Columbia Pictures
UK (1960): Fantasy/Adventure, 100 min, No rating, Color
CAST AND CREDITS
Cast: Kerwin Matthews (Dr. Lemuel Gulliver); Jo Morrow (Gwendolyn);
Basil Sydney (Emperor of Lilliput); June Thorburn (Elizabeth); Martin Benson
(Flimnap); Mary Ellis (Queen Brobdingnag); Lee Patterson (Reldresal); Gregoire
Aslan (King Brobdingnag); Charles Lloyd Pack (Makovan); Marion Spencer (Empress
of Lilliput); Peter Bull (Lord Bermogg); Alec Mango (Galbet); Sherri Alberoni
(Glumdalclitch)
Story: Jonathan Swift (novel Gulliver's Travels); Screenplay:
Arthur Ross & Jack Sherr Cinematography: Wilkie Cooper in SUPER
DYNAMATION; Music by Bernard Herrmann conducting the London Symphony
Orchestra; Film Editing:Raymond Poulton; Producer: Charles
H. Schneer Visual Effects: Ray Harryhausen; Eastmancolor: PATHE;
Production Supervisor: Luis Roberts; Art Directors: Gil Parrendo,
Dereic Barrington; Costume Designer: Eleanor Abby; Main Title
Design: Bob Gill. Songs: "GENTLE LOVE"-Lyrics: Ned Washington
Music-George Duning.
THE FILM
In Wapping England in 1699, Miss Elizabeth Wiggley, Gulliver's Fiancee, discovers
that Gulliver is about to go on a long sea voyage and confronts Captain
Pritchard, who has taken Gulliver on as Ship's Surgeon. Gulliver wishes to
escape the mundane life as country physician in hopes of finding wealth and
prosperity while at sea.
Elizabeth and Gulliver meet to discuss the purchase of a a country cottage
that is in a state of thorough disrepair which only seems to fuel Gulliver's
attempt to escape his life as country doctor. Leaving to go to sea a violent
storm begins and Elizabeth is discovered on board as a stowaway. An argument
ensues on the deck of the ship as Gulliver and Elizabeth are tossed overboard.
Gulliver, not knowing that Elizabeth has also been tossed overboard finds
himself alive and on an island. Stumbling onto the beach, Gulliver drops
in exhaustion. Gulliver is discovered on the beach by two lovers from Lilliput
who are about to be separated because of a war Lilliput is engaged in with
Blephesque. Gulliver, though, is a giant in this land filled with tiny people
who fear this newly discovered giant. He is tied down to the beach until
their king arrives.
The king discovers that Gulliver can be their friend as Gulliver clears and
area of the island to raise crops and uses his hat to catch fish to feed
the people. He is quickly declared a citizen of Lilliput but only because
the king and his corrupt advisors wish to use Gulliver as the ultimate weapon
against Belphesque.
Hoping to put an end to the war, Gulliver disable Blephesque's navy and discovers
that the war is over the silly argument of which side to open an egg. The
corrupt advisors to the king, fearing Gulliver's ability and power begin
to convince the king that Gulliver is a traitor and Gulliver's execution
is declared. Gulliver flees the tiny land and is once again at sea. He finds
himself in Brobdingnag where he is now a tiny citizen in a land filled with
giants. Here he is reunited with Elizabeth and the two are married and find
themselves prisoners in a land that should be paradise. Escaping for their
honeymoon they are chastised by the king and the court wizard who believes
that Gulliver is an evil sorcerer. After Gulliver uses his medical knowledge
to cure the queen, he is condemned as a sorcerer and he and Elizabeth must
flee for their lives after doing battle with a giant alligator.
At sea once again, the tiny travellers arrive on the shore and discover that
they have finally returned to Wapping England where life as a country doctor
is now more promising to the good doctor and his wife understanding the lure
of adventure.
