The Lost Continent (1968)

This film starts out like the Love Boat on acid, as a cast of varied characters, with various issues, take Captain Eric Portman's leaky cargo ship to escape their troubles. When a violent ... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Carreras

Writers:

Michael Carreras (screenplay), Dennis Wheatley (novel)

Stars:

Eric Porter, Hildegard Knef, Suzanna Leigh

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Eric Porter	...	Capt. Lansen
Hildegard Knef	...	Eva Peters (as Hildegarde Neff)
Suzanna Leigh	...	Unity Webster
Tony Beckley	...	Harry Tyler
Nigel Stock	...	Dr. Webster
Neil McCallum	...	First Officer Hemmings
Ben Carruthers	...	Ricaldi (as Benito Carruthers)
Jimmy Hanley	...	Patrick, the bartender
James Cossins	...	Nick, chief engineer
Dana Gillespie	...	Sarah
Victor Maddern	...	The mate
Reg Lye	...	The Helmsman
Norman Eshley	...	Jonathan, the prisoner
Michael Ripper	...	Sea Lawyer
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Frank Hayden	...	Sergeant

Storyline

This film starts out like the Love Boat on acid, as a cast of varied characters, with various issues, take Captain Eric Portman's leaky cargo ship to escape their troubles. When a violent storm strikes, the ship is swept into the Sargasso Sea and our heroes find themselves trapped on an island of man-eating seaweed, populated by giant monster crabs and some Spanish conquistadors who think the Inquisition is still on. Features songs and music by '60s "cool group", the Peddlers.

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Plot Keywords:

ship | monster | storm | seaweed | conquistador | 

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Taglines:

See blood beasts battling over female flesh!, torture pits for forbidden lovers!, sacrifice to giant jaw-snapping mollusks!, escape from floating death ship!, helpless beauties attacked by crazed kelp-monsters!, fiery destruction of the lost continent!

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Genres:

Adventure | Fantasy | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 June 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

Lost Island

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hammer Film Productions, Seven Arts Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In interviews Eddie Powell claimed that Christopher Lee was going to play the part Powell played.

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Quotes

[facing down the Grand Inquisitor]
Capt. Lansen: We're getting out. Now we can noisily, or we can go quietly. The choice is up to you.
The Grand Inquistor: Where are you going? You're trapped here like the rest of us. There's no escape.
Capt. Lansen: How do you know? Have you ever tried?
The Grand Inquistor: Our ancestors tried.
Capt. Lansen: I'm not talking about them, I'm talking about you.
The Grand Inquistor: It's God's will!
Capt. Lansen: It's your will, because you want it this way! You do it in the name of God through this child here because you haven't got the guts to do your own dirty work!
The Grand Inquistor: You speak ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Dennis Wheatley at Hammer (2012)

User Reviews

Bizarre but absolutely brilliant

This movie is a gem. I just can't recall any other film with so many elements in. The old ship, the dangerous cargo, the passengers (each with a dark story behind), the hurricane, the mutiny, and suddenly a complete different picture: the red skies, the weird man-eating plants, a lost Spanish galleon with the survivors of a religious cult, giant monsters on an island, people floating over the plants with balloons and it goes on a on. The word IMAGINATION was created for that kind of stuff. An ultra rare Hammer production without stars, but with lots of visual creativity. And, if you are into British 60's music, take notice of the smooth, retro cool organ sounds by The Peddlers, a trio that recorded a few albums but never achieve the success they deserved. And the gorgeous busted woman at the end (Dana Gillespie) later found a career as a blues/rock singer. This is a must for fans of the bizarre!!