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Undersea Kingdom
Topic Started: Feb 28 2017, 08:19 AM (554 Views)
AndyFish
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I'm surprised there's no discussion of this yet.
I'm looking at what is the next serial in my Shock Theater Binge-fest-- Undersea Kingdom from The Roan group is sitting still sealed on my serial shelf.
I like Ray Corrigan as a Gorilla and in the few Mesquiteers I've seen. This one looks like a wacky Flash Gordon but without the benefit of Ming.

Opinions?
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rodney
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You're pretty much right. It owes a lot to Flash Gordon, and is a lot of fun in itself. I'd recommend it.
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Stony Brooke da Mesquiteer
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I liked this one too. "Wacky" is exactly what you'll get. Check out the vehicle the robots ride around in and mentioning the robots--they're worth seeing. Crash's shoes beat anything you've seen in professional wrestling!
It's like Rodney King used to say, "Can't we all get a bong."
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The Batman
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I agree with those fine gentlemen, Andy. This serial is a lot of fun and the Roan DVD is fantastic looking. I think you will enjoy.





Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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Laughing Gravy
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I'm surprised we didn't have a thread, too, either. I know I wrote a review... it went somethin' like THIS:

A worthy competitor to Universal's "Flash Gordon", which preceded it in theatres by about two months, "Undersea Kingdom" begins with strange earthquakes on the ocean floor that draw the attention of kindly but doddering old Professor Norton. Norton finds a statue down there and immediately decides that the long-lost continent of Atlantis is to blame for the trouble. He puts together an expedition that consists of himself, a naval officer named "Crash" Corrigan portrayed, interestingly enough, by "Crash" Corrigan in a role he was evidently born to play, and a handsome crew of sailors, misfits, stowaways and a liberated lady-type reporter.

Well, to make 12 episodes short, Atlantis is indeed to blame for the seaquakes, as the nefarious Unga Khan seeks to overthrow Sharad, High Priest of the Sacred City. Or something. They all look alike and the only real way to tell the difference between any of them is that (a) they all wear different silly hats, and (b) one of `em looks just like Lon Chaney, Jr. In fact, it IS Lon Chaney, Jr., who, the narrative would've told us if it had been pertinent, was hiding out at the bottom of the ocean because there's no full moon down there. Although, believe it or not, there's clouds and dust and horses. Don't ask.

Unga Khan is ready for the outside interlopers, however. He unleashes a plethora of perilous devices to entrap/enslave/murder our heroes (depending on the chapter), including a giant magnet to capture the submarine, an army of Volkites, mechanical men who resemble port-o-potties with legs, and a death-ray gun that looks like a vacuum cleaner and probably is. Best of all is a particularly nasty-looking tank, to which Crash finds himself chained and helpless as the machine is about to ram the wall of the Sacred City. In the chapterplay's best moment, Crash stoically shouts, "Go ahead and ram!" rather than divulge whatever bit of information Khan is after... I kind of fell asleep in that chapter.

Well, lots more really exciting stuff happens, although I can't remember what just now. Suffice to say that virtue triumphs in the end. As it always does. The supporting cast is fine, particularly Monte Blue as Khan and C. Montague Shaw as Norton. As mentioned, the silly hats are delightful; really, no kidding, you are going to come away from this serial remembering the hats which adorn virtually every head. Unless you were admiring all the really muscular guys wearing short skirts, but that's none of my business. Oh, and the shoes are really stylish and snazzy, too.
"I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley
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Lamont Cranston
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I always felt this was just a retread of The Phantom Empire. It's the same basic plot, just swap robots for the Thunder Riders. It might have something to do with Maurice Geraghty being one of the writers on both serials. You have to wonder why the people who are living underground and underwater can have all the fancy, advanced technology and weapons ... and are stuck living underground and underwater. How can you have atomic tanks and still ride horses? Could be worse, they could be surrounded by Greek columns and bunches of ugly statues ... oops, sorry they are.

I guess I would rate this one about a 70 ... but it's light years ahead of Panther Girl!
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The Batman
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With one difference, Mr Cranston...no singing!


Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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Pa Stark
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While UNDERSEA KINGDOM's production values are superior to those of THE PHANTOM EMPIRE, PHANTOM is a much more fun serial.
Edited by Pa Stark, Mar 1 2017, 09:53 AM.
Honest and Lovable Pa Stark
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williejg
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I find it unusual that this thread starts out comparing UNDERSEA KINGDOM to FLASH GORDON, and then changes to a comparison of UK to THE PHANTOM EMPIRE. It's also stated that UK predated FG by 2 months in it's release. Well, there's another serial about a hidden kingdom that predates both of them. DARKEST AFRICA was released 3 months before UK. There's also THE LOST CITY from 1935, but that doesn't really fit this comparison.

I guess that my point is, why should we be comparing one serial to another in the first place, rather than just discussing it on it's own merits. All of the aforementioned titles are fantasy-adventure stories. They're all different from each other, other than being in the fantasy-adventures genre.

If this is going to be THE UNDERSEA KINGDOM THREAD, then let it be that. If somebody wants to start a FANTASY-ADVENTURE SERIAL COMPARISON THREAD, than by all means do so. But leave this thread to UK.

All too often a thread starts on a topic and meanders off into other areas never to return to the original intention of the thread.

Well, I guess that's my rant for the day.

willie
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Sgt Saturn
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williejg
Mar 1 2017, 01:49 PM
Well, there's another serial about a hidden kingdom ...

Lost cities were a common trope. Burroughs, Haggard, Merritt, and their imitators used them all the time. It's little wonder that the movies picked up on them. Within the year there would even be an A-list movie with a lost city. (Hint. it starred Ronald Colman.)
The Ol' Sarge
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The Batman
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So, Sarge, are you saying there was an A-list lost city film on the horizon?


Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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Pa Stark
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Isn't the serial THE LOST CITY an A-list movie? :P
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AndyFish
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Pa Stark
Mar 2 2017, 10:30 AM
Isn't the serial THE LOST CITY an A-list movie? :P
It is in my house Pa!
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Pa Stark
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AndyFish
Mar 2 2017, 12:03 PM
Pa Stark
Mar 2 2017, 10:30 AM
Isn't the serial THE LOST CITY an A-list movie? :P
It is in my house Pa!
Alright!
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AndyFish
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Ray Corrigan is my favorite Gorilla but he ain't no Buster Crabbe. In fact, I'd say B Crabbe and Chuck Middleton prove there ain't nobody like them in the annals of Serialdom. UK is very solid albeit a bit creaky from time to time. Universal had better stock music too.

I do think comparison's to Flash are unfair-- despite the fact that I just did that, since this predates that. It's a shame Lon Chaney Jr didn't have more to do. It's entertaining but Crash is stiffer in this than he is in the Mesquiteer films.
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