Unknown World — Unknown World(DVD)
Unknown World is an early 1950s sci-fi adventure finding a group of scientists going to the centre of the earth, to find an alternative place for mankind if the bomb destroys all above. It’s a fair bit more serious, at points (relatively) feasible take on the ‘into the centre of the earth’ genre. Here from Cheezy Movies is a region-free DVD of the film.
Unknown World ( working titles- To the Centre of the Earth & Night With Out Stars) is a 1951 US production filmed largely in Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico. It was directed by St. Louis, Missouri-born Terry O. Morse. Between the late 1930s and 1970s, he had nineteen feature credits to his name. These took in a crime drama set in the docks Waterfront (1939), mystery horror Fog Island (1945), western-drama Don Ricardo Returns (1946), and a few Godzilla films- Godzilla: King of the Monsters!(1956) & Godzilla (1977).
The film opens up with a mock newsreel- this starts off talking about the progress in nuclear bomb development. Before moving on to introduce a group of scientists led up by mid-aged & thinning on-top Dr Jerimiah Morley(Victor Kilian) who have set up an organization to drill into the centre of the earth to look for a haven for mankind- if the bomb destroys everything on the surface. Sadly they don’t get the funding they need to move the project forward.
We then switch to a room where the reel has just been shown by rich & Brill-creamed Wright Thompson (Bruce Kellogg)- who is the always-looking-for-thrills son of a newspaper owner. Sat in the room are Morley and his colleagues- initially they are cross/ cynical, and believe Wright is just showing this to put the boot in- but he reveals he wants to fund the trip, but with one condition- he wants to go along. So we get a quick flash forward some months- the aquatic drill-fitted ship is built & ready, with the team on a coastal shore near an inactive volcano.
They start on their descent down & down- with a selection of four scientists on board, Wright, and explosive expert Andy Ostergaard(Jim Bannon). Stopping off ever so often to observe the underground world- and really it’s just like the inside of a cave- with no fancy, exotic, or fantastic landscapes or creatures. As things unfold members of the team die, and morale gets low.
It's only in the last twenty or so minutes of the one hour & fourteen-minute film, that they finally find the ‘Unknown World’- but I want to detail/ spoil this, but again it’s not quite what you expect with this type of thing.
The acting from the cast is passable to good- with worthy mention being Kellogg- who has an effective character arc- shifting from his initial smug & rich adventure. Bannon is effective as the gung-ho and later argumentative explosive expert. We have largely suggested romantic interest from the female doctor on the team Marilyn Nash.
The film is a fairly cheap/ low-budget affair- but the shots of the ship, and the other minimal effects are done well enough. All in all Unknown World is an engaging, if at times slightly glum sci-fi action film.
As with all of Cheezy this is a barebones affair- with just a selection of trailers. The print looks like a step up from a good enough VHS copy- with no real issues or serious damage to the print. So the print won’t win any awards for crispness & clarity, but it’s ok.
Seemingly Unknown World is a rather lost/lesser-seen film- so it’s great to see Cheezy Films reissuing this. If you enjoy slightly more science-based/ downbeat sci-fi/ action then this is most certainly worth a look.