#366: BENNET, Spencer: The Atomic Submarine (1959)
BENNET, Spencer (United States)
The Atomic Submarine [1959]
The Atomic Submarine [1959]
Spine #366
DVD
DVD
When the nuclear-powered submarine the Tiger Shark sets out to investigate a series of naval disasters near the Arctic Circle, its fearless crew finds itself besieged by electrical storms, an unidentified floating saucer, and lots of hairy tentacles.
72 minutes
Black & White
Black & White
Monaural
1:33:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2006
Director/Writers
Screenplay by Orville H. Hampton.
Spencer Bennet was 66 when he directed The Atomic Submarine.
The Film
The real USS Nautilus — the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine — traveled under the North Pole, in August 1958.
Producer Alex Gordon was quick to register the title “The Atomic Submarine” and began production preparations for a low-budget sub film with an undersea monster.
**
The film opens with a terrible-looking model sub (the models get better, at times) being tracked by an eerie round light, which ultimately destroys the sub.
Cut to the military brass debating what to do about it.
Then — after an establishing high-angle shot of the city — cut to the legs of Julie (Joi Lansing) / reverse cut to a three-shot of Commander Richard “Reef” Holloway (Arthur Franz), Lieutenant David Milburn (Paul Dubov) and his wife Helen (Jean Moorhead). After the Milburns leave, Reef gets comfortable with Julie. While they try to get comfortable, a note slipped under the door recalls Reef to duty.
In addition to the above-mentioned players, Dick Foran is a strong Captain Dan Wendover, Tom Conway (brother of George Sanders) as Sir Ian Hunt, and Brett Halsey, as Dr. Carl Neilsen — an unusual character for the times, a young antimilitary pacifist, who is onboard to pilot the sub-sub, the Lungfish. Of course, he’s assigned to bunk with Reef — natural enemies.
After much diving and surfacing in the Arctic waters (stock footage was purchased from the makers of an “A” submarine picture, Destination Tokyo), the crew comes face-to-face with the undersea monster, a traditional flying saucer with a “Cyclops” eye of white light.
(Gordon nearly rejected the puppet, but SFX guys proved him wrong when they filmed it — none of the kids laughed at it!)
All is well at the end, as Reef and Neilsen contemplate the stars, wondering when the next invasion might occur. Reef searches his pockets, and is upset to find he has lost his “little black book.” (He is giving up on Joi Lansing? She was good enough for Frank Sinatra IRL!)
Two nice filmic devices from the 30’s serials; a downward vertical wipe at 0:23:37, and a diagonal wipe at 0:24:48.
A beautiful effect after Reef shoots the eye of Cyclops; goo dripping from the eye is filmed in reverse.
Film Rating (0-60):
50
The ExtrasThe Booklet
Twenty-four page booklet featuring an essay by the great Bruce Eder, who knows a good “B” picture when he sees one!
Commentary
Alex Gordon and Tom Weaver. Alex is non-stop, very proud of his career, and generous with details like the salaries of Lansing ($250) and Franz ($1,000).
Weaver is the aficionado who can tease the slightest detail out of Gordon.
Video interview
With Halsey, who fondly recalls his work on this as a young 26-year-old actor. He was the nephew of the famous World War II admiral, William Frederick “Bull” Halsey.
Halsey worked continuously in film and television, up until his last IMDb credit, Risk Factor (2015).
He’s currently on his fourth wife.
Trailer
Trailer
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