``Fantastic Voyage'' A science fiction masterpiece of outstanding quality from the 1960s before ``2001: A Space Odyssey'' (Part 1)

“Fantastic Voyage” Synopsis

An unimaginable treatment is attempted to save the life of a scientist who suffers from severe cerebral hemorrhage. The idea is to send surgeons down to the size of bacteria to the affected areas that have been diagnosed as inoperable, and to operate from inside the body. The time limit is 1 hour, will the strategy be successful?

Before the advent of `` 2001: A Space Odyssey '' (1968), sci-fi movies were synonymous with B-grade movies. However, the few exceptions are MGM's `` Forbidden Planet '' (56) and 20th Century Fox's ``Fantastic Voyage'' (66). These two films have left their names in film history as masterpieces of science fiction that stand out in terms of budget, scenario, design, and special effects. This time, I will thoroughly dig into the ``Fantastic Voyage'' in two parts.

Index

• story
• Planning begins for “Fantastic Voyage”
• Depiction of CMDF headquarters
• production design inside the body
• Proteus and special effects
• Participation of Art Cruikshank
• Reduction of the Proteus and representation of the inside of the blood vessel
• Composition with background
• Photographing the maelstrom and heart
• Alveoli, inner ear, brain

story

Cold War era. Dr. Beneš (Jean Del Val) from the Czech Republic applies for asylum in the United States and arrives at the airport protected by Grant (Stephen Boyd), a CIA agent. The United States and the Soviet Union at this time had technology that could shrink objects, but the problem was that objects could only be shrunk for 60 minutes, after which they would return to their original size.

However, if Dr. Benesh's theory is put into practical use, there will be no time limit and it will be possible to shrink troops to the size of bacteria and infiltrate enemy bases. The East thought, ``It would be better to kill Dr. Benesh than have his ideas stolen by the United States,'' and so they secretly send spies to plot an assassination.

“Fantastic Voyage” preview

Grant, who was resting after completing a big job, is called back again. It was the headquarters of the CMDF (Comprehensive Miniature Control Force), a secret military research facility. General Carter (Edmund O'Brien) and Colonel Reed (Arthur O'Connell) make a plan to send a shrunken elite team into Dr. Benesch's brain to perform laser treatment on his brain contusion.

The team consists of neurosurgeon Dr. Duvall (Arthur Kennedy), his assistant Cora Peterson (Raquel Welch), cardiologist Dr. Michael (Donald Pleasence), and Captain Owen of the nuclear submarine Proteus. (William Redfield) et al. However, military leaders suspected that a spy had infiltrated the team, and assigned Grant to monitor the team.

The Proteus, carrying a team of five people, is shrunk down and injected into the carotid artery before heading to the brain. Their location could be confirmed from the outside by tracking the radiation emitted from the fuel, and it was also possible to contact them by radio. The Proteus was sailing smoothly, but suddenly the blood flow became too strong and the ship was sucked into a hole created by the coalescence of arteries and veins.

Planning begins for “Fantastic Voyage”