I had always thought that the disaster films
of Irwin Allen began with Poseidon Adventure in 1972 and then moved on to
The Towering Inferno, but those were piddling disasters of sinking ships
and burning buildings when compared to this one. This is the end of life
on earth. Ya, all of us are doomed. The world is catching fire. Admittedly,
Allen saved money by not showing any of that but instead films nearly the
entire movie on a submarine set supposedly under water. So basically, one
set that he reused when this was turned into a TV series.
But it is quite the submarine - clearly
aspects of this are inspired by the 1954 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea movie.
This submarine has a similar lounge with a window to look at the all the
wonderful creatures - like the giant squid and octopus - also borrowed from
20,000 Leagues. And an indoor swimming pool where a pet shark is kept. And
a slightly Nemo like Admiral out to the save the world. The film capitalized
on the fact that atomic subs were in the news after going under the North
Pole. It has some suspense - saving the world can do that - and fine special
effects makes for an entertaining film. A solid if older cast as well.
Admiral Nelson - no not that one - played
by Walter Pidgeon - is a scientific genius who has invented this super-duper
sub and is applauded throughout the world. Remember when scientists were
respected? His brain is soon needed. The Van Allen Radiation Belt above the
earth has caught fire and the temperatures on earth are shooting up quickly.
Forests are on fire, water is drying up, crops are devastated and people
are dying from heat. Ya, accelerated Climate Change. At an increase of two
degrees a day, the earth is now given long only a few weeks to survive. A
good time to move to northern Canada. One scientific theory is to do nothing
- it will burn itself out. But the Admiral and his genius scientific colleague
decide that they have to shoot it with a missile from the Marianne Islands
at a specific time on a specific day. All done on a slide rule. Who needs
computers. The colleague is played by a grumpy Peter Lorre whose face is
beginning to look like a Dali melting clock. He likes taking the shark for
walks when not trying to save us all.
Since they are in NYC, they have a long
way to go and many problems - from a mutinous crew, a surly Captain (Robert
Sterling). a zealous religious man (Michael Ansara) who thinks this is God's
work. an annoying Lt who sings the theme song (Frankie Avalon without Annette),
a female doctor (Joan Fontaine) stuck on the ship who thinks the Nemo like
Admiral is going crazy - not to mention giant creatures, a phantom ship filled
with the dead, a field of land mines and a killer sub after them. And a world
to save! Thankfully, Barbara Eden is on board to dance the hootchy-kootchy.
After this Allen directed Five Weeks in a Balloon and dragged Eden and Lorre
with him but traded Avalon for Fabian. This is pretty good. Something is
always going on and people are going crazy.
