Eureka Classics, out now

Professor Lindenbrook (James Mason) discovers the existence of a passage to the centre (or Center) of the Earth and leads an expedition to find out what perils exist at the planet’s core.

It’s easy to mock Henry Levin’s 1959 adaptation of Jules Verne’s classic novel, not least because of the naive science it peddles, but also for the unlikely scenarios we find our heroes in. From rockslides and erupting volcanoes, it’s one daring escape to another. It scores highly on the nostalgia factor if you remember catching it on a bank holiday afternoon TV matinee.

As for the monsters – this was the same time that Ray Harryhausen was perfecting his stop-motion craft on The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, but we get real-life lizards matted into the scene. Ironically, Ray’s completely fake creatures work far better than these real-life dinosaur descendants, because they just don’t look right. It’s a bit cruel fixing a fin to an iguana to dress it up a dimetrodon and then flick matches at it to simulate spears.

At 129 minutes it does also go on a bit, and while James Mason’s Lindenbrook is always engaging, co-stars Pat Boone and Arlene Dahl don’t really feel cut out for this adventure – and let’s not mention the comedy duck, Gertrude!

But enough of the scoffing and let’s focus on the positives. Picture quality is lovely, the rich, gaudy reds coming through in a crisp 4K restoration, appearing for the first time on Blu-ray in the UK. There’s a comparison featurette of pre- and post-remastering and it’s most impressive. The movie’s ambitions are also boosted by its is use of Cinemascope and a lush full-orchestral score by the legendary Bernard Hermann.

Audio options are original stereo and 5.1 DTS-HD, and you can also opt for an isolated score and effects track. The audio commentary by actress Diane Baker and film historians Steven C Smith and Nick Redman throws in a few tasty snippets and even Kim Newman shares some remembrances in a 22-minute video interview.

Verdict: The very definition of 50s fantasy adventure cinema – colourful, dramatic and never dull, with optimistic special effects and continual peril. Modern audiences might find it more of a yawn than a yarn, and there’s clearly not enough monsters in it, but Eureka’s presentation is faultless, and existing fans will have nothing to complain about. And when did you last see a U certificate fantasy where one of the companions (albeit avian) gets eaten by the villain?! 7/10

Nick Joy