he spends the whole time complaining or shouting, and even when he escapes at the end, he isn't happy. Thirdly, we have the young male romantic lead who spends the entire time fighting with Bronson and even attempts to kill him - only for him to fail and Bronson to instantly forgive him (?). Things sink lower with the introduction of a "comedy" French cook whose comic relief is simply excruciating. Things briefly look as if they might become interesting when muscular peplum actor Richard Harrison pops up, but it's in a non-speaking bit as the ship's helmsman.I'm not sure whose idea it was to cast Charles Bronson as this film's hero. He's not the first person you'd think of for a children's adventure such as this, but his presence oddly works. Bronson gives a good performance as the non-violent prisoner who agrees with Price's ambition but is determined to stop him nonetheless. His ruthless character is one of the more interesting things this film has to offer. Obviously, though, the best thing on offer is Vincent Price, who gives a typically great performance as the misguided villain of the piece, playing him as a tormented and mournful soul who just wants peace but ends up murdering lots of people. Sadly, he's wasted in this insipid movie.MASTER OF THE WORLD is a bright, impossibly colourful film with a consistently chirpy movie score. It also contains some of the most disappointing special effects in a film of this type, from the dodgy back projection to the dodgy stock footage which pops up nown again. When we see a superimposed ship flying over a native battle then we know we're in trouble. One scene has Bronson and Frankham dangling from ropes over a forest, dodging trees and rocks alike. Sadly the special effects are so unconvincing as to render this worthless. It's a shame that MASTER OF THE WORLD is such a flop, as the story is quite a good one with an interesting theme. If the special effects had been better, if the film had had more incident and if something had actually happened, then this might have been watchable. As it is, it's not. I say turn it off after the interesting footage of primitive flying machines at the beginning.

*Spoiler/plot- The Master of the World, 1961. An anti-war extremist brilliant scientist gets a crew and builds the world's first airship in the Victorian era. He uses it to intimidate the major world powers into disarming by loudspeaker speeches, leaflets and then dropping bombs against their national armed forces.*Special Stars- Vincent Price, Charles Bronson, Henry Hull, Mary Webster, Vito Scotti.*Theme- Extremists of any political cause are dangerous.*Trivia/location/goofs- Early role for Charles Bronson and many thought him to be miscast for the hero here. Plot is the combining of two Jules Vern stories. A lot of stock footage from other films was used in showing aerial angle group battle scenes: Victorian London- 'Henry V', African war- 'Four Feathers', Sailing ships- 'Fair Wind to Java'. The aerial scenes of Victorian London was actually wrong due to it's being clearly Elizabethan London with the Globe Theater. The Globe burnt down and never rebuilt until 1980s. Watch for Vito Scotti's comedic breaks as the ship's crazy cook.*Emotion- This was another entertaining Jules Vern epic saga with a moral lesson. It is richly shot, acted, directed, and produced. While the dramatic scenes are predictable and trite, it is interesting to see Charles Bronson and Vincent Price act against each other in major dramatic scenes. Jules Vern stories have a richness all their own and this film has done a good job to that genre.

Enjoyable low-budget romp based off of the Jules Verne novels Robur the Conqueror and Master of the World, but, oddly, using only the second one's title. Vincent Price stars as self-proclaimed "master of the world" Robur, inventor of a giant flying zeppelin named the Albatross, who abducts Charles Bronson's stoic police inspector and Henry Hull's blustery balloonist and his daughter, played by the fetching and strong-willed Mary Webster. Also along for the ride is Webster's idiotic, cowardly fiancé played by David Frankham who does nothing but whine and be a jerk.The screenplay by Richard Matheson is on the talky side with little in the way of action, but it's intelligently written and has some extremely quotable scenes. Prince really sinks his teeth into the part of the determined and passionate Robur, providing a less manic and composed alternative to James Mason's intense Captain Nemo in Disney's earlier 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.Although Matheson insisted Charles Bronson was "miscast" as John Strock, he does his best in a pretty basic hero role that just calls for him to be square-jawed, stoic and punch henchmen. The stoic and square-jawed Bronson is perfect for punching henchmen, so I'm unsure what Matheson is talking about. His cool, quiet demeanor acts as a nice counterbalance to Price's more animated, over the top (but still enjoyable) performance.Mary Webster's Dorothy is little more than someone for Bronson and Frankham to fight over and for Hull to act protective toward, but nevertheless, she does have an arc, albeit a pretty standard one, wherein she finds the guts to stand up to wimpy heel Frankham's Phillip and choose the manlier Strock. This just leaves Henry Hull. Many viewers complain that he overacts in his role as Dorothy's father, but, frankly, that's what makes his role so enjoyable. He's hilarious and provides much better comic relief than Vito Scotti's horrific performance as the Albatross' resident "French" chef. His dinner table debate with Price as Robur is one of the film's best scenes.Add a few steampunk sci-fi elements like a cool giant airship and "futuristic" flintlock pistols (basically just embellished with some added on silver parts) and you've got yourself a pretty solid, but not great, movie. The only thing that sinks it is its low budget which necessitates the over reliance on stock footage. Beyond this, I found it just as enjoyable as the earlier Verne epics Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Fox's Journey to the Center of the Earth.

I remember seeing this escapist gem, "Master of the World" (1961)after Sunday School one morning when I was 10 or 11. I loved it! AIP's Big Gun, Vincent Price is a thoughtful & gentlemanly, I'll call him, anti-hero rather than bad guy or madman. This is because while he does indeed blow up ships, killing countless men, he's on a quest to end war and thus, the only people he kills are those who make war.Thinking back, this film's presentation of its writer, Jules Verne's, anti-war philosophy may have made a rather large impression upon me as I started reading about our war in a far-off place called Vietnam, circa 1965 or 1965. Who knows? Anyway, this is a rare motion picture: a serious American International Picture (AIP) film with a serious message.The film provides Charles Bronson with one of his earliest leading man/hero roles. He handles the role perfectly.Director William Whitney, who began his career directing Republic cliffhanger serials; and legendary horror/sci-fi/fantasy writer/screenwriter Richard Matheson and their cast play it seriously - as it should be played, the exception coming via Vito Scotti's fun, harried cook. AIP's in-house music director Les Baxter's score is also appropriate for the action.The special effects team (Tim Baar, Wah Chang, Pat Dinga,Gene Warren) do very nicely working within AIP's usual '60s budget constraints.The movie flows, it entertains, it even makes you think. This is a good movie!