Product Details

• Actors: Sal Ponti, Joyce Taylor, John Dall, William Smith, Edward Platt
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Warner)
• VHS Release Date: September 1, 1998
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302804752
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #123,583 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars When is the widescreen DVD coming?, October 31, 2005

By 

M. Okada (Pasadena, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Atlantis, the Lost Continent [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I would love to see this film either on widescreen DVD or at a revival house screening somewhere. Anybody who knows this movie is probably familiar with its production background: George Pal wanted to make a larger scale movie about Atlantis but MGM didn't give him the budget he needed; leftover footage from "Quo Vadis" was used in the final scenes when Atlantis is destroyed; Anthony Hall (actually singer Sal Ponti) and Joyce Taylor apparently weren't strong enough actors to avoid being somewhat upstaged by Edward Platt and John Dall, whose campy arrogance as the corrupt warlord is a pleasure to behold; and finally, scenes of flying soldiers were not included in the final film when they tested poorly in test screenings. Still, this film holds some real treasures: Paul Frees' somber narration before the titles, the powerful Atlantis theme by Russell Garcia, the amazing fish-shaped submarine, that fantastic crystal death-ray weapon, and most of all, the striking depiction of an ancient, technologically advanced but corrupt civilization that was destroyed by a volcano. Perhaps the fact that this is still the most well-known Atlantis movie is an indication of its strengths. One final note: the giant crystal death-ray device reappears as a prop in the Man from U.N.C.L.E. episode "The Concrete Overcoat Affair"! Also, some footage of the destruction of Atlantis at the end of the film reappears 23 years later in the Lou Ferigno film "The Adventures of Hercules".

Update: the DVD of this film can be purchased on the WBshop website !! Also check out Joyce Taylor on the Bat Masterson episode "Cattle and Cane" on the AOL website.

45 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Saturday matinee delight., March 25, 2002

By 

Robert S. Clay Jr. (St. Louis, MO., USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Atlantis, the Lost Continent [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A Greek fisherman named Demetrios rescues a shipwrecked princess. He helps her return home and finds himself a slave in the advanced civilization of Atlantis. Due to arrogant corruption and moral laxity, the country is an abomination before heaven. Unexpected religious overtones enter the story. Impending doom hangs heavy in the air. The birds and animals flee the approaching destruction. Eventually, the earth moves, thunder crashes, and the volcano rocks-n-rolls. Others complain that this is an inferior effort from director George Pal. Comparisons aside, this is a good fantasy adventure story. The MGM production values are above average for this type of film. The animal men are demonic in their transition from human to animal. Demetrios's ordeal of fire and water is exciting. Take a basic sci-fi plot of a lost civilization, add "The Island of Dr. Moreau," mix with "Spartacus," splice in some costume spectacle, enhance with crisp color photography and you have this movie. In fact, the director uses footage from historical film epics in the explosive and fiery climax. The death ray is lethal, albeit primitive. There is an unfortunate lack of a Ray Harryhausen type rampaging monster. The grim visage horned idol just sits there when special effects could have done wonders. Bottom line, this is a "G" rated adventure story fine for family viewing. Baby boomers may recall seeing this film back in the early '60s at a Saturday matinee double feature teamed with some Italian spear and sandal epic. Nostalgia rules. ;-)

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Atlantis the Lost Continent, August 18, 2002

By 

MIKE DIGEORGIO (sterling hts, michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Atlantis, the Lost Continent [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I remember as a kid seeing "Atlantis the Lost Continent" along with "Giant of Marathon" with Steve Reeves in May 1961 at the Eastown Theatre in Detroit.
Two handsome leading men (Reeves and Anthony Hall) save their kingdoms from doom and gloom and win the love of a beautiful lady in the process.
"Atlantis" has been panned by critics over the years yet I loved this film as a 12 year old in 1961. It was science fiction at it's best with colorful costumes, ogres, wolf men, mad scientists, beautiful maidens and villains. How about the submarine shaped like a fish!!
Anthony Hall as the greek fisherman could have used a little weight training from Mr biceps - Steve Reeves - as he appears a little too thin for a hero. The staged scene of Demetrious on a boat with his maiden (Joyce Taylor - by the way what ever happened to her?) passing through the pillars of Hercules is hopelessly silly with fake water sounds and fog along with horned owls hooting! Best part of the movie is Demetrious's fight with a giant ogre in a pool of fire and water. The ogre appears to be about 350 lbs and Demetrious outmaneuvers him and lights his hair on fire with hilarious laughing from the massive crowd in the "coliseum"
Some spectacular special effects at the end of the film with Atlantis exploding and disappearing into the sea.
The laser ray gun turning hapless victims into skeletons excited the matinee crowd in 1961.
This is a fun film made at a time when fantasy films were in vogue such as "Seventh Voyage of Sinbad", "The magic Sword", and "Jack the Giant Killer" In fact Kerwin Matthews (Sinbad) would have probably been a better choice for Demetrious.
Enjoy this film with the kids and dont worry about swearing, beheadings, and explicit sex. Good family fantasy.