Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8184 in VHS
• Released on: 2000-06-06
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 102 minutes

Amazon.com
Inspired more by Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea than the Jules Verne novels it purports to be based upon (1896's Clipper of the Clouds and 1904's Master of the World), this American International Pictures production is a mildly diverting period fantasy adventure, buoyed mainly by leads Vincent Price and Charles Bronson. Nineteenth-century government agent Strock (Bronson) hires Prudence (Henry Hull), a munitions maker and balloon enthusiast, to help investigate the source of a mysterious voice that emanated from Pennsylvania's Great Eyrie. With Prudence's daughter Dorothy (Mary Webster) and her fiancé Philip (David Frankham), the pair flies over the mountain, only to be shot down and taken captive by Robur (Price). Using his colossal airship Albatross, Robur plans to end world warfare by decimating any country that refuses to lay down its arms. Despite solid efforts by Price and Bronson (who reportedly disliked each other), a thoughtful script by fantasy author Richard Matheson, and a lively score by Les Baxter, Master never takes flight. Miniature effects by Tim Baar, Wah Chang, and Gene Warren (a.k.a. Projects Unlimited, which created creatures for "The Outer Limits") are hobbled by AIP's infamously low budget, and B-movie vet William Whitney's direction is painfully lethargic. Lacking the necessary super-sized scope and star power of other Verne adaptations, including 1958's Around the World in Eighty Days and 1959's Journey to the Center of the Earth, Master is for AIP and Price completists only. MGM's digitally transferred full-frame print looks fabulous and includes the original theatrical trailer. --Paul Gaita

Customer Reviews

Vincent Price is the master
This film could be classified as a fantasy adventure with horror elements when you factor in Robur's wish to end all war. His method? He'll simply fly over oceans and seas in his airship Albitraus and bomb war ships until all war has stopped. Vincent plays Robur in this mad-cap film that begins with a history of aviation. Henry Hull is cast as a cynical judge and the great Charles Bronson is cast as a mysterious passenger who appears to be Robur's accompolice... but looks can be deceiving. Mary Webster and David Frankham play the other "prisoners". David's character isn't likable and you'd wish that Vincent or Charles would throw him off the Albitraus!! The film is sort of an in the air version of James Mason's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" with it's stop all war message.

Unusual, but likeable movie
The plot of this movie is a bit unusual, but I found it likeable because of the actors, such as Vincent Price, Henry Hull, and David Frankham. Charles Bronson also stars, but is probably miscast here. The scenery and music are also well done.

an overlooked classic
I consider this movie to be an old-fashioned adventure movie of the highest order. I could write a mini-novel about all the high points of this movie...but I think the actors said it best: "I believe he's convinced you his ship is magical........He has! He has!....it is MAGICAL!". This movie deserves to released on DVD ASAP!!!