The Phantom Empire (1935)

When the ancient continent of Mu sank beneath the ocean, some of its inhabitant survived in caverns beneath the sea. Cowboy singer Gene Autry stumbles upon the civilization, now buried ... See full summary »

Directors:

Otto Brower, B. Reeves Eason

Writers:

Wallace MacDonald (story), Gerald Geraghty (story),

Stars:

Gene Autry, Frankie Darro, Betsy King Ross

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gene Autry	...	Gene Autry
Frankie Darro	...	Frankie Baxter
Betsy King Ross	...	Betsy Baxter
Dorothy Christy	...	Queen Tika
Wheeler Oakman	...	Lord Argo
Charles K. French	...	Mal
Warner Richmond	...	Rab
J. Frank Glendon	...	Professor Beetson (as Frank Glendon)
Smiley Burnette	...	Oscar (as Lester 'Smiley' Burnett)
Peter Potter	...	Pete (as William Moore)
Edward Peil Sr.	...	Cooper (as Edward Piel Sr.)
Jack Carlyle	...	Saunders

Storyline

When the ancient continent of Mu sank beneath the ocean, some of its inhabitant survived in caverns beneath the sea. Cowboy singer Gene Autry stumbles upon the civilization, now buried beneath his own Radio Ranch. The Muranians have developed technology and weaponry such as television and ray guns. Their rich supply of radium draws unscrupulous speculators from the surface. The peaceful civilization of the Muranians is corrupted by the greed from above, and it becomes Autry's task to prevent all-out war, ideally without disrupting his regular radio show.

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Plot Keywords:

ranch | radium | singing cowboy | contract | death ray | 

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Taglines:

A Nation 20,000 Feet Underground

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Genres:

Musical | Sci-Fi | Western | Family

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 February 1935 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gene Autry and the Phantom Empire

Filming Locations:

Agoura Ranch, Agoura, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$70,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mascot Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

245 min 245 min (12 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The main role was meant for Ken Maynard, but he dropped out.

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Quotes

Queen Tika: Gene Autry! How do you like our world?
Gene Autry: I think the dampness and dead air of your land is more suited for rats and moles.

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Connections

Featured in Action Heroes of the Cliffhanger Serials (1992)

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Soundtracks

"Uncle Noah's Ark"
(uncredited)
"Uncle Noah's Ark"
(uncredited)
Written by Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette and Nick Manoloff
Performed by Gene Autry and band

User Reviews

When I was 12, I was in HEAVEN.....

No, I wasn't 12 in 1935! Try 1955 when this 12 episode serial played on Saturdays in Colorado Springs. I grew up with westerns, with Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Lash Larue, and the rest. I was also acquainted with the science fiction serials and films of the period. Imagine my GLEE when I found out that they had merged the two genres!!!

I saw this again recently, and while it has aged a bit in relationship to more modern westerns and SF films, this is indeed a landmark film: The only SF serial in which a major Western cowboy is the star!!!

I am amazed that so few people have scored this film in IMDb. Please do yourselves a favor and seek out this one, watch it, enjoy it, and then give it a vote respective of its mark in cinematic history!