Undersea Kingdom (1936)

Directors:

B. Reeves Eason
Joseph Kane

Writers:

Tracy Knight (story) and
John Rathmell (story) ...

Release Date:

30 May 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Adventure

Tagline:

BATTLING UNKNOWN TERRORS IN A LAND OF PERIL UNDER THE OCEAN'S FLOOR! (original 1936 poster)

Plot:

Crash Corrigan, a recent graduate of Annapolis, and Diana, a go-getting reporter, join Professor Norton...

Plot Keywords:

Atlantis | Professor | Earthquake | Submarine | Escape

Cast

Ray Corrigan	...	Crash Corrigan (as Ray 'Crash' Corrigan)
Lois Wilde	...	Diana Compton
Monte Blue	...	Unga Khan
William Farnum	...	Sharad
Boothe Howard	...	Ditmar
Raymond Hatton	...	Gasspon
C. Montague Shaw	...	Prof. Norton
Lee Van Atta	...	Billy Norton
Smiley Burnette	...	Briny Deep
Frankie Marvin	...	Salty
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Capt. Hakur
Lane Chandler	...	Darius
Jack Mulhall	...	Lt. Andrews [Chs. 1, 12]
John Bradford	...	Joe [Ch. 1]
Malcolm McGregor	...	Zogg

Runtime:

226 min (12 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor High Fidelity System)

Certification:

USA:Approved | Finland:K-12 | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Republic Pictures

Trivia:

Chapter titles: - 1. Beneath The Ocean Floor - 2. Undersea Kingdom - 3. Arena of Death - 4. Revenge of The Volkites - 5. Prisoners of Atlantis - 6. Juggernaut Strikes - 7. Submarine Strikes - 8. Into The Metal Tower - 9. Death In The Air - 10. Atlantis Destroyed - 11. Flaming death - 12. Ascent To The Upperworld

Goofs:

Continuity: When Billy is abducted, his hat is blown off, but it is back on his head in the very next shot.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[flexing muscles during a Naval Academy physical]
Crash Corrigan: How 'bout it, Doc. Do you think I'll live?
Navy Doctor [Ch. 1]: You look kind of weak and puny, but I think you'll pull through.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Firesign Theatre Presents 'Hot Shorts' (1983)

More Undersea Silliness

I found the entire serial on two DVDs for the bargain-price of $5 a piece. I honestly only got the first six because the guy was, well, undressed except for a cape and a helmet and these really cool boots. Otherwise he looked like he was in his underwear.

I really loved the over the top acting and the, for then, cool special effects. That the producers seemed to enjoy finding the slimmest excuse to put Our Hero into cheek revealing outfits and at one point literally strapping him spread-eagle to a moving "car" smacks of almost unbelievable camp. That this stuff passed muster during The Code is even more amazing.

As to weather the cliffhangers cheat; OK they cheat. But in a way I sort of enjoy the original cliffhanger version. Crash gets blown up, dropped down an elevator shaft, smashed into a wooden door (with the aforementioned "car"), dropped from great heights and others too numerous to mention.

I don't love that his "sidekick" is either a young boy who worships him and that he seems a bit too attached to (witness his reaction when Billy falls down a facing). His other "sidekick" is an enemy he saves, only to have the poor sap pine for Our Hero until he is killed, just to assure Crash's engagement to The Girl.

This movie is definitely a repeat offender. But it is fun nonetheless. Invite your friends over and have a drinking party where everyone takes a belt whenever Crash shows his ass. You'll be plowed before the night is out.

Bad, silly, obvious. But not nearly as crappy as Bad Boys 2.

I give this one a Thumbs Up!