Unknown World

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.

The film begins with some stock footage about nuclear war and is part of a presentation scientists are making in order to drum up support for an ark, of sorts, to be sent deep within the planet. This way, in case we have a nuclear war, the species can survive deep inside mother Earth. The story, at times, is highly reminiscent of Jules Verne's JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH.

When I rented this film, I assumed based on the box cover that it was a typical low-budget 1950s sci-fi/horror film. However, to my surprise, there were no bug-eyed monsters, alligators or lizards with cheap fins pasted on or silly masked ghouls. While it certainly did not have a huge budget, the film made a genuine effort to entertain, have SOME basis in scientific facts of the day and say something about mankind. While some might find this all pretty dull, I actually enjoyed it more than I thought and in hindsight I am glad the usual silly and schlocky monsters and such were missing. Now this isn't to say this is a masterpiece. Occasionally, the characters behave a bit silly--such as their needlessly bickering (which makes no sense for such an expedition) and the science behind all this is suspect (such as the lack of differences in air pressure, the presence of drinkable water as well as breathable air over a thousand miles inside the Earth and their ability to ascend at an incredible rate without exploding!). Still, it is oddly compelling and the acting (while they weren't arguing) was pretty good. Plus, unlike JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH, it's nice NOT to see dinosaurs and other creatures waiting to greet our heroes.

Final verdict--well worth a look and a decent time-passer despite some limitations.

PS--This film is from Alpha Video--one of the worst producers of DVDs out there. Fortunately, unlike many of their films which are scratchy public domain prints, this one is a very good copy and is very watchable.

As with ROCKETSHIP XM, Irving Block, Jack Rabin and the Lippert Company were trying to make a serious science fiction film with something to say. To the films credit, UNKNOWN WORLD is not exploitive or stupid as Rabins and Blocks next film ,CAT WOMEN OF THE MOON was. Years before I first saw this film, I owned a still of the drilling machine that takes the cast to center of the Earth and found it rather interesting looking. Its not bad looking in the film, and the scenes of it drilling into the Earth are of some visual interest. However, the film is just to lethargic and indifferently acted too be of interest to anyone other 1950's science fiction buffs. The trip to the center of the Earth is just to slow going.

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.

A group of scientists tunnel to the center of the Earth to find a refuge from the dangers of the atomic world. As the team of the scientific people : Bruce Kellogg, Otto Waldis, Jim Bannon... , among them one woman : Marilyn Walsh , use a gigantic drilling for a risked expidition. The scientific compatriots descend into deep caverns filled with stalactites and stalagmites and looking for a tunnel system leading to the center . All of them drilling into the forbidden depths of the Earth resulting in surprising as well as fateful consequences. A thousand miles down...Ten-thousand Thrills Deep! A Journey to the Center of the Earth . Shocking drama of a woman who's lost life's most precious gifts! . Daring scenes of the forbidden depths at the heart of the world! Adventure into the unknown! Drilling into the forbidding depths of the earth!

A shocking and fantastic drama with daring scenes of the forbidden depth at the heart of the world. It blends usual issue in the Fifties about the risks of the nuclear war along the classic story of Jules Verne's Voyage to the Center of the Earth. The highlights of the movie are the numerous risks and dangers they have to deal with . Big start winds down fast and being nicely shot by Terry Morse, sometimes credited Terrell O. Morse. Stars a lot of B and mostly unknown actors giving passable interpretations, such as : Bruce Kellogg, Jim Bannon, Otto Waldis, Marilyn Walsh, uncredited Victor Killan, among others.

Produced by expert producer Robert Lippert who financed various fantasy movies and two FX expert professionals : Irving Block and Jack Rabin, both of provide tradicional and primitive especial effects, but really effective, adding abundant matte-painting . It contains a thrilling and evocative musical score by Ernest Gold to be continued a successful career with excellent soundtracks as a great composer. The motion picture was regular y professionally directed by Terry O Morse. He was a good craftsman and an expert editor. He shot various films about all kinds of genres with penchant for fantasy and Sci-Fi. As Terry directed films as Godzilla, Taffy, Fog Island, Godzilla King of the Monsters, Tear Gas Squad, Waterfront, On the Trail, Don Ricardo returns, Dillinger, Danny Boy, British Inteligence, among others. Rating : 5.5/10. In spite of not being a notable, neither extraordinary film, it results an acceptable and decent entry in the Fiffties, a period in which the Science Fiction genre got great splendor and success.