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Master of the World

 Master of the World
type
TVTItem
 Master of the World
label
Master of the World
 Master of the World
page
MasterOfTheWorld
 Master of the World
comment
A 1961 Steampunk Science Fiction film directed by William Witney and based on Jules Verne's novel Master of the World, with elements from Robur the Conqueror thrown in for good measure.Charles Bronson stars as John Strock, a police investigator assigned to get to the bottom (er, the top) of the mystery surrounding the Great Eyrie outside of Morgantown, North Carolina; someone or something has taken up residence atop the mountain and begun issuing booming proclamations to the people below like a god up on high.In an effort to see what's up there, Strock enlists the aid of industrialist and balloon enthusiast Prudent (Werewolf of London's Henry Hull), to allow him to use his dirigible, the Goahead. Along for the ride are Prudent's daughter Dorothy (Mary Webster) and his employee Phillip Evans (David Frankham), who also happens to be Dorothy's fiance. Strock and Dororthy hit it off swimmingly, much to the ire of Evans. The four aren't in the air very long before they're shot down and captured by the self-proclaimed "Master of the World" Robur (Vincent Price), who holds them prisoner aboard his flying warship, the Albatross.The screenplay was written by Richard Matheson, adapting and combining Verne's novels Robur the Conqueror and Master of the World. Although Matheson insisted Bronson was miscast as Strock, it's a pretty basic hero role that just calls for him to be square-jawed, stoic and punch Mooks. The stoic and square-jawed Bronson is perfect for punching Mooks. As for Price, he's in top form as the Anti-Villain, providing a less manic and composed alternative to James Mason's intense Captain Nemo in Disney's earlier 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
 Master of the World
fetched
2024-02-14T04:44:38Z
 Master of the World
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2024-02-14T04:44:38Z
 Master of the World
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DBTropes
 Master of the World / int_113480b7
type
Canon Foreigner
 Master of the World / int_113480b7
comment
Canon Foreigner: Dororthy Prudent. She isn't in either Robur the Conqueror or Master of the World.
 Master of the World / int_113480b7
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Master of the World / int_113480b7
 Master of the World / int_1235f055
type
Dirty Coward
 Master of the World / int_1235f055
comment
Dirty Coward: Evans. He repeatedly insists that openly resisting Robur is the best option (to the point of opposing Strock's more subtle approach of becoming a Fake Defector), but when push comes to the shove, the guy is a worthless wimp.
 Master of the World / int_1235f055
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Master of the World / int_1235f055
 Master of the World / int_1c398324
type
Death from Above
 Master of the World / int_1c398324
comment
Death from Above: How Robur plans to force the world to capitulate to his demands. He proves he's serious by destroying an entire naval fleet and a city.
 Master of the World / int_1c398324
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Master of the World / int_1c398324
 Master of the World / int_200c009a
type
Mook Lieutenant
 Master of the World / int_200c009a
comment
Mook Lieutenant: Turner, the Albatross' first mate.
 Master of the World / int_200c009a
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Master of the World / int_200c009a
 Master of the World / int_20f689e9
type
Adaptational Villainy
 Master of the World / int_20f689e9
comment
Adaptational Villainy: Evans. In Robur the Conqueror, he's The Hero. Here, he's an intensely punchable, weaselly little jerk.
 Master of the World / int_20f689e9
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Master of the World / int_20f689e9
 Master of the World / int_22cf536c
type
Chekhov's Gun
 Master of the World / int_22cf536c
comment
Chekhov's Gun: Strock carries a pocket knife with him throughout the movie (handed to him by Mr. Prudent as a demonstration of his products right before they are captured by Robur). It ends up coming in handy in the climax.
 Master of the World / int_22cf536c
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Master of the World / int_22cf536c
 Master of the World / int_2439b588
type
As the Good Book Says...
 Master of the World / int_2439b588
comment
As the Good Book Says...: Robur is fond of quoting Bible verses, and even keeps a particularly handsome leather bound copy of the book in his stateroom. His last words are him quoting Isaiah 2:4 (the "Swords to Ploughshares" passage).
 Master of the World / int_2439b588
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Master of the World / int_2439b588
 Master of the World / int_2a7e7af1
type
Limited Wardrobe
 Master of the World / int_2a7e7af1
comment
Limited Wardrobe: The main cast. Robur never intended to have "guests" (prisoners) aboard, so the only change of clothes Strock and co. have are the same crew uniforms worn by Robur's Mooks.
 Master of the World / int_2a7e7af1
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Master of the World / int_2a7e7af1
 Master of the World / int_373e2b9f
type
Murder the Hypotenuse
 Master of the World / int_373e2b9f
comment
Murder the Hypotenuse: Evans, suspecting Dorothy is beginning to become attracted to Strock, tries to indirectly kill his romantic rival by knocking him out and leaving him behind on the doomed Albatross at the end. Fortunately, Strock awakes up and gets out in time.
 Master of the World / int_373e2b9f
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Master of the World / int_373e2b9f
 Master of the World / int_396e1c2a
type
Face Death with Dignity
 Master of the World / int_396e1c2a
comment
Face Death with Dignity: Robur and his entire crew, with their last words being It Has Been an Honor and Robur quoting the Bible.
 Master of the World / int_396e1c2a
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Master of the World / int_396e1c2a
 Master of the World / int_3f45f1e6
type
Adaptational Heroism
 Master of the World / int_3f45f1e6
comment
Adaptational Heroism: Robur. Sort of. While still an antagonist willing to commit evil acts, he is more of a Well-Intentioned Extremist.
 Master of the World / int_3f45f1e6
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Master of the World / int_3f45f1e6
 Master of the World / int_40f3b23a
type
FilmOfTheBook
 Master of the World / int_40f3b23a
comment
Film of the Book: For both Robur the Conqueror and Master of the World, although it owes more to the former.
 Master of the World / int_40f3b23a
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Master of the World / int_40f3b23a
 Master of the World / int_424c9a9b
type
Cold-Blooded Torture
 Master of the World / int_424c9a9b
comment
Cold-Blooded Torture: Evans is punished for his efforts to sabotage the Albatross by being keel-hauled in midair, suspended by a rope from the ship's undercarriage and nearly slammed against the craggy peaks of mountains as they fly past them. Fortunately, Strock, who volunteers to suffer the same punishment, is there to save him.
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Master of the World / int_424c9a9b
 Master of the World / int_434d893c
type
Funny Foreigner
 Master of the World / int_434d893c
comment
Funny Foreigner: Topage, the Albatross' "French" cook.
 Master of the World / int_434d893c
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Master of the World / int_434d893c
 Master of the World / int_44fc28e8
type
Honor Before Reason
 Master of the World / int_44fc28e8
comment
Honor Before Reason: The beef both Prudent and Evans have with Strock is that they, as gentlemen, decide to make clear to Robur that they will be Defiant to the End and constantly talk to the guy about how much they loathe him while Strock tries to bide his time to strike by pretending to follow instructions (thus cementing himself, in their eyes, as a Dirty Coward). At one point Strock even promises that he will do nothing to impede Robur's plans and Evans (who overheard this) points it out as iron-clad proof of him being a collaborator (because gentlemen don't break their word) while Strock fires back that he said that out of mere survival and has no intent of keeping his word (which pisses off Evans equally).
 Master of the World / int_44fc28e8
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Master of the World / int_44fc28e8
 Master of the World / int_45fe3a2e
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Utopia Justifies the Means
 Master of the World / int_45fe3a2e
comment
Utopia Justifies the Means: Robur believes that everything he does makes his dream of a world without war worth it.
 Master of the World / int_45fe3a2e
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Master of the World / int_45fe3a2e
 Master of the World / int_49d59be9
type
Scenery Porn
 Master of the World / int_49d59be9
comment
Scenery Porn: The film features a lot of beautiful aerial shots of mountains and forests.
 Master of the World / int_49d59be9
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Master of the World / int_49d59be9
 Master of the World / int_49fb5ccb
type
Combat Pragmatist
 Master of the World / int_49fb5ccb
comment
Combat Pragmatist: Strock, in spades, and much to the disgust of Evans, who insists it "isn't honorable." Strock's got no time for honor.
 Master of the World / int_49fb5ccb
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Master of the World / int_49fb5ccb
 Master of the World / int_51c7574c
type
Abandon Ship
 Master of the World / int_51c7574c
comment
Abandon Ship: When the Albatross is fatally damaged by Stross' sabotage in the final act, Robur orders his men to abandon the ship while he has full intent on Going Down with the Ship. Robur's men decide to go down alongside him.
 Master of the World / int_51c7574c
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Master of the World / int_51c7574c
 Master of the World / int_5a40d6a
type
Adaptation Distillation
 Master of the World / int_5a40d6a
comment
Adaptation Distillation: Matheson's script mixes and matches different elements from both of Verne's novels.
 Master of the World / int_5a40d6a
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Master of the World / int_5a40d6a
 Master of the World / int_6a61050e
type
The Only One
 Master of the World / int_6a61050e
comment
The Only One: Strock is no Chosen One, and he'd rather be anywhere else but aboard the flying doomship, but he's the closest thing there is to a trained professional in the situation, being a police inspector and all, so he and his trusty pocket knife may as well save the day.
 Master of the World / int_6a61050e
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Master of the World / int_6a61050e
 Master of the World / int_6d0c6ed6
type
Lead Police Detective
 Master of the World / int_6d0c6ed6
comment
Lead Police Detective: Strock is the chief inspector investigating the mysterious goings-on in Morgantown.
 Master of the World / int_6d0c6ed6
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Master of the World / int_6d0c6ed6
 Master of the World / int_6fb5cb83
type
I Gave My Word
 Master of the World / int_6fb5cb83
comment
I Gave My Word: Defied. At one point Strock promises to Robur that he will not try to impede Robur's plans any further and then tells Evans (who overheard this and believes this is more proof of Strock being a Dirty Coward) that if he had decided to use that moment to cement his decision to be Defiant to the End, Robur would have ordered him killed immediately.
 Master of the World / int_6fb5cb83
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Master of the World / int_6fb5cb83
 Master of the World / int_6fb7cf97
type
Bigger Stick
 Master of the World / int_6fb7cf97
comment
Bigger Stick: Robur's plan to end all wars is to demonstrate the awesome firepower of the Albatross to the world and order the governments of the Earth to disarm themselves under penalty of Death from Above if they decide not to.
 Master of the World / int_6fb7cf97
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Master of the World / int_6fb7cf97
 Master of the World / int_7aeb0635
type
Arms Dealer
 Master of the World / int_7aeb0635
comment
Arms Dealer: Mr. Prudent is pretty damn proud of having made his fortune manufacturing and selling guns and at a couple of points wonders how much money he could make replicating the technology that makes the Albatross. Also, even after Robur makes clear that he hates everything Prudent stands for thanks to being a war profiteer, Prudent still can't fathom why Robur has such a beef with him making guns. He straddles the line between being a Honest Corporate Executive and being a Corrupt Corporate Executive.
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Master of the World / int_7aeb0635
 Master of the World / int_88799cf4
type
Badass Cape
 Master of the World / int_88799cf4
comment
Badass Cape: Robur is prone to wearing a long black cape with red lining.
 Master of the World / int_88799cf4
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Master of the World / int_88799cf4
 Master of the World / int_966da803
type
Defiant to the End
 Master of the World / int_966da803
comment
Defiant to the End: What Evans and Mr. Prudent wish to perform, but are unable to for various reasons (being a coward and being too old, in order). Strock downplays it by the fact he's not loudly defiant like the other two (as he points out, Robur would probably have him executed immediately if he did), but is biding his time to see how to destroy Robur (and thus causes conflict because it seems like he's taken Robur's side to the other two men).
 Master of the World / int_966da803
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Master of the World / int_966da803
 Master of the World / int_99e583e0
type
The Philosopher King
 Master of the World / int_99e583e0
comment
The Philosopher King: Robur is a very educated man who's done a lot of thinking about his worldview and his course of action, and while he may not actually be master of the world just yet, he is master of his immediate surroundings.
 Master of the World / int_99e583e0
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Master of the World / int_99e583e0
 Master of the World / int_a1154544
type
Grumpy Old Man
 Master of the World / int_a1154544
comment
Grumpy Old Man: Prudent, who pretty much does nothing but complain the whole movie. Fortunately, he's likable enough that it never becomes too annoying, and he has enough good debate scenes with Robur to make it plain that, grouchy old curmudgeon or not, he's still a very intelligent man.
 Master of the World / int_a1154544
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Master of the World / int_a1154544
 Master of the World / int_a24670a4
type
Benevolent Boss
 Master of the World / int_a24670a4
comment
Benevolent Boss: Robur treats his men quite well, ensuring their Undying Loyalty.
 Master of the World / int_a24670a4
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Master of the World / int_a24670a4
 Master of the World / int_a426ae28
type
Multiple-Choice Past
 Master of the World / int_a426ae28
comment
Multiple-Choice Past: According to Topage, there are many different stories about where Robur comes from. Each one contradicts the last.
 Master of the World / int_a426ae28
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Master of the World / int_a426ae28
 Master of the World / int_a796d2a6
type
Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy
 Master of the World / int_a796d2a6
comment
Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy: Robur's Mooks can't aim for beans (although Turner does manage to wing Strock once during the climax).
 Master of the World / int_a796d2a6
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Master of the World / int_a796d2a6
 Master of the World / int_b35e77ee
type
Fake Defector
 Master of the World / int_b35e77ee
comment
Fake Defector: Combat Pragmatist Strock realizes there's no way he can fight off an entire airship's worth of Mooks, so openly resisting Robur is a no-go. Instead, he pretends to knuckle under and go along with the villain's plan while waiting for the right moment to strike and sabotage his ship.
 Master of the World / int_b35e77ee
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Master of the World / int_b35e77ee
 Master of the World / int_b3987997
type
Men Act, Women Are
 Master of the World / int_b3987997
comment
Men Act, Women Are: Dorothy Prudent is little more than someone for Strock and Evans to fight over and for her father to act protective toward. She does, though, try and help Strock and the crew get the damaged airship past a dangerous mountain range.
 Master of the World / int_b3987997
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Master of the World / int_b3987997
 Master of the World / int_bb094e0a
type
Cool Ship
 Master of the World / int_bb094e0a
comment
Cool Ship: The Albatross, a heavier-than-air warship in a time when the most advanced airborne vehicle is the hot air balloon.
 Master of the World / int_bb094e0a
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Master of the World / int_bb094e0a
 Master of the World / int_bfb5f597
type
Money Is Not Power
 Master of the World / int_bfb5f597
comment
Money Is Not Power: At one point of the film, Mr. Prudent offers Robur ten million dollars (in Victorian money — which many other people would have considered would have set them (and at least a couple of further generations) for life) if he just surrenders the Albatross to the United States Government. Robur makes it clear that he has no desire to give up his quest for any reason, and chides Prudent for even thinking bribing him was an option.
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Master of the World / int_bfb5f597
 Master of the World / int_c36cba70
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Mooks
 Master of the World / int_c36cba70
comment
Mooks: The crew of the Albatross.
 Master of the World / int_c36cba70
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Master of the World / int_c36cba70
 Master of the World / int_d001c42c
type
Anti-Villain
 Master of the World / int_d001c42c
comment
Anti-Villain: Robur. The man wishes to end conflict, and has no problem bombing a lot of people from above to make it clear he's got the Bigger Stick to make his demands with.
 Master of the World / int_d001c42c
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Master of the World / int_d001c42c
 Master of the World / int_d4bb4e51
type
Walking Shirtless Scene
 Master of the World / int_d4bb4e51
comment
Walking Shirtless Scene: Alistair, the Albatross' helmsman, is frequently seen without his shirt on.
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Master of the World / int_d4bb4e51
 Master of the World / int_e4965307
type
Composite Character
 Master of the World / int_e4965307
comment
Composite Character: In many ways, Strock is a combination of the actual John Strock in Master of the World with a dash of Robur the Conqueror's Phil Evans (the actual Evans in this movie being a weaselly Jerkass).
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Master of the World / int_e4965307
 Master of the World / int_f16da697
type
Undying Loyalty
 Master of the World / int_f16da697
comment
Undying Loyalty: Robur's Mooks are loyal to him even to their own deaths, refusing to abandon him even when he orders them to save themselves.
 Master of the World / int_f16da697
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Master of the World / int_f16da697
 Master of the World / int_f25493f4
type
Nothing Exciting Ever Happens Here
 Master of the World / int_f25493f4
comment
Nothing Exciting Ever Happens Here: Discussed by two residents of Morgantown at the beginning, right before Robur makes his presence known to them - and the world at large.
 Master of the World / int_f25493f4
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Master of the World / int_f25493f4
 Master of the World / int_f36c4f98
type
Easily Forgiven
 Master of the World / int_f36c4f98
comment
Easily Forgiven: Evans. Even after he knocks Strock out and leaves him behind on the Albatross to die, Strock pretty much just lets it slide.
 Master of the World / int_f36c4f98
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Master of the World / int_f36c4f98
 Master of the World / int_fd4f8299
type
Well-Intentioned Extremist
 Master of the World / int_fd4f8299
comment
Well-Intentioned Extremist: Robur isn't entirely evil; he's just willing to do any heinous thing he can think of in order to achieve his goal, a world without war; even if it means starting a war.
 Master of the World / int_fd4f8299
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Master of the World / int_fd4f8299
 Master of the World / int_ffe1bbf8
type
Defiant Captive
 Master of the World / int_ffe1bbf8
comment
Defiant Captive: Technically all of the people captured by Robur are this. In reality, Stock is the only one who goes beyond acting offended and actively (and effectively) commits sabotage.
 Master of the World / int_ffe1bbf8
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 Master of the World
hasFeature
Master of the World / int_ffe1bbf8
 Master of the World / int_name
type
ItemName
 Master of the World / int_name
comment
 Master of the World / int_name
featureApplicability
1.0
 Master of the World / int_name
featureConfidence
1.0
 Master of the World
hasFeature
Master of the World / int_name
 Master of the World / int_name
itemName
Master of the World

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 MasteroftheWorld
sameAs
Master of the World
 Master of the World
hasFeature
Cool Airship / int_b7245014
 Master of the World
hasFeature
Mook Lieutenant / int_b7245014
 Master of the World
hasFeature
Those Magnificent Flying Machines / int_b7245014