Scientists determine that somewhere in the frozen mass of land known as Antarctica is a body of warm water. An expedition is launched to explore the area; along for the ride are intrepid Commander Hal Roberts (later Tarzan performer Jock Mahoney), lovely blonde reporter Maggie Hathaway (Shirley Patterson), pilot Jack Carmen (William Reynolds), and machinists' mate Steve Miller (Phil Harvey). As they reach their destination unforeseen circumstances force them to land in an area that turns out to be 3000 feet below sea level - an area still stuck in the Mesozoic era, full of reptilian menaces and Carl Hunter (Henry Brandon), a traumatized survivor of a previous expedition.
As directed by Virgil W. Vogel ("The Mole People"), "The Land Unknown" is very agreeable escapism. What gives it an edge over other Universal-International product of the time is the CinemaScope aspect ratio, giving us more of an eyeful of some pretty good sets. There's plenty of vegetation and steam to add to the atmosphere. It's true that the special effects dinosaurs are on the silly-looking side, but this does add appreciable cheesy B movie charm. The script is full of the usual "science" and exposition for this type of movie. The actors all give a straight faced go at the material. Mahoney is a stalwart hero, and Patterson ("It! The Terror from Beyond Space") is fine eye candy. The standout among the cast is Brandon ("Assault on Precinct 13" (1976)), who's convincing enough as a modern man reduced to a state of primitiveness. (Look for Kurt Russell's dad Bing as a radio operator.) Enhancing all of it is appropriate stock music from such composers as Henry Mancini, Heinz Roemheld, Hans J. Salter, and Herman Stein.
This is good straightforward fun recommended to fans of "lost world" cinema.
Seven out of 10.
As directed by Virgil W. Vogel ("The Mole People"), "The Land Unknown" is very agreeable escapism. What gives it an edge over other Universal-International product of the time is the CinemaScope aspect ratio, giving us more of an eyeful of some pretty good sets. There's plenty of vegetation and steam to add to the atmosphere. It's true that the special effects dinosaurs are on the silly-looking side, but this does add appreciable cheesy B movie charm. The script is full of the usual "science" and exposition for this type of movie. The actors all give a straight faced go at the material. Mahoney is a stalwart hero, and Patterson ("It! The Terror from Beyond Space") is fine eye candy. The standout among the cast is Brandon ("Assault on Precinct 13" (1976)), who's convincing enough as a modern man reduced to a state of primitiveness. (Look for Kurt Russell's dad Bing as a radio operator.) Enhancing all of it is appropriate stock music from such composers as Henry Mancini, Heinz Roemheld, Hans J. Salter, and Herman Stein.
This is good straightforward fun recommended to fans of "lost world" cinema.
Seven out of 10.