Matinee Classics - Classic Movies - Undersea Kingdom (1936)

Undersea Kingdom (1936)

Undersea Kingdom

(1936)

Serial Films / Adventure / Science Fiction / Thriller

Directed by B. Reeves Eason and Joseph Kane

When mysterious man-made earthquakes threaten the world, naval lieutenant Ray 'Crash' Corrigan leads an expedition to the ocean floor in a rocket-propelled submarine and discovers the undersea kingdom of Atlantis . Soon the explorers find themselves caught between two warring factions led by the peace-loving Sharad, and the evil warlord Unga Khan, whose diabolical plans include conquering the surface world. Crash's super-human athletic abilities and the genius of Professor Norton (C. Montague Shaw), inventor of the rocket-sub, make them targets in an action-packed battle for survival against ray guns, tanks and robots in this exciting cliffhanger from the Golden Age of serials.

Undersea Kingdom is one of the most enduring and endearing of science fiction serials from the 1930's. Although frequently compared to " The Phantom Empire ", (it employs many of the same sets and props, and story elements), dazzling stunt work and trick photography by Republic's top-notch special effects team, Howard and Theodore Lydecker, make Undersea Kingdom look much slicker and flow more smoothly.

Cast:

Ray 'Crash' Corrigan as Crash Corrigan, Athlete and US Navy Lieutenant. Crash Corrigan's stage name came from this serial
Lois Wilde as Diana Compton, Reporter from the Times who joins the expedition to Atlantis to get a story
Monte Blue as Unga Khan, Tyrant and leader of the Black Robes
William Farnum as Sharad, High priest of Atlantis and leader of the White Robes
Boothe Howard as Ditmar, one of Unga Khan's Black Robes
Raymond Hatton as Gasspom, one of Unga Khan's Black Robes
C. Montague Shaw as Professor Norton, American scientist and leader of the expedition to Atlantis in his Rocket Submarine
Lee Van Atta as Billy Norton, Professor Norton's young son who stows away aboard the submarine expedition
Smiley Burnette as Briny Deep, a sailor in Professor Norton's Rocket Sub expedition and comic relief
Frankie Marvin as Salty, a sailor in Professor Norton's Rocket Sub expedition and comic relief
Lon Chaney, Jr. as Captain Hakur, Black Robe commander, Unga Khan's main henchman. Captain Hakur was probably Lon Chaney, Jr.'s "most colourful henchman."
Lane Chandler as Darius, one of Sharad's White Robes
Jack Mulhall as Lieutenant Andrews, US Navy
John Bradford as Joe, a sailor in Professor Norton's Rocket Sub expedition who goes mad with fear and almost kills them all
Malcolm McGregor as Zogg, one of Unga Khan's Black Robes
Ralph Holmes as Martos, one of Sharad's White Robes
John Merton as Moloch, Black Robe whose life is spared by Corrigan and switches sides
Ernie Smith as Gourk, one of Unga Khan's Black Robes
Lloyd Whitlock as Captain Clinton, US Navy Captain