The Atomic Submarine (1959)

User Rating:

4.7/10   

Director:

Spencer Gordon Bennet

Writer:

Orville H. Hampton (written by)
(more)

Release Date:

29 November 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

"Our fleet of atomic submarines has disappeared!"

Plot:

Ships mysteriously disappear on route across the Arctic Sea, and a specially-equipped submarine is sent to investigate.

Plot Keywords:

Submarine | Arctic | North Pole | Part Narrated | Torpedo

Cast

Arthur Franz	...	Cmdr. Richard 'Reef' Holloway
Dick Foran	...	Cmdr. Dan Wendover
Brett Halsey	...	Dr. Carl Neilson Jr.
Paul Dubov	...	Lt. David Milburn
Bob Steele	...	CPO 'Grif' Griffin
Victor Varconi	...	Dr. Clifford Kent
Joi Lansing	...	Julie
Selmer Jackson	...	Adm. Terhune
Jack Mulhall	...	Justin Murdock
Jean Moorhead	...	Helen Milburn
Richard Tyler	...	Frogman Carney
Sid Melton	...	Yeoman Chester Tuttle
Kenneth Becker	...	Frogman Powell (as Ken Becker)
Frank Watkins	...	Watkins
Tom Conway	...	Sir Ian Hunt
Pat Michaels	...	Narrator (voice)
John Hilliard	...	Saucer (voice)

Directed by
Spencer Gordon Bennet		(as Spencer G. Bennet)

Writing credits
Orville H. Hampton		(written by)
Irving Block		story (uncredited)
Jack Rabin		story (uncredited)

Produced by
Irving Block	....	producer associate
Alex Gordon	....	producer
Orville H. Hampton	....	associate producer
Jack Rabin	....	producer associate
Henry Schrage	....	co-producer

Cinematography by
Gilbert Warrenton		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
William Austin

Art Direction by
Don Ament
Daniel Haller		(as Dan Haller)

Set Decoration by
Harry Reif

Makeup Department
Emile LaVigne	....	makeup artist (as Emile Lavigne)

Production Management
Edward Morey Jr.	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Clark L. Paylow	....	assistant director (as Clark Paylow)

Art Department
Max Frankel	....	properties

Sound Department
Ralph Butler	....	sound
Martin Greco	....	sound editor (as Marty Greco)

Visual Effects by
Irving Block	....	special effects designer and creator
Louis DeWitt	....	special effects designer and creator
Jack Rabin	....	special effects designer and creator

Camera and Electrical Department
George Satterfield	....	chief set electrician

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Norah Sharpe	....	wardrobe
Roger J. Weinberg	....	wardrobe

Music Department
Neil Brunnenkant	....	music editor
Alexander Laszlo	....	conductor

Other crew
Ruth Alexander	....	assistant to producer
Jack W. Cash	....	dialogue supervisor (as Jack Cash)
Jack W. Cash	....	production associate (as Jack Cash)
Judith Hart	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Gorham Productions

Distributors

• Allied Artists Pictures (1959) (USA) (theatrical)
• Mercator-Film (1963) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner-Pathé Distributors (1960) (UK) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Epoca (Argentina) (video)
• Image Entertainment (DVD)
• Monterey Video (video)
• Teleworld (19??) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Ryder Sound Services  sound recording

Also Known As:

The Atomic Sub (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

72 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-12 | USA:Passed (PCA #19423) | West Germany:12

Company:

Gorham Productions

Trivia:

Last film of Victor Varconi.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The Magnetic North Pole is not located under the Geographic North Pole, which is where the UFO returns in the film to "recharge its batteries" from the Earth's magnetic field. Science had acknowledged this at least two decades before 1959, which was when the film had been released. More current maps show it shifting a bit to the north of Canada.

Quotes:

Voice of Spaceman: At last Commander, we meet as your people say... face to face!
Cmdr. Richard 'Reef' Holloway: That's a face?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Atomic Recall (2007) (V)

One of the Sci Fi Mill Classics

"Atomic Submarine" has two things to recommend it to viewers. It is adventure, with all sorts of dangerous situations, and a desperate battle against an undersea alien. And, it is unintentionally funny. Not hilarious mind you; but certainly funny enough for a few laughs as you enjoy its clumsy attempts at plot, acting and logic. Still, I like it, and I always watch it if it comes on cable. Its the adventure I guess. I get caught up in the idea of the powerful submarine; the crew at odds with each other; the "science-on-the-fly" they use to fight the monster. Its fun overall. I would venture to say that it is one of the classics of the 50's-60's low budget sci fi era.

This film is also notable for a brief appearance by Joi Lansing; the last, and prettiest, of the Hollywood "blonde bombshells". It's certainly worth watching if you're a guy, and a sci-fi fan. With a little imagination, "Atomic Submarine" is entertaining escapism.