Seven Wonders of the World

1956

Documentary / History

7
IMDb Rating 7.0/10 10 206 206

Plot summary

Seven Wonders of the World is a 1956 film in Cinerama. Lowell Thomas searches the world for natural and man made wonders and invites the audience to try to update the ancient Greek list of "Seven Wonders of the World."

Director

John Farrow Photo
John Farrow

Top cast

Lowell Thomas Photo
Lowell Thomas as Self
Claude Dauphin Photo
Claude Dauphin as Narrator
Paul Mantz Photo
Paul Mantz as Self
720p.BluRay 1080p.BluRay
1.09 GB
1280*614
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
2 hr 1 min
Seeds ...
2.24 GB
1920*922
English 5.1
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
2 hr 1 min
Seeds 4

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by mark.waltz 7 / 10

Better close-ups make for better Cinerama.

This edition of the Cinerama documentaries is much better than the other one that I've seen, the first one simply entitled "This is Cinerama". Apparently there have been technical achievements in the four years between the two films, and that is obvious as this gets in closer and with faster photography makes for a more enjoyable trip around the globe.A trek down the East River underneath all of the New York City bridges towards Queens and Brooklyn start us off, and it's less than the length of a train ride to get down to Rio de Janeiro via all of those gorgeous waterfalls in Venezuela and Brazil. Rio de Janeiro seems to go on forever with all of the various mountains and valleys and of course the statue of Jesus. Then in Japan, we're treated to a live performance of the Geisha Girl Follies, a gorgeous sight to behold.Going up the mountains of the Himalayas in India after a visit to the monkey temple and encounters with the sacred cow in the as well as a fight between a cobra and a mongoose shows us a sleeping elephant on the tracks and frightening shot of the train going backwards by mistake.I really felt the Cinerama this time and saw a lot more even on the same size screen as the sound is crisper and the picture clearer. The railroad ride is equivalent to the roller coaster ride of the first film, and I'm sure on a big screen it was even more thrilling. That's just a part of what you get to see in this entry, giving us a glimpse into the wonders that used to be, the one that survived and the ones that have come since. This is the 8th Wonder of the modern world because it really takes you deep into the locations of these great sites and you don't have to pay airfare.
Reviewed by meddlecore 7 / 10

What Should Have Been One Of The World's Best Documentaries...Did Not Age Well...

Few films possess such majestic beauty, alongside content that is so completely and utterly abhorrent.Because what is espoused to be an epic travelogue to document both the seven wonders of the natural and man-made world...is really nothing other than a veiled propaganda film, on par with the work of Leni Riefenstahl.As we are whisked around the world on the Panamerican Cinerama jet, which provides us with all the stunning aerial footage contained in the film.We hop from continent-to-continent, and nation-to-nation, as Cinerama's pr man Lovell Thomas offers us his voice of god narration.Though, on top of all the natural beauty, and wonderful exhibitions of cultural entertainment, we are forced to endure a plague of political and colonial propaganda.From the pro-American portrayal of GI's in Japan (of all f-ing places), to pro-Zionist and pro-Saudi shilling (shudders), European colonialism in Africa, the brutal subjugation of Elephants in India...and a bull-dookie claim that Niagara Falls is an American icon (I seem to recall them losing the War of 1812, but it wouldn't surprise me that many of you believe otherwise, after watching this film).These elements tend to detract from- if not completely overshadow- the magnificent shots of Venezuela's Angel Falls and the Amazon Rainforest, "Rhodesia"'s Victoria Falls, the deserts of Arabia, and my personal favourite, the flyover of an unnamed East African volcano.As well as the aerial shots of the civilized world, which include Rio De Janeiro, the Vatican, Sheeba, Istanbul, Athens, and, of course, the incredible flyunders of New York City's four main bridges.And the ground coverage of Japanese musical theatre, a fight between a mongoose and a cobra, a runaway train in Darjeeling, cinema's first look inside the church of the Vatican, and a cruise through the mighty redwoods of California...among others.Parts like that whole segment lauding American oil interests, just make the whole thing come off as one giant commercial for big oil, and the USA in general.Which is disappointing, because it otherwise had so much potential to be something timeless and ageless.Being one of the first films created and released on the incredible blend of technologies that make up Cinerama.Which include it's triple-projection, stereophonic sound, and trademark curved screen...that immerses you right in the action, with things shot from a first person perspective.What could- and should- have been one of the best documentaries ever made, ends up like some sort of forced re-education experiment, to sell you the American dream.Which we all know is a lie.Like most of the claims made in this film.It just hasn't aged well.7.5 out of 10.
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