VALUTAZIONE IMDb
4,2/10
1476
LA TUA VALUTAZIONE
Aggiungi una trama nella tua linguaScientists use a gigantic drilling machine for an expedition to the center of the earth.Scientists use a gigantic drilling machine for an expedition to the center of the earth.Scientists use a gigantic drilling machine for an expedition to the center of the earth.
Victor Kilian
- Dr. Jeremiah Morley
- (non citato nei titoli originali)
Harold Miller
- Carlisle Foundation Board Member
- (non citato nei titoli originali)
Recensioni in evidenza
Let's face it, if you're bothering to read reviews of this film, you are probably going to see it out of a sense of obligation if nothing else. So, it really doesn't matter what I say, now does it?
This is a fairly typical early 1950s not-very-scientific attempt to use the genre as a means for moralizing. The morality of this film is certainly worth listening to for its anti-war, anti-pollution, etc, messages, but the film lacks depth, science of any kind, and, basically, a compelling plot.
Being a fan of 50s sci if, I thought this film started off pretty well. Although there is no obvious crisis looming on the horizon, a scientist and a group of anti-nuke colleagues obtain grant money to explore deep within the earth for the possibility of habitable subterranean environments. Since the film was made in 1950-51, the level of concern regarding nuclear warheads is certainly understandable (too bad some have forgotten about this, eh?).
Much is made about the vehicle which they will use for this journey. The vehicle looks like a suped-up bullet nose Studebaker with a large drill bit attached to it. This vehicle is apparently capable of drilling through several hundred miles of solid rock, without any visible cooling system. As the scientists explore deeper and deeper into the earth, they are not surprised (though I was) to find that most of the crust and upper mantle (my terms, not theirs) are in fact hollow, and have not only gorgeous stalagmites and stalactites, but flat floors graded properly for people to take walks on. Harassed by noxious gasses, magma and pretty poor acting, the cast dwindles as the story devolves into a simple adventure tale.
The acting is generally uneven, and is hampered by the occasionally absurd script. I really don't want to single anybody out, but Marilyn Nash and Bruce Kellogg are particularly off-pace in this one.
The director, Terry Morse, went on to make a few good films (such as the List of Adrian Messenger), and also a lot of other films (the American version of Godzilla, and the timeless classic - not - Love Slaves of the Amazon). And this is sort of below-standard fare in the context of his filmography.
Well, OK then, go see it... You know you want to, and I am not going to stop you... But don't say you didn't have fair warning.
This is a fairly typical early 1950s not-very-scientific attempt to use the genre as a means for moralizing. The morality of this film is certainly worth listening to for its anti-war, anti-pollution, etc, messages, but the film lacks depth, science of any kind, and, basically, a compelling plot.
Being a fan of 50s sci if, I thought this film started off pretty well. Although there is no obvious crisis looming on the horizon, a scientist and a group of anti-nuke colleagues obtain grant money to explore deep within the earth for the possibility of habitable subterranean environments. Since the film was made in 1950-51, the level of concern regarding nuclear warheads is certainly understandable (too bad some have forgotten about this, eh?).
Much is made about the vehicle which they will use for this journey. The vehicle looks like a suped-up bullet nose Studebaker with a large drill bit attached to it. This vehicle is apparently capable of drilling through several hundred miles of solid rock, without any visible cooling system. As the scientists explore deeper and deeper into the earth, they are not surprised (though I was) to find that most of the crust and upper mantle (my terms, not theirs) are in fact hollow, and have not only gorgeous stalagmites and stalactites, but flat floors graded properly for people to take walks on. Harassed by noxious gasses, magma and pretty poor acting, the cast dwindles as the story devolves into a simple adventure tale.
The acting is generally uneven, and is hampered by the occasionally absurd script. I really don't want to single anybody out, but Marilyn Nash and Bruce Kellogg are particularly off-pace in this one.
The director, Terry Morse, went on to make a few good films (such as the List of Adrian Messenger), and also a lot of other films (the American version of Godzilla, and the timeless classic - not - Love Slaves of the Amazon). And this is sort of below-standard fare in the context of his filmography.
Well, OK then, go see it... You know you want to, and I am not going to stop you... But don't say you didn't have fair warning.
This is not as bad a picture as some of the other reviews suggest.
I'm not saying it's a great movie, but it IS surprisingly well done for being made with no money.
It's an odd movie in that it's not really the kind of sci fi you'd expect. There are no monsters or other creatures.
It a straightforward story about finding a alternative place to live in case of nuclear war.
It does drag a bit, but it's worth a watch.
The plot.
Dr. Jerimiah Morley becomes convinced that the world is headed to an inevitable worldwide nuclear war.
He organizes an expedition made up of a team of expert scientists and an atomic-powered rock-boring vehicle called a "cyclotram" to find a subterranean environment where holocaust survivors could live indefinitely.
When funding falls through, independently rich adventurer Wright Thompson underwrites the project under the condition that he be allowed to go.
As the group goes deeper beneath the Earth's crust, personalities clash, tempers flare, and the dangerous journey claims the lives of several expedition members.
When they come upon an enormous underground expanse with its own ocean and phosphorescent light, it appears that their goal has been achieved.
I'm not saying it's a great movie, but it IS surprisingly well done for being made with no money.
It's an odd movie in that it's not really the kind of sci fi you'd expect. There are no monsters or other creatures.
It a straightforward story about finding a alternative place to live in case of nuclear war.
It does drag a bit, but it's worth a watch.
The plot.
Dr. Jerimiah Morley becomes convinced that the world is headed to an inevitable worldwide nuclear war.
He organizes an expedition made up of a team of expert scientists and an atomic-powered rock-boring vehicle called a "cyclotram" to find a subterranean environment where holocaust survivors could live indefinitely.
When funding falls through, independently rich adventurer Wright Thompson underwrites the project under the condition that he be allowed to go.
As the group goes deeper beneath the Earth's crust, personalities clash, tempers flare, and the dangerous journey claims the lives of several expedition members.
When they come upon an enormous underground expanse with its own ocean and phosphorescent light, it appears that their goal has been achieved.
A group of scientists drive an enclosed vehicle into an extinct volcano and then bore more than a thousand miles into the earth. They're searching for underground sanctuaries in case the surface of the earth becomes uninhabitable due to nuclear warfare. This is one of those low-budget, black-and-white films from the 50's that you want to laugh at it, and while it does have its share of bad dialog and cheesy special effects, there's an earnest, committed quality here which eventually overcomes most of the obvious faults. Viewers looking for cheap thrills will be disappointed.
First off, this story is loaded with scientific inaccuracies, the acting is somewhat inconsistent and the premise itself is rather preposterous. However, I found this film addictive and have watched it on a reasonably regular basis. You have a group of people, who decide that the threat of human annihilation is SO likely, it's worth the expense and risk to seek refuge deep in the bowels of the earth. This is all explained in detail in a rather convincing faux newsreel that immediately follows the opening credits. Soon, our less than harmonious crew of seven is locked together in the confines of a tunneling vehicle (called a Cyclotram) headed deep into the earth's interior completely cut off from civilization. There was animosity among some members to begin with, and now stuck together in the not–so-roomy vehicle, patience is predictably thin. Although, the science is off, the crew encounters adversities that are more realistic then most movies of this type. Such things as water shortages, UN-breathable pockets of gas, falling, boiling hot steam and indeed separation from humanity are the enemies they face. This isn't "action adventure" type science fiction, it's more drama based. Don't look for giant lizards or monsters. What makes this movie work for me is its overall dark mood. The dim photography, the music, the character's overall moods and the almost complete lack of any indigenous animal life creates a very melancholy atmosphere. I think the film does an excellent job of conveying the crew's loneliness and uncertainty. It's low budget only intensifies the somber feel. The crew even has a conversation about how their moods are changing (apparently from isolation). Because of all this, when they do discover something that seems to bring a little hope, you almost share their sense of invigoration. I wish this film would get a remastering and a decent release. Ironically the VHS version is far superior to the present DVD. For instance, the DVD is missing the first 12 seconds of the opening credits, including the entire "Lippert Pictures, Inc. Presents" and a bit of the title shot. Also the film is so poorly cropped that Marilyn Nash's name lies almost out of sight hidden the the bottom of the frame. Letters are also cropped off at the right. The newsreel has so many breaks that quite a few of the announcer's words are cut out. If you still own a VCR, it's actually worth picking up a VHS copy. You'd notice that on VHS the credits and newsreel are very much intact and the whole movie is a much better viewing experience.
Well, to be fair, in 1951, there was still a great deal of conjecture about the Earth's inner structure; not only was the theory of "plate tectonics" completely unknown (it's no longer considered a theory), that the core was a viscous super-heated liquid with a solid center (outer core and inner core) was merely a conjecture (today it too is considered fact). This picture strikes me as a sort of "Journey to the Center of the Earth" (1959) meets "The Core" (2003), with perhaps a little more emphasis on the latter.
What was surprising was to see that the credit for music went to Ernest Gold (who appears to have scored a number of forgettable pictures earlier in his career). Gold would go on to score "The Young Philadelphians " (1959), "On the Beach" (1959), "Inherit the Wind" (1960), "Exodus" (1960) and "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" (1963); he won an Oscar for the score to "Exodus." Words were added in 1961 by Pat Boone(!) as "This Land Is Mine." Various versions charted in 1961, including by the piano duo Ferrante & Teicher and Montavani. It still can be heard today on radio stations that program older popular music.
What was surprising was to see that the credit for music went to Ernest Gold (who appears to have scored a number of forgettable pictures earlier in his career). Gold would go on to score "The Young Philadelphians " (1959), "On the Beach" (1959), "Inherit the Wind" (1960), "Exodus" (1960) and "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" (1963); he won an Oscar for the score to "Exodus." Words were added in 1961 by Pat Boone(!) as "This Land Is Mine." Various versions charted in 1961, including by the piano duo Ferrante & Teicher and Montavani. It still can be heard today on radio stations that program older popular music.
Lo sapevi?
- QuizThis project was actually put together by two special effects men, Jack Rabin and Irving Block, who are listed as producers.
- BlooperThe "science" regarding the interior of the earth is wrong, and was known to be wrong at the time the movie was made. It does not get cooler the deeper one goes into the earth. A few feet below the surface the ground temperature is around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Going deeper from that depth the temperature goes up at a rate of approximately 1 degree Fahrenheit per 70 feet.
- Citazioni
Dr. Jeremiah Morley: I believe that humanity can escape annihilation, can find a temporary haven, a promise of hope that, come what may, life can be sustained deep within the Earth itself. Far below the Earth we shall seek a natural, a geologic shelter. We have a team ready for the effort. All we lack are funds.
- ConnessioniFeatured in Victor Kilian: A Blacklist Legacy (2025)
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Dettagli
- Data di uscita
- Paese di origine
- Lingua
- Celebre anche come
- Night Without Stars
- Luoghi delle riprese
- Azienda produttrice
- Vedi altri crediti dell’azienda su IMDbPro
- Tempo di esecuzione
- 1h 14min(74 min)
- Colore
- Proporzioni
- 1.37 : 1
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