Unter Wasser rund um die Welt

One of my sci-fi/horror/fantasy reviews written 50 years ago: Andrew Marton directed for producer Ivan Tors and MGM Pictures release. Starring Lloyd Bridges, David McCallum, Shirley Eaton, Brian Kelly, Marshall Thompson, Keenan Wynn and Gary Merrill.

Despite its major studio theatrical release, this film has the false glossy look of a telefeature. Accentuated by the presence of a solid lineup of TV castoffs, the crew of the hydronaut vessel goes around planting electronic gadgets designed to give warnings of impending tidal waves. They must deal with typical catastrophe emergencies along the way. The emphasis is on scientific adventure in this flick, rather than sci-fi.

Typical Ivan Tors- short on plot or scientific accuracy, long on reuse of B-roll material at different angles or magnifications. Miami Beach coast guard station is where the sub launches from for its incredible month long journey around the oceans without a support vessel.

I have fond memories of this film, and watching it now they come back as strong as ever. Not only does lovely Bond girl Shirley Eaton make an appearance, but the stars of many of my fave shows of the 60s are present and accounted for: Lloyd Bridges (Mike Nelson of Sea Hunt), Brian Kelly (dad to Flipper), Marshall Thompson (Daktari himself), and David McCallum (the ever-cool Illya Kuryakin of U.N.C.L.E.). Along with the superb Keenan Wynn these cast members make a good compliment of aquanauts traveling in a futuristic sub on a mission to plant earthquake detecting devices around the globe. There's a solid script, just enough tension, and assured performances that supply a fun and diverting story. What really shines are the excellent underwater sequences courtesy of the Tors unit that set the standard for underwater action sequences (such as their Bond film sequences). Photographer Lamar Boren and director Ricou Browning do some of their best work here. The sub here is a real one (I found it decades later lying by the side of the interstate highway in south Florida next to an amusement park). It was built in 1956 by Martine Diving Bells of San Diego. Another nice part of this film are the great special effects by Project Unlimited (TV's Outer Limits and the props from the original Star Trek). While all the film seems quite dated now, it was believable action in its day, the sort of thing that was a not-so-guilty pleasure for a kid like me back then, and still very enjoyable today. Note the excellent score by Harry Sukman, which was released as a soundtrack LP that is a rare find these days.

A forgotten aquatic based sci-fier from an era that loved them, Andrew Marton's film isn't extremely bad exactly, it's just that it plods along without ever really reaching exciting heights.

Cast features Lloyd Bridges, Brian Kelly, Shirley Eaton, David McCallum and Keenan Wynn, who are tasked with traversing the world's ocean beds to plant sensors that will warn mankind of impending earthquakes. A tricky task for sure, especially after we have been told at the start that the depths of the ocean is more inhospitable than anything in space.

The science is of course nutty, as is the effects and photography work on show. Much of the film is taken up with talk, be it sci-fi boffins or heroes in waiting, or a burgeoning romance (Eaton locked in a submarine with a load of men, what a shock!), the chatter promises more than the film ultimately delivers. The expected perils arrive, a couple of beasties of the sea, some submarine damage threatens to scupper our heroes, which asks us to hold on to see how it will pan out. Thus who will survive etc? The end of the world core of the story, the earthquake science et al, is interesting to a cerebral degree, but it plays out like a screenplay that Irwin Allen read and threw in the trash can because it wasn't exciting enough. 5/10

The film is definitely out dated with a group of world class scientists who are brought together to save the world from an impending volcanic eruption which could take place imminently from the bottom of the sea floor. Although the director attempts to bring some level of suspense and action with large sea creatures and explosive devices that have the oceans waves hit fifty (50) feet into the air, the only time I got a rise was when the petite and only female scientist Dr. Margaret E. 'Maggie' Hanford (Shirley Eaton) on board this submarine appeared on the screen.

The cast was decent enough as was the cinematography. What blew it for me (no pun intended) was the continual bombardment and use of explosions in a useless attempt to build action and adventure when none was present.

I was disappointed in both the story line and film's lack of any meaningful plot as well as the over abundance of meaningless explosions all in a failed attempt to build suspense and danger. It just did nothing for me except for the appearance of eye candy Shirley Eaton, who was the only worthy film presence.

I rate it a dismal 4 out of 10