I've just watched Jules Verne's Mysterious Island the movie from 1961.
I've seen it many times and despite crawling with the giant crabs and hungry rocs there are still a few toy related observations I can make.
One of the high points of the film is the appearance of Herbert Lom's Nemo and his futuristic submarine Nautilus. Nowadays they'd call it steampunk but back in the day when the first Nautilus appeared on the big screen in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, in 1954, a Leeds-based company got in on the underwater action.
Sutcliffe Pressings created the Nautilus tinplate toy, an icon of vintage play and a glint in the eye of most collectors. A beautiful toy pressed in various bright colours, what I hadn't realised was just how close Sutcliffes was to Moonbase. Literally half an hour away in Horsforth, Leeds!
Now the site of a residential car park, the Sutcliffe glory days are sometimes celebrated at the local Horsforth Museum and this is one of their past displays of submarines. You can also read about Sutcliffe's here: Sutcliffe Boats of Horsforth [there's a picture of the toy sub being sprayed in the spray shop!]. Did you own a Sutcliffe?
Watching Mysterious Island again I was also struck by Nemo's wondrous electric rifle and how it completely captured the atomic age vibe of many space rifles. See what I mean ...
Back in 1953 I was the proud owner of a gray Sutcliffe submarine with a decal on the top front hull with a picture of Queen Elizabeth II as a Coronation souvenir. I bet Charles III doesn't get such a cool Coronation souvenir.
ReplyDeleteAfter years of warm baths the clockwork finally ceased and the model was buried in my parent's garden in North London in order to confuse future archeologists.
About 1972 when traveling outside London with the person who was to become my wife, I saw in a shop window a Sutcliffe Nautilus which I promptly bought and still own.
My continued interest in comics and toys has not raised complaints from my wife of nearly 49 years.
Before lockdown I created a diorama using a Nautilus Christmas tree ornament and metal crew figures from the 1954 movie.
Then during lockdown I created a small diorama of Nautilus attacking a sailing ship.
I was lucky to see both the Disney movie and Mysterious Island on the big screen when they were released but Herbert Lom was no James Mason who for me was the perfect Captain Nemo.
Yes, had the tinplate Nautilus, absolutely loved it. Wish I still had it, but the prices are so high! Think Scoop has covered this already, and that the first version of the submarine may have been the "Unda Wunda" craft shown in your picture.
ReplyDeleteHi Andy. Must have been a great sturdy toy that Nautilus. There's a great display picture of lots of them coming soon courtesy of Will Osborne.
DeleteNot so keen on the tin Nautilus, but love that Disintigrator gun and the octoman from Neptune.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean Mish. Those Pyro rifles are things of beauty!
DeleteI absolutely loved the Nautilus from the movies but alas, my collecting path has led me to the more mundane WWII-ish type subs! :-)
ReplyDeleteIt was ace Ed. There's another decent Nautilus in the film An Extraordinary League of Gentlemen. Have you seen that?
DeleteYes Woodsy I did see the movie. ahem, on a scale of 1-10 it was a solid minus3! However, the gadgets (like the sub) were pretty neat!
Deleteha ha, I actually liked it Ed, the seldom seen characters like Mina and Dorian Grey. They don't often get an outing!
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