The Science on Screen series presents Journey to the Center of the Earth on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. at the Athena Cinema. Admission is free.
A talk on “Exploring the Unknown” follows the film with Dr. Dan Hembree, Associate Professor of Geological Sciences, and Paleontologist Dr. Patrick O’Connor, Professor of Anatomy and Neuroscience.
Based on the 1864 Jules Verne’s novel, this 1959 film stars James Mason as amusingly absent-minded professor Oliver Lindenbrook, whose first step on a fabulous journey is prompted by a lump of lava brought to him by his student Alec McEwen (Pat Boone). Melting down the curiously composed lump, Lindenbrook discovers a hastily scrawled message from long-lost explorer Arne Saknussem, with directions for reaching the earth’s core. Accompanied by Carla (Arlene Dahl), widow of a famed geologist, and Icelandic guide Hans (Peter Ronson), Lindenbrook and Alec head down, down below. They are closely followed by the villainous Count Saknussem (Thayer David), descendant of the lost explorer who wrote the directions; the count hopes to use Lindenbrook’s discoveries for his own personal and political gain. What follows is a festival of superb special effects, fabulous subterranean sets, and gigantized reptiles posing as dinosaurs, all brilliantly accompanied by Bernard Herrmann’s ominous musical score.
Science on Screen℠ is a project of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Coolidge Corner Theater. The Science on Screen program pairs with a short talk with a scientist or technology expert. The free Science on Screen events are fun and engaging and offer dynamic speakers an unexpected jumping point to teach their field of expertise in a way that is accessible to a diverse audience.
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