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:

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:

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 familiar trumpet call played at horse races in the US to announce post time, known as "First Call", is used to rally the troops in "Chapter 4: Revenge of the Volkites". Though it may sound to some comic and strangely out of place, it was actually a military bugle call that alerted soldiers to prepare and assemble for a formation.

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Goofs

In the first episode, when Diana (Lois Wilde) and the Doctor are speaking, he calls her Lois.

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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

Featured in Horrible Horror (1986)

User Reviews

Flash Gordon-Lite

Republic Pictures 12-chapter serial, Undersea Kingdom, borrows many elements from the Flash Gordon story: a "yellow menace"-type villain, a scientist and his futuristic craft (this time a rocket submarine rather than a rocketship), a vanquished foe spared in combat becoming a staunch ally, and finally the heroes name Crash (rhymes with...). You can see the beginnings of the great serial factory Republic was to become, with decent fights and excellent special effects for 1936. Pacing is sluggish and it contains some horrendous cliffhanger cheats. For example, when Crash is SEEN plummeting down an elevator shaft and the next episode begins with his falling through the open elevator doors, reaching out and clutching the edge of the doorway preventing his fall. I would not recommend seeing this serial in one go because the cheats would be less abrasive if the chapters were viewed with some time in between. I rate this serial a 7.0 (Review: 1; 11/2002)