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	...	Norton
Lee Van Atta	...	Billy Norton
Smiley Burnette	...	Briny Deep
Frankie Marvin	...	Salty
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Hakur
Lane Chandler	...	Darius
Jack Mulhall	...	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:

copper | gold | cliffhanger | chapter play | damsel in distress | 

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Taglines:

WEIRD THRILLS...Battling Mechanical Men On A Lost Continent! (original 1936 window card)

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Genres:

Sci-Fi | Adventure

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 May 1936 (USA)

Also Known As:

Império Submarino

Filming Locations:

Republic Studios - 4024 Radford Avenue, North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$99,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

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

The Volkite robots here, refurbished, became the "Republic Robot" that debuted in Mysterious Doctor Satan (1940).

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Goofs

In a chapter 10 when Crash says "They are bombing the temple..." his mouth does not move.

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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 Muppet Babies: Journey to the Center of the Nursery (1987)

User Reviews

Even The Lydecker Aircraft Can't Save This Turkey

Despite being born in 1966, I have actually seen about 20 old time movie serials in my time, the ones made in the 1940s and 1950s actually stand the test of time rather well, but this one, dating back to 1936, is just a bit too old for me.

From the first frames, it has 1930s written all over it, from the clothing to the acting to general look of the production.

Being a Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea nutcase, I was actually looking forward to seeing some Voyage/Sea-ish submarine miniature effects from the Lydeckers (Howard Lydecker created effects for Voyage/Sea) but The Undersea Kingdom submarine looks ugly.

Then again, one later chapter features a fancy aircraft, flying in daylight, that resembles much later effects that Howard would do for Irwin Allen TV.

Sorry folks, this serial just does not cut it for me, in fact, I destroyed the video tape. Maybe I am just too young for it?