Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961)

Director:

Irwin Allen

Writers:

Irwin Allen (screenplay) and
Charles Bennett (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

12 July 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Admiral Nelson takes a brand new atomic submarine through its paces. When the Van Allen radiation belt catches fire...

Plot Keywords:

Admiral | Fire | Scientist | Radiation | Submarine

Cast

Walter Pidgeon	...	Adm. Harriman Nelson
Joan Fontaine	...	Dr. Susan Hiller
Barbara Eden	...	Lt Cathy Connors
Peter Lorre	...	Comm. Lucius Emery
Robert Sterling	...	Capt. Lee Crane
Michael Ansara	...	Miguel Alvarez
Frankie Avalon	...	Lt (j.g.) Danny Romano
Regis Toomey	...	Dr. Jamieson
John Litel	...	Vice-Adm. B.J. Crawford
Howard McNear	...	Congressman Llewellyn Parker
Henry Daniell	...	Dr. Zucco
Skip Ward	...	Crew member
Mark Slade	...	Seaman Jimmy 'Red' Smith
Charles Tannen	...	CPO Gleason
Del Monroe	...	Seaman Kowski (as Delbert Monroe)
Anthony Monaco	...	Cookie
Michael Ford	...	Crew member
Robert Easton	...	Sparks
Jonathan Gilmore	...	Seaman George Young
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Adams	...	Crew Member (uncredited)
Art Baker	...	UN Commentator (uncredited)
Robert Buckingham	...	Crew Member (uncredited)
Charles Dierkop	...	Pilot of the Seaview (uncredited)
George Diestel	...	Lt. Hodges (uncredited)
John Giovanni	...	Italian Delegate (uncredited)
Larry Gray	...	Dr. Newmar (uncredited)
William Herrin	...	Crew Member (uncredited)
Kendrick Huxham	...	UN Chairman (uncredited)
David McLean	...	Ned Thompson (uncredited)
Jimmy Murphy	...	Crew Member (uncredited)

Directed by
Irwin Allen

Writing credits
Irwin Allen		(screenplay) and
Charles Bennett		(screenplay)
Irwin Allen		(story)

Produced by
Irwin Allen	....	producer

Original Music by
Paul Sawtell
Bert Shefter

Cinematography by
Winton C. Hoch		(as Winton Hoch)

Film Editing by
George Boemler

Art Direction by
Herman A. Blumenthal
Jack Martin Smith

Set Decoration by
Walter M. Scott
John Sturtevant

Costume Design by
Paul Zastupnevich

Makeup Department
Ben Nye	....	makeup artist
Helen Turpin	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ad Schaumer	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Alfred Bruzlin	....	sound
Warren B. Delaplain	....	sound

Special Effects by
L.B. Abbott	....	special photographic effects
Johnny Borgese	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Johnny Hagner	....	stunts (uncredited)
Zale Parry	....	underwater stunts (uncredited)
Paul Stader	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
John Lamb	....	underwater cinematographer

Music Department
Max Reese	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
Jim Martell	....	transportation coordinator (uncredited)

Other crew
Al Gail	....	assistant to producer
Fred Zendar	....	technical advisor

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (presents)
• Windsor Productions

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1961) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1967) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Centfox (1961) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2010) (Canada) (DVD) (4 film collection)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (4 film collection)
• Encore Entertainment (1996) (UK) (video) (laserdisc)
• Fox Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Magnetic Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"The Global Crisis" - Japan (English title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for some perilous situations

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | UK:U | USA:PG | Canada:PG (Ontario) | West Germany:12 (nf) | USA:Approved (certificate #19888) (original rating) | Canada:PG (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Stage 3, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Walter Pidgeon, who played Admiral Nelson in the movie, and Richard Basehart, who played Admiral Nelson in the TV series based on it ("Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" (1964)) both died within a week of each other.

Goofs:

Continuity: In most underwater scenes shot from within the nose of the sub, the water through which the sub is moving is calm. But in some underwater shots - diving to the ocean floor to tap the telephone cable, when they first learn they're being pursued by the UN sub - the water is foaming as the sub passes through it. Also, when the Admiral and Captain Crane go below to greet Dr. Hiller and the others at the beginning, the underwater view is perfectly still, showing no indication of movement, even though the sub is underway at the time.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Admiral Nelson:Full speed for home, Lee.
Capt. Lee Crane:Aye, aye, sir.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Phineas and Ferb: Boyfriend from 27,000 B.C./Voyage to the Bottom of Buford (#1.27)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea

MUST SEE

If you're a sci-fi junkie as I am, this is one of your MUST SEES. Irwin Allen's Nuclear powered "SEAVIEW" is a marvel. Must be seen in letterboxed format to appreciate all the effects. I saw it in the theatres when 1st released and I still am in awe of it. TV series only added to my delight. You'll enjoy this one.