The suspense is relentless in Fantastic Voyage as the Soviet Union and the United States have developed technology that allows them to shrink atoms and objects, but their matter-reducing capabilities only lasts for one hour. When scientist Dr. Jan Benes (Jean Del Val) has a formula that allows the miniaturization to last indefinitely, American CIA agent Grant (Stephen Boyd) attempts to help the doctor escape from behind the Iron Curtain and shepherd the formula to American soil. After an assassination attempt leaves Dr. Benes in a coma with a blood clot in his brain, Grant becomes part of a five-person crew that includes a pilot (William Redfield), a Doctor (Donald Pleasence), a surgeon (Arthur Kennedy), and his assistant (Raquel Welch), who are miniaturized aboard a Naval submarine (the Proteus) and injected into Dr. Benes bloodstream to perform surgery from inside the body. It’s a race against a 60-minute clock, as the Proteus is attacked by Dr. Benes’ anti-bodies, and Grant is armed with the knowledge that one of the crew members may be a saboteur. Fantastic Voyage was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning Oscars for Best Special Effects and Best Art Direction.
“The lavish production, boasting some brilliant special effects and superior creative efforts, is an entertaining, enlightening excursion through inner space – the body of a man.” – Variety
