Unknown Island (1948)

Director:

Jack Bernhard

Writers:

Robert T. Shannon (story)
Robert T. Shannon (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

15 October 1948 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Horror | Romance | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

It's out of this world ! !

Plot:

Adventure-seeker Ted Osborne has convinced his finacee Carole to finance his expedition to an uncharted...

Plot Keywords:

Dinosaur | Lost World | Man Eating Monster | White Haired Gorilla | White Ape

Cast

Virginia Grey	...	Carole Lane
Phillip Reed	...	Ted Osborne
Richard Denning	...	John Fairbanks
Barton MacLane	...	Capt. Tarnowski
Dick Wessel	...	Sanderson, 1st Mate (as Richard Wessel)
Dan White	...	Crewman Edwards (as Daniel White)
Phil Nazir	...	Crewman Golab (as Philip Nazir)

Runtime:

75 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Cinecolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:12 | UK:A (1950) | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:(Banned)

Filming Locations:

Corriganville, Ray Corrigan Ranch, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company:

Albert Jay Cohen Productions

Trivia:

The two-legged dinosaurs (ceratosaurs) were rubber suits worn by actors in the desert of Palmdale, Ca. When the explorers shoot grenades at them, one of the beasts falls down, apparently dead. The actor inside the suit actually fainted from the extreme heat, and the director decided to use the footage.

Movie Connections:

References King Kong (1933)

A significant dinosaur movie

Unknown Island is a significant dinosaur movie because it was the first one to be made in colour, despite the very low budget. It was a treat to watch though.

An expedition travels to an uncharted island in the South Seas where strange creatures were sited during the Second World War. Once they arrive, they discover T-Rexes (men in suits), Brontosauruses pulled by wires, a plastic Dimetrodon and a giant Sloth played by Ray Corrigan (It! The Terror From Beyond Space). These monsters don't look too bad though. Several members of the party are killed by the beasts, including the captain.

One of the best parts of the movie is the fight between the Sloth and a T-Rex. The movie also stars sci-fi movie regular Richard Denning (The Creature From the Black Lagoon).

This movie was enjoyable despite the cheap looking monsters. A treat.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5.