The Land Unknown (1957), dir. Virgil W. Vogel, Univeral International Pictures
Closing out our look at the Universal Pictures section, we end with a solid B picture, but at least it has dinosaurs.
In Antarctica, an expedition is underway. In 1947, a stream was found of surprisingly warm water. One team went in was never heard from again.
Now, in the present, a new team is assembled.
Commander Roberts (Jock Mahoney)-mission leader
Lt. Jack Carmen (William Reynolds)-pilot
Machinist's Mate Steve Miller (Phil Harvey)-engineer
Maggie Hathaway (Shawn Smith)-reporter
The team sets out but at once problems start. A massive storm is approaching them faster than they anticipated. They opt to fly into the eye and wait it out but as they start to land in a dense fog, they collide with a pterosaur.
The helicopter now utterly ruined, the team makes another discovery-hidden with the Antarctic wastes is a hidden tropical valley teaming with prehistoric life!
Also Dr. Hunter (Henry Brandon), the leader of the previous party. He's gone a bit funny surrounded by killer dinos and man-eating plants and he abducts Maggie for purposes rather skeevy for a 1950's flick. Can our heroes make it back to the modern world?
Middle of the road; the effects are fine and the actors do the best with what they got but it feels too slow and confined. This should be bigger, color at least but the film is a passable way to spend some time.
No comments:
Post a Comment