Krakatoa, East of Java
Encyclopedia
Krakatoa, East of Java (1969
) is a movie starring Maximilian Schell
and Brian Keith
. This film was nominated for Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
of the volcano
on the island of Krakatoa
. The characters are engaged in the recovery of a cargo of pearl
s from a shipwreck
perilously close to the volcano.
and presented in 70 mm Cinerama
in some cinemas.
Some problems with the film include inaccuracy in detail. Krakatoa is, in fact, west of Java
. (Mount Tambora
, on Sumbawa
, is the violent volcano east of Java). The film was retitled Volcano in later releases. While the film was in production, its makers became aware of the geographic error in its title but used it anyway, apparently believing that this was a more exotic title than "Krakatoa, West of Java" (perhaps this was due to the recent "East of Eden
"). Furthermore, the film aided in popularizing the Krakatoa spelling of the name of the island/volcano, a spelling which is probably based upon a misconception.
1969 in film
The year 1969 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* Last year for prize giving at the Venice Film Festival until it is revived in 1980...
) is a movie starring Maximilian Schell
Maximilian Schell
Maximilian Schell is an Austrian-born Swiss actor who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Judgment at Nuremberg in 1961...
and Brian Keith
Brian Keith
Brian Keith was an American film, television, and stage actor who in his four decade-long career gained recognition for his work in movies such as the 1961 Disney family film The Parent Trap, the 1966 comedy The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming, and the 1975 adventure saga The Wind and...
. This film was nominated for Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
Plot
The story attempts to base events around the 1883 eruption1883 eruption of Krakatoa
The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa began in May 1883 and culminated with the destruction of Krakatoa on 27 August 1883. Minor seismic activity continued to be reported until February 1884, though reports after October 1883 were later dismissed by Rogier Verbeek's investigation.-Early phase:In the years...
of the volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
on the island of Krakatoa
Krakatoa
Krakatoa is a volcanic island made of a'a lava in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. The name is used for the island group, the main island , and the volcano as a whole. The island exploded in 1883, killing approximately 40,000 people, although some estimates...
. The characters are engaged in the recovery of a cargo of pearl
Pearl
A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other...
s from a shipwreck
Shipwreck
A shipwreck is what remains of a ship that has wrecked, either sunk or beached. Whatever the cause, a sunken ship or a wrecked ship is a physical example of the event: this explains why the two concepts are often overlapping in English....
perilously close to the volcano.
Production
The film was photographed in Todd-AOTodd-AO
Todd-AO is a post-production company founded in 1953, providing sound-related services to the motion picture and television industries. The company operates three facilities in the Los Angeles area.-History:...
and presented in 70 mm Cinerama
Cinerama
Cinerama is the trademarked name for a widescreen process which works by simultaneously projecting images from three synchronized 35 mm projectors onto a huge, deeply-curved screen, subtending 146° of arc. It is also the trademarked name for the corporation which was formed to market it...
in some cinemas.
Some problems with the film include inaccuracy in detail. Krakatoa is, in fact, west of Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
. (Mount Tambora
Mount Tambora
Mount Tambora is an active stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, on the island of Sumbawa, Indonesia. Sumbawa is flanked both to the north and south by oceanic crust, and Tambora was formed by the active subduction zone beneath it. This raised Mount Tambora as high as , making it...
, on Sumbawa
Sumbawa
Sumbawa is an Indonesian island, located in the middle of the Lesser Sunda Islands chain, with Lombok to the west, Flores to the east, and Sumba further to the southeast. It is in the province of West Nusa Tenggara....
, is the violent volcano east of Java). The film was retitled Volcano in later releases. While the film was in production, its makers became aware of the geographic error in its title but used it anyway, apparently believing that this was a more exotic title than "Krakatoa, West of Java" (perhaps this was due to the recent "East of Eden
East of Eden
East of Eden is a novel by Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck, published in September 1952.Often described as Steinbeck's most ambitious novel, East of Eden brings to life the intricate details of two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons, and their interwoven stories. The novel was originally...
"). Furthermore, the film aided in popularizing the Krakatoa spelling of the name of the island/volcano, a spelling which is probably based upon a misconception.