Customer Reviews

Atomic Submarine [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This movie probably gets overlooked because of the title, which seems incredibly dull and unimaginative for such a cool flick. I think it should have been called "The Superatomic Submarine vs. the Flying Saucer" because that is what the movie is really about and it sounds much more exciting. The movie has everything a fan of 50's sci-fi B-movies would want. The story is a unique twist on the flying saucer theme because this saucer can travel under water, and you get two classic sci-fi vehicles for the price of one because this flying saucer takes on a futuristic (remember this was the 1950's) submarine. The parts that take place inside the saucer are very creepy. During these scenes, a pitch black background and cool creepy music are used to maximum effect. There are few funny lines in the movie, especially the ones where the hero is talking to the alien who, by the way, will not disappoint those who love cheesy cool aliens in their sci-fi movies. I have three words for B-movie fans: SEE IT NOW!

Ah, me - who would have guessed this movie would one day emerge into the light of day after being (apparently) submerged for years in fan-video limbo? This tidbit used to be a staple of the "Late Late Show" circuit - after the parents had gone to bed, the less critically demanding kids would have *their* kind of flick to watch.

Never mind the preposterous assumptions (like huge passenger-carrying atomic submarines cruising under the polar ice cap!). We all tuned in for the weird Theramin-like music and the gooey, drippy one-eyed, tentacled alien. In fact, he looks a LOT like the ones you see on the Halloween episodes of the Simpsons!

Long available only through specialty video outlets (at "special" prices!), this is really an inexpensive trip down memory lane for those of us who first saw it through our fingers in front of our eyes by the flickering light of the boob tube after everyone else had retired. It boasts a "Who's Who" of bit-part and character actors of the genre, some actually effective footage *inside* the underwater UFO, and that totally classic alien. Go on - you KNOW you want to see it! Why ELSE did you look this one up?!?! ;-)

I found this flick to bring back pleasant memories of when I used to watch movies like this as a child, in stark raving terror of course. The special effects are warmly corny, and that goes for the alien too. But I can assure you, to a 9 year old boy, this was shear horror! I highly recommend it to those who love the old black and white.

Atomic Submarine is another of those "quintessential" B-movies that should appeal to any student of 50s/60s B&W cheapies. The cast is a who's who of second-string stalwarts, including Tom Conway, Dick Foran, Arthur Franz, Bob Steele, Brett Halsey, and Sid Melton for good measure. The Rabin/Block effects are better than their usual, and while not always convincing are consistently imaginative. The script actually attempts to deal with Weighty Issues (pacifism), Alexander Laszlo turns in another "spooky" semi-electronic soundtrack, and the film actually pays off with a cool/icky monster and serviceable flying saucer. Atomic Submarine never achieves greatness, but it's never dull either (try watching the big-budget Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and tell me which is really more entertaining).
The DVD itself is a pleasant surprise to those used to catching this on the late late show. The print used by Image is simply stunning. Aside from some occasional very light speckling, the image looks great: crisp and detailed, with good tonal values (although some of the "underwater" effects shots are a little flat, and stock footage shows the expected wear and grain). My VHS copy (from late-night TV) looks pathetic next to the DVD. Audio is also crisp and clear. The only thing odd I noticed is that the DVD is missing one short (40 sec.) scene (included in my TV copy) wherein Arthur Franz leaves Joi Lansing's apartment and chats briefly with a fellow swabbie while arriving at the sub base (although the DVD does include the last 10 to 15 seconds of the scene in the apartment, missing from the TV print). Other than this minor omission the movie appears to be completely intact. Chapter stops and trailer are included, but that's it for extras. (I was really hoping for a Sid Melton commentary.) All in all, another as-good-as-its-probably-ever-gonna-get release from Image. Aficionados of le films bad, buy with confidence.

I saw this movie on the BIG screen when I was 6, and I was under the seat most of the time back in 1958. My parents lived within a block of the movie theater; thus, you know what I was doing at that age. The music and sound effects really added to the earie atmosphere of this movie; especially, when the beam of light melted the frogmen. The cyclops creature had me under the chair - I now know it's a hand inside the puppet - but on that BIG screen...

50s movie about a submarine crew that meets a large octopus like puppet living in a flying saucer who wants to take over the world. Alien creature can read minds but cannot read that the movie hero was going to shoot him. One scene has a sub worker screaming for his shipmate to rescue him from certain death. Shipmate hears his cries and slowly wanders over to see what the problem is. Wandering shipmate gets stuck in a thin rubber door that closes on him so he also dies. Flying saucer can hop from galaxy to galaxy but cannot outrun a slow missle launched from a submarine. Wooden acting, cliche filled script but still great fun!

It's the old first atomic submarine meets alien menace underwater and good conquers evil story. Seldom aired, this is an SF classic.

I have to admit that a few things about this film disappointed me. The acting was better than expected, and the script was somewhat literate. Other than that, this was all the schlock, bad F/X I expect from films of this genre & time period. It's interesting to know that this film was released by Allied Artists, which was a studio neck-to-neck with American-International for the drive-in crowd. A-I went somewhat legit when they went with the Corman/Poe/Vincent Price movies, later the Beach Party films. Allied Artists went a different route: they picked up the options for the American release of "epics" like EL CID and 55 DAYS AT PEKING. (My vote goes to A-I, for sheer originality...) Enough history... This is a fun film. The special effects are absolutely laughable, my favorite being the alien saucer leaving the polar ice cap, obviously a toy being pulled up through soft wax. A previous reviewer referred to this as "warmly corny"; I couldn't put it better. Bad sets, bad effects...and, of course, after Brett Halsey proves himself to be a hero and not a wimp, his shirt is suddenly open showing lots of manly chest-hair. What a guy! I've always liked Arthur Franz (especially in "Monster on the Campus"). All in all, it's loads of fun for the "bad sci-fi" afficianado. My major disappointment with the DVD, though it has great picture & sound quality, is that it should've been in Widescreen. At the beginning, they show News Headlines declaring horrible stuff, but you could only see the middle of the headline...there was no perifery. As far as sets go, the perifery wouldn't have mattered...but no one can deny that the majestic scenes of the Arctic (few as they were) would have been awesome. Watch this, and keep all of your other guilty pleasures (beverages, junk food, etc.) handy. If you can ignore the good points of the film, the bad points will overwhelm you and entertain.

I saw this as a child and it brought back good memories of the "Creature Feature" nights. It's special effects are not up to par with some of the better B&W B movies of that era but the story line was was great.

well not really tons but still quite a few:originall to atomic sumarine, corridors of blood, the haunted strangler and first man into space.
wonderful movie great effects intelligent script with guess who? sid melton, arther
franz, tom conway who is george sanders brother,
everything looked so real, special effects above average and of course joi lansing what a babe.
not much else to say. just thought i'd mention i was looking for other vhs movies and when i opened the cabinet it was staring at me right in the face lol. i was
very surprised.