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| Atlantis, the Lost Continent (George Pal) | |
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| Topic Started: Sep 21 2009, 03:44 PM (53 Views) | |
| CliffClaven | Sep 21 2009, 03:44 PM Post #1 |
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Balcony Gang, Foist Class
  ![]](http://209.85.122.85/static/1/pip_r.png)
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Just watched this one off TCM. Classic silliness, bouncing between a fairly lavish look (in part from what look like recycled effects from Quo Vadis) and pure Mystery Science Theater cheese. Here and there a hint that Pal might have started out with something a little more ambitious in mind, but that may be wishful thinking. Prize moments: -- The mock-documentary opening, with the unmistakable voice of Paul Frees, has the look of a really cheap classroom film. Pity whoever had to show that footage to master animator George Pal. -- The credits indicate this was based on a play. I'll go out on a limb and guess it was a pretty loose adaptation. -- The hero, a young Greek fisherman and his father, find a hot princess floating on a piece of wreckage (we never do find out how she got there). Too-familiar scene of snobby princess getting huffy about being rescued by peasants, especially when she finds out it was the hero who removed her wet toga and wrapped her in a robe. -- The hero and heroine are enjoying what is carefully implied to be a morning-after cuddle in a boat. The ocean is obviously a process shot. While the lovers make small talk, a giant fish-shaped submarine cruises back and forth behind them. Not sure if that was intended as suspense or comedy. -- Just before this, the hero has a nightmare about Neptune laughing and pointing a pitchfork at him. Neptune looks like he wandered over from a low-rent costume party. -- Evil scientists take men and convert them into men wearing animal head masks. The director seemed to realize this wasn't working, so we only see them from a distance until the end, when three guys with bull heads hassle the chief scientist in a sad parody of Dr. Moreau -- any version. -- Actually, we do get a closer look at one old guy who acquires what looks like a dog's snout and funny ears. And when he dies his face dissolves back to regular features, like Lon Chaney at the end of a Wolfman movie. -- The High Priest (the Chief from Get Smart, who plays it with quiet resignation) is constantly going on about monotheism and giving up idols. He's also pretty clear that God is preparing to sink Atlantis and everybody on it. Were they worried about the Bible belt? -- The hero and a bunch of slaves try to save the world from Atlantis by driving a drill into the heart of the volcano. This involves turning a wheel -- like raising anchor on a ship -- while one of the black slaves leads the least inspiring work song ever sung. -- In the end, as the volcano erupts and all special effects break loose, the chief villain takes control of their Ultimate Weapon and begins trying to pick off the hero and heroine in the middle of the panicking crowds, plus any boats that seem to be escaping destruction. He's neither vengeful nor insane. He's just grinning and enjoying himself like a high school bully. |
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3:17 AM Nov 23
