The Atomic Submarine (1959)

Ships mysteriously disappear on route across the Arctic Sea, and a specially-equipped submarine is sent to investigate.

Director:

Spencer Gordon Bennet

Writer:

Orville H. Hampton

Stars:

Arthur Franz, Dick Foran, Brett Halsey

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Arthur Franz	...	Lt. Cmdr. Richard 'Reef' Holloway
Dick Foran	...	Cmdr. Dan Wendover
Brett Halsey	...	Dr. Carl Neilson Jr.
Tom Conway	...	Sir Ian Hunt
Paul Dubov	...	Lt. David Milburn
Bob Steele	...	CPO 'Grif' Griffin
Victor Varconi	...	Dr. Clifford Kent
Joi Lansing	...	Julie
Selmer Jackson	...	Adm. Terhune
Jack Mulhall	...	Justin Murdock
Jean Moorhead	...	Helen Milburn
Richard Tyler	...	Frogman Carney
Kenneth Becker	...	Frogman Powell (as Ken Becker)
Sid Melton	...	Yeoman Chester Tuttle
Frank Watkins	...	Watkins

Storyline

In the far and distant future of 1968, many ships and planes are crossing the North pole to transport passengers and cargo. However lately more than eight ships and seven submarines have vanished mysteriously. The Tigershark is sent out to investigate their whereabouts and - if possible - remove the cause of their disappearance. But the life form Commander Vandover and his crew encounter may be too powerful even for their weapons of newest technology...

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Plot Keywords:

submarine | north pole | arctic | cyclops | navy | 

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Taglines:

The Screen's Spectacular Inferno of the Battle for Civilization!

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Genres:

Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 November 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Atomic Sub

Box Office

Budget:

$135,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gorham Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

72 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

Producer Alex Gordon claimed that the production averaged 50 set-ups per day and on one occasion did 72.

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Goofs

There is no Nobel Prize in oceanography.

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Quotes

Voice of Spaceman: At last Commander, we meet as your people say... face to face!
Cmdr. Richard 'Reef' Holloway: That's a face?

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Connections

Referenced in Atomic Recall (2007)

User Reviews

down to the sea in shticks

A series of unexplained maritime disasters (no, not necessarily this film) prompts the US Government to dispatch its latest and greatest atomic sub to investigate and, if possible, neutralize whatever it finds - in this case, a malevolent monocular alien and his (it's?) living UFO. The cast consists of the usual characters: a hard-nosed, two-fisted manly man Executive Officer (played by Arthur Franz), the level-headed Captain (played by the barely seen Dick Foran), and the vaguely condescending scientist Sir Ian Hunt (played by the for-once-in-his-life-sober Tom Conway). Rounding out the crew are: the crusty CPO, a couple of UDT frogmen (you just KNOW they're gonna get snuffed), a wonderfully discombobulated Sid Melton (a part he plays SO well), a snivelling antiwar oceanographer, and the jaw-droppingly gorgeous girlfriend/flavor-of-the-week (played with impeccable style and subtlety by Joi Lansing, last of the Hollywood Blonde Bombshells. Awright: so who cares if she can't act?). Plotwise, the movie is very similar to "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea", except it's shot in glorious black and white, with cheap sets, not-so-special effects, hambone acting, and models that, while very imaginative, look like models. Some of the dialogue is pretty shaky too, especially the exchange between Franz and the colossal, one-eyed alien. Still, this movie has a certain quaint quality about it, and remains one of our favorites. It's one of those "At least it's better than. . ." films. Better than what? Well, "Santa Claus Conquers The Martians", for one; "Murdercycle", for another. Bottom line: it's a good rainy Saturday popcorn movie.