Undersea Kingdom (1936)

Crash Corrigan, a recent graduate of Annapolis, and Diana, a go-getting reporter, join Professor Norton for a search for the source of a string of earthquakes, Atlantis. They ride Prof. ... See full summary »

Directors:

B. Reeves Eason, Joseph Kane

Writers:

John Rathmell (screenplay), Maurice Geraghty (screenplay),

Stars:

Ray Corrigan, Lois Wilde, Monte Blue

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Crash Corrigan, a recent graduate of Annapolis, and Diana, a go-getting reporter, join Professor Norton for a search for the source of a string of earthquakes, Atlantis. They ride Prof. Norton's rocket submarine searching the sea and little Billy Norton, the professor's son stows away, of course. When they find Atlantis they are caught in a war between peaceful Atlanteans, note their white capes, and war-monging Atlanteans, note their black capes. After many harrowing moments for Crash, Diana, Prof. Norton and Billy, they barely get away with their lives when they escape a tower of Atlantis raised to the surface for the sole purpose of dominating or destroying the Earth (Which one depends on the compliance of the upper world dwellers.)

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Plot Keywords:

atlantis | professor | rocket | earthquake | escape | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Sci-Fi | Adventure

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 May 1936 (USA)

Also Known As:

Império Submarino

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch - 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$99,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

226 min 226 min (12 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor High Fidelity System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Republic Studios learned that Universal was producing their "Flash Gordon" serial, they rushed this serial, using similar plot elements, into production.

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Goofs

Billy has light blond hair throughout the series, but in a scene where he is thrown from a chariot, he is clearly being doubled by somebody whose hair is much darker.

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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.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Sword and the Dragon (1994)

User Reviews

Fast moving and exciting, better than most serials...

"Undersea Kingdom" is fast-moving and exciting, better than most serials...with the added fun of seeing how the cliffhangers are impossibly resolved. One of my favorite superheroes who's never been filmed is Namor, the Submariner and this serial comes closest to rendering him on film. It's amazing how a very ordinary looking guy (Ray Corrigan) with an admittedly great physique can be transformed into a thrilling superhero just by donning a costume. This is the best example of the transformation by costume...Corrigan doesn't look anywhere near as imposing without that great sort of Aztec-looking helmet, the best flowing cape (far better than Superman's) and those nifty fish-scale briefs that turn transparent when the lighting hits them just right. Fortunately, our hero wears this impressive outfit throughout most of the series, and you will notice how much his presence is diminished just by removing the helmet from time to time. Despite the robots that look like lumbering water heaters and a sardine-can tank that announces its presence with an ambulance siren, this is a classic serial adventure that should surely please most action-hero and serial fans. It's a very ambitious and largely successful product for its times, with the added bonus of little of the tediously long previous chapter replays of later efforts in the genre. Highly recommended!