{"id":83823,"date":"2022-05-07T11:05:19","date_gmt":"2022-05-07T18:05:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=83823"},"modified":"2022-12-25T12:00:12","modified_gmt":"2022-12-25T19:00:12","slug":"fantastic-voyage-1966","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=83823","title":{"rendered":"Fantastic Voyage (1966)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;We&#8217;re afraid of sabotage: surgical assassination.&#8221; <\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Poster-196x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-83824\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Poster-196x300.png 196w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Poster-84x128.png 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Poster-176x270.png 176w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Poster.png 531w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nDuring the Cold war, a U.S. secret agent (Stephen Boyd) is recruited by General Carter (Edmond O&#8217;Brien) of the CMDF (Combined Miniaturized Deterrence Forces) to join a team &#8212; including Dr. Duval (Arthur Kennedy), Dr. Duval&#8217;s assistant Cora (Raquel Welch), Dr. Michaels (Donald Pleasence), and a pilot (William Redfield) &#8212; travelling on a submarine into the brain of a dying scientist (Jean Del Val) in order to remove a blood clot so he can share a vital secret about miniaturization.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Arthur Kennedy Films<\/li>\n<li>Donald Pleasence Films<\/li>\n<li>Edmond O&#8217;Brien Films<\/li>\n<li>Raquel Welch Films<\/li>\n<li>Richard Fleischer Films<\/li>\n<li>Science Fiction<\/li>\n<li>Stephen Boyd Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary doesn&#8217;t seem to be a huge fan of this &#8217;60s sci-fi adventure film &#8220;directed by Richard Fleischer, who did a marvelous job years before on <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=74612\"><em>20,000 Leagues Under the Sea<\/em><\/a>, which has a couple of plot similarities.&#8221; He notes that as the team travels the scientist&#8217;s body, &#8220;they encounter a fantastic foreign world of giant monsters (antibodies) and other dangers&#8221; &#8212; and &#8220;to make matters worse, one of them [on the team] is trying to sabotage the mission.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Freak-Out.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Freak-Out-1024x433.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"271\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-83835\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Freak-Out-1024x433.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Freak-Out-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Freak-Out-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Freak-Out-768x325.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Freak-Out-604x255.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Freak-Out.png 1303w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>While Peary concedes that &#8220;the premise is terrific,&#8221; he adds that &#8220;considering it can be used only once in films&#8221; (why is that, exactly?) &#8220;it&#8217;s a shame this effort wasn&#8217;t a bit more exciting and inventive.&#8221; He writes that while &#8220;there are a few good moments,&#8221; the &#8220;special effects aren&#8217;t particularly effective, the sets look phony, the dialogue is trite, Stephen Boyd makes a dull leading man (have you ever met a Stephen Boyd fan?), and Raquel Welch, the era&#8217;s sex symbol, is too bundled up.&#8221; (Boyd doesn&#8217;t seem too upset about this in the shot below, when he&#8217;s &#8220;forced&#8221; to stare at Welch&#8217;s bust during a particularly turbulent moment on the ride.) <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Looking.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Looking-1024x432.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"270\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-83829\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Looking-1024x432.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Looking-300x126.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Looking-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Looking-768x324.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Looking-604x255.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Looking.png 1293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I think Peary&#8217;s review &#8220;misses the boat&#8221; a bit (sorry for the pun) for this film. Yes, some of the dialogue is dated and corny at times &#8212; but humorously so, as when Boyd tries in vain to bow out of the mission: <\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Boyd:<\/strong> But I don&#8217;t want to be miniaturized!<br \/>\n<strong>O&#8217;Brien:<\/strong> It&#8217;s just for an hour. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fabulous-Voyage-But-I-Dont-Want-to-Be-Miniaturized.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fabulous-Voyage-But-I-Dont-Want-to-Be-Miniaturized-1024x436.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"273\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-83830\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fabulous-Voyage-But-I-Dont-Want-to-Be-Miniaturized-1024x436.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fabulous-Voyage-But-I-Dont-Want-to-Be-Miniaturized-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fabulous-Voyage-But-I-Dont-Want-to-Be-Miniaturized-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fabulous-Voyage-But-I-Dont-Want-to-Be-Miniaturized-768x327.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fabulous-Voyage-But-I-Dont-Want-to-Be-Miniaturized-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fabulous-Voyage-But-I-Dont-Want-to-Be-Miniaturized.png 1309w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Or in this ensuing discussion about Welch: <\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Arthur O&#8217;Connell (as Colonel Reid):<\/strong> A woman has no place on a mission of this kind!<br \/>\n<strong>Kennedy:<\/strong> I insist on taking my technician!<br \/>\n<strong>O&#8217;Connell<\/strong>: You&#8217;ll take along who I assign.<br \/>\n<strong>Kennedy:<\/strong> Don&#8217;t tell me who I&#8217;m going to work with! Not on this operation. I&#8217;ll do what I think is best, without interference!<br \/>\n<strong>Pleasence:<\/strong> Dr. Duval has relied on Miss Peterson for years&#8230;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Still2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Still2-1024x438.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"274\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-83831\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Still2-1024x438.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Still2-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Still2-128x55.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Still2-768x328.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Still2-604x258.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Still2.png 1299w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, I disagree that the &#8220;special effects aren&#8217;t particularly effective&#8221; and &#8220;the sets look phony&#8221;: authenticity seems besides the point in a fantasy adventure like this. Instead, one marvels at the audacity and precision of the proceedings, which carry forth in all seriousness (it takes more than half-an-hour for the team to finally get going on their trip): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Miniaturization.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Miniaturization-1024x453.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"283\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-83833\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Miniaturization-1024x453.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Miniaturization-300x133.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Miniaturization-128x57.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Miniaturization-768x340.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Miniaturization-604x267.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Miniaturization.png 1295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The miniaturization effects are suitably impressive for the era: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Peering-In.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Peering-In-1024x429.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"268\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-83834\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Peering-In-1024x429.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Peering-In-300x126.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Peering-In-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Peering-In-768x322.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Peering-In-604x253.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Peering-In.png 1309w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and the Oscar-winning sets are visually memorable: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Pleasence.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Pleasence-1024x433.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"271\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-83827\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Pleasence-1024x433.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Pleasence-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Pleasence-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Pleasence-768x325.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Pleasence-604x256.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Pleasence.png 1293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Sure, there are a <em>ton<\/em> of &#8220;holes&#8221; to be poked (sorry again for the pun) in the science of this storyline &#8212; but it&#8217;s all in good fun, and one watches with genuine investment to learn the fate of this plucky crew. This film is worth a one-time look simply for being so unique and fearless in its approach. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ernest Laszlo&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fabulous-Voyage-Magnified-Eye.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fabulous-Voyage-Magnified-Eye-1024x434.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"271\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-83836\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fabulous-Voyage-Magnified-Eye-1024x434.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fabulous-Voyage-Magnified-Eye-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fabulous-Voyage-Magnified-Eye-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fabulous-Voyage-Magnified-Eye-768x325.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fabulous-Voyage-Magnified-Eye-604x256.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fabulous-Voyage-Magnified-Eye.png 1301w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Oscar-winning art direction and special effects<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Psychedelic.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Psychedelic-1024x450.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"281\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-83838\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Psychedelic-1024x450.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Psychedelic-300x132.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Psychedelic-128x56.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Psychedelic-768x337.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Psychedelic-604x265.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Fantastic-Voyage-Psychedelic.png 1295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as a unique sci-fi adventure with impressive moxie. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0060397\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.moriareviews.com\/sciencefiction\/fantastic-voyage-1966.htm\">Moria Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=178&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re afraid of sabotage: surgical assassination.&#8221; Synopsis: During the Cold war, a U.S. secret agent (Stephen Boyd) is recruited by General Carter (Edmond O&#8217;Brien) of the CMDF (Combined Miniaturized Deterrence Forces) to join a team &#8212; including Dr. Duval (Arthur Kennedy), Dr. Duval&#8217;s assistant Cora (Raquel Welch), Dr. Michaels (Donald Pleasence), and a pilot (William Redfield) &#8212; travelling on a submarine into the brain of a dying scientist (Jean Del Val) in order to remove a blood clot so he&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=83823\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-83823","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83823","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=83823"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83823\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":89054,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83823\/revisions\/89054"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=83823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=83823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=83823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}