Undersea Kingdom
Encyclopedia
Undersea Kingdom is a Republic Pictures film serial released in response to Universal's
Flash Gordon
. It was the second of the sixty-six serials made by Republic. In 1966 scenes from the serial was edited into a 100-minute television film titled Sharad of Atlantis.
Following a suspicious earthquake, and detecting a series of signals, Professor Norton leads an expedition, including Lt Crash Corrigan and Reporter Diana Compton, in his Rocket Submarine to the suspected location of Atlantis. Finding the lost continent they become embroiled in an Atlantean civil war between Sharad (with his White Robes) and the usurper Unga Khan (with his Black Robes) who wishes to conquer Atlantis and then destroy the upper world with Earthquake
s generated by his Disintegrator. Thus he will rule the world unless he can be stopped in time.
The star of the serial is Ray "Crash" Corrigan, using that screen name for the first time. The name was created to sound similar to "Flash Gordon", in one of many similarities. Formerly a stunt man — he was the person swinging on vines in Tarzan the Ape Man — Corrigan went on to use this screenname for the rest of his career in serials and B-Westerns.
The first two chapters of the serial were mocked on the TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000
.
The plot revolves around the main character "Crash" Corrigan trying to stop an evil tyrant ruler of Atlantis from conquering the lost continent and then the entire upper world.
Lieutenant Crash Corrigan, in his last year at Annapolis
, is invited by Billy Norton to visit his father, Professor Norton, after a wrestling match. At their house, the professor is demonstrating his new invention, which can detect and prevent (at short range) earthquakes, to Diana Compton and his theory about regular tremours from the area where Atlantis
used to be.
When Atlantean tyrant Unga Khan and his Black Robe army turn their Disintegrator beam on St Clair, Professor Norton leads an expedition
to investigate. Along with him in his Rocket Submarine are Crash, Diana, three sailors (Briny Deep, Salty, Joe) and their pet parrot
Sinbad. Unknown to the expedition until it is underway and in trouble, Billy has stowed away
on the Rocket Sub as well.
Problems for the expedition begin when Joe, in charge of the engine room, is driven mad by the fear that the submarine cannot survive such depths. In order to prove this, he locks the engine room door and sends the sub into a fatal dive. As soon as this crisis is averted, Unga Khan and Captain Hakur detect their approach and bring them through a tunnel into the Inland Sea with a Magnetic Ray.
was $99,222 (a $17,298, or 21.1%, overspend). It has the lowest budget of any Republic serial but it was only the third cheapest in actual production cost. The serial was filmed between 3 March and 28 March 1936 under production number 417. The only cheaper serials were the subsequent The Vigilantes Are Coming
($87,655) and, in 1938, The Fighting Devil Dogs
($92,569). By comparison, the larger Universal Pictures spent $350,000 in producing the first Flash Gordon serial.
These include the Volkites (The robotic army of the Black Robes), The Juggernaut (their tank), Vol Planes (Atlantean rocketships) and Professor Norton's Rocket Submarine, as well as sets and Unga Khan's tower.
This is the first appearance of the "Republic Robot" (as the "Volkites"). It would turn up again in Mysterious Doctor Satan
(1940) and Zombies of the Stratosphere
(1952). It is parodied
in Star Trek: Voyager's
The Adventures of Captain Proton.
Some of the model effects seen within the serial:
While the technology base of Atlantis is apparently very low, with sword
wielding cavalry
and chariot
s the main type of military force, Unga Khan's Black Robes (or Imperial Guard) have several very advanced items of technology.
Unga Khan's Disintegrator is the main plot device. A machine capable of artificially creating earthquake
s at a precise target, it is this that leads to Professor Norton's expedition to Atlantis and also the means by which Unga Khan means to conquer or destroy the upper world.
The Reflector Plate is the most ubiquitous device used throughout the serial. This is a screen that acts much like a view screen, or videophone
, in more modern science fiction. It is used to communicate between two plates or it is used, most frequently, to view (and hear) any remote location. No cameras or microphones are apparently necessary to this second function and it appears to have no limits - viewing the Sacred City, areas of Atlantis and the upper world with no problems.
Unga Khan's Imperial Guard are augmented by Volkites, a type of robot
controlled by a bulky remote control device often worn by Hakur. They also perform tasks in the tower, for example operating the Master Controls of other devices such as the Disintegrator when commanded to by remote control (the remote control of most devices are usually done through remotely controlling the Volkite(s) to operate the Master Controls to remotely control the actual device). While the Imperial Guard use swords or bows, the Volkites are armed with Atomguns, rifle sized ray guns. Occasionally these are used by others where necessary but only when taken from a Volkite.
In terms of vehicles, Unga Khan has one tank
, called the Juggernaut. This can be controlled by remote as well as by the driver (either human or Volite). It has no armament itself but is used as a battering ram during siege warfare. Though not used very often Unga Khan's forces also have several aircraft called Vol Planes (also known as Sky Chariots by the White Robes).
Unga Khan's tower is armed with one Projector which fires one Aerial Torpedo at a time. This is, again, controlled by remote control.
Unga Khan uses his Transformation Chamber to make people "change their mind". It is a brain washing device that makes the victim Unga Khan's willing slave. The effect wears off in time and can be reversed by the Chamber.
The Magnetic Ray is used only once to pull the Rocket Submarine into Atlantis (much like a tractor beam
in Star Wars
or Star Trek
) in the first chapter. In the last chapter, an Invisible Wall of Atom Rays is activated to provide Unga Khan's tower with a force field
to protect it from the United States Navy's bombardment. Finally, the tower itself has automatic sliding doors and elevators.
The most advanced technology seemingly available to the opposing White Robes of Sharad are catapult
s and flame throwers built into the walls of the Sacred City.
.
Source:
.
Undersea Kingdom (1936) is a Republic Pictures film serial released in response to Universal's
Flash Gordon
. It was the second of the sixty-six serials made by Republic. In 1966 scenes from the serial was edited into a 100-minute television film titled Sharad of Atlantis.
Following a suspicious earthquake, and detecting a series of signals, Professor Norton leads an expedition, including Lt Crash Corrigan and Reporter Diana Compton, in his Rocket Submarine to the suspected location of Atlantis. Finding the lost continent they become embroiled in an Atlantean civil war between Sharad (with his White Robes) and the usurper Unga Khan (with his Black Robes) who wishes to conquer Atlantis and then destroy the upper world with Earthquake
s generated by his Disintegrator. Thus he will rule the world unless he can be stopped in time.
The star of the serial is Ray "Crash" Corrigan, using that screen name for the first time. The name was created to sound similar to "Flash Gordon", in one of many similarities. Formerly a stunt man — he was the person swinging on vines in Tarzan the Ape Man — Corrigan went on to use this screenname for the rest of his career in serials and B-Westerns.
The first two chapters of the serial were mocked on the TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000
.
The plot revolves around the main character "Crash" Corrigan trying to stop an evil tyrant ruler of Atlantis from conquering the lost continent and then the entire upper world.
Lieutenant Crash Corrigan, in his last year at Annapolis
, is invited by Billy Norton to visit his father, Professor Norton, after a wrestling match. At their house, the professor is demonstrating his new invention, which can detect and prevent (at short range) earthquakes, to Diana Compton and his theory about regular tremours from the area where Atlantis
used to be.
When Atlantean tyrant Unga Khan and his Black Robe army turn their Disintegrator beam on St Clair, Professor Norton leads an expedition
to investigate. Along with him in his Rocket Submarine are Crash, Diana, three sailors (Briny Deep, Salty, Joe) and their pet parrot
Sinbad. Unknown to the expedition until it is underway and in trouble, Billy has stowed away
on the Rocket Sub as well.
Problems for the expedition begin when Joe, in charge of the engine room, is driven mad by the fear that the submarine cannot survive such depths. In order to prove this, he locks the engine room door and sends the sub into a fatal dive. As soon as this crisis is averted, Unga Khan and Captain Hakur detect their approach and bring them through a tunnel into the Inland Sea with a Magnetic Ray.
was $99,222 (a $17,298, or 21.1%, overspend). It has the lowest budget of any Republic serial but it was only the third cheapest in actual production cost. The serial was filmed between 3 March and 28 March 1936 under production number 417. The only cheaper serials were the subsequent The Vigilantes Are Coming
($87,655) and, in 1938, The Fighting Devil Dogs
($92,569). By comparison, the larger Universal Pictures spent $350,000 in producing the first Flash Gordon serial.
These include the Volkites (The robotic army of the Black Robes), The Juggernaut (their tank), Vol Planes (Atlantean rocketships) and Professor Norton's Rocket Submarine, as well as sets and Unga Khan's tower.
This is the first appearance of the "Republic Robot" (as the "Volkites"). It would turn up again in Mysterious Doctor Satan
(1940) and Zombies of the Stratosphere
(1952). It is parodied
in Star Trek: Voyager's
The Adventures of Captain Proton.
Some of the model effects seen within the serial:
While the technology base of Atlantis is apparently very low, with sword
wielding cavalry
and chariot
s the main type of military force, Unga Khan's Black Robes (or Imperial Guard) have several very advanced items of technology.
Unga Khan's Disintegrator is the main plot device. A machine capable of artificially creating earthquake
s at a precise target, it is this that leads to Professor Norton's expedition to Atlantis and also the means by which Unga Khan means to conquer or destroy the upper world.
The Reflector Plate is the most ubiquitous device used throughout the serial. This is a screen that acts much like a view screen, or videophone
, in more modern science fiction. It is used to communicate between two plates or it is used, most frequently, to view (and hear) any remote location. No cameras or microphones are apparently necessary to this second function and it appears to have no limits - viewing the Sacred City, areas of Atlantis and the upper world with no problems.
Unga Khan's Imperial Guard are augmented by Volkites, a type of robot
controlled by a bulky remote control device often worn by Hakur. They also perform tasks in the tower, for example operating the Master Controls of other devices such as the Disintegrator when commanded to by remote control (the remote control of most devices are usually done through remotely controlling the Volkite(s) to operate the Master Controls to remotely control the actual device). While the Imperial Guard use swords or bows, the Volkites are armed with Atomguns, rifle sized ray guns. Occasionally these are used by others where necessary but only when taken from a Volkite.
In terms of vehicles, Unga Khan has one tank
, called the Juggernaut. This can be controlled by remote as well as by the driver (either human or Volite). It has no armament itself but is used as a battering ram during siege warfare. Though not used very often Unga Khan's forces also have several aircraft called Vol Planes (also known as Sky Chariots by the White Robes).
Unga Khan's tower is armed with one Projector which fires one Aerial Torpedo at a time. This is, again, controlled by remote control.
Unga Khan uses his Transformation Chamber to make people "change their mind". It is a brain washing device that makes the victim Unga Khan's willing slave. The effect wears off in time and can be reversed by the Chamber.
The Magnetic Ray is used only once to pull the Rocket Submarine into Atlantis (much like a tractor beam
in Star Wars
or Star Trek
) in the first chapter. In the last chapter, an Invisible Wall of Atom Rays is activated to provide Unga Khan's tower with a force field
to protect it from the United States Navy's bombardment. Finally, the tower itself has automatic sliding doors and elevators.
The most advanced technology seemingly available to the opposing White Robes of Sharad are catapult
s and flame throwers built into the walls of the Sacred City.
.
Source:
.
Undersea Kingdom (1936) is a Republic Pictures film serial released in response to Universal's
Flash Gordon
. It was the second of the sixty-six serials made by Republic. In 1966 scenes from the serial was edited into a 100-minute television film titled Sharad of Atlantis.
Following a suspicious earthquake, and detecting a series of signals, Professor Norton leads an expedition, including Lt Crash Corrigan and Reporter Diana Compton, in his Rocket Submarine to the suspected location of Atlantis. Finding the lost continent they become embroiled in an Atlantean civil war between Sharad (with his White Robes) and the usurper Unga Khan (with his Black Robes) who wishes to conquer Atlantis and then destroy the upper world with Earthquake
s generated by his Disintegrator. Thus he will rule the world unless he can be stopped in time.
The star of the serial is Ray "Crash" Corrigan, using that screen name for the first time. The name was created to sound similar to "Flash Gordon", in one of many similarities. Formerly a stunt man — he was the person swinging on vines in Tarzan the Ape Man — Corrigan went on to use this screenname for the rest of his career in serials and B-Westerns.
The first two chapters of the serial were mocked on the TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000
.
The plot revolves around the main character "Crash" Corrigan trying to stop an evil tyrant ruler of Atlantis from conquering the lost continent and then the entire upper world.
Lieutenant Crash Corrigan, in his last year at Annapolis
, is invited by Billy Norton to visit his father, Professor Norton, after a wrestling match. At their house, the professor is demonstrating his new invention, which can detect and prevent (at short range) earthquakes, to Diana Compton and his theory about regular tremours from the area where Atlantis
used to be.
When Atlantean tyrant Unga Khan and his Black Robe army turn their Disintegrator beam on St Clair, Professor Norton leads an expedition
to investigate. Along with him in his Rocket Submarine are Crash, Diana, three sailors (Briny Deep, Salty, Joe) and their pet parrot
Sinbad. Unknown to the expedition until it is underway and in trouble, Billy has stowed away
on the Rocket Sub as well.
Problems for the expedition begin when Joe, in charge of the engine room, is driven mad by the fear that the submarine cannot survive such depths. In order to prove this, he locks the engine room door and sends the sub into a fatal dive. As soon as this crisis is averted, Unga Khan and Captain Hakur detect their approach and bring them through a tunnel into the Inland Sea with a Magnetic Ray.
was $99,222 (a $17,298, or 21.1%, overspend). It has the lowest budget of any Republic serial but it was only the third cheapest in actual production cost. The serial was filmed between 3 March and 28 March 1936 under production number 417. The only cheaper serials were the subsequent The Vigilantes Are Coming
($87,655) and, in 1938, The Fighting Devil Dogs
($92,569). By comparison, the larger Universal Pictures spent $350,000 in producing the first Flash Gordon serial.
These include the Volkites (The robotic army of the Black Robes), The Juggernaut (their tank), Vol Planes (Atlantean rocketships) and Professor Norton's Rocket Submarine, as well as sets and Unga Khan's tower.
This is the first appearance of the "Republic Robot" (as the "Volkites"). It would turn up again in Mysterious Doctor Satan
(1940) and Zombies of the Stratosphere
(1952). It is parodied
in Star Trek: Voyager's
The Adventures of Captain Proton.
Some of the model effects seen within the serial:
While the technology base of Atlantis is apparently very low, with sword
wielding cavalry
and chariot
s the main type of military force, Unga Khan's Black Robes (or Imperial Guard) have several very advanced items of technology.
Unga Khan's Disintegrator is the main plot device. A machine capable of artificially creating earthquake
s at a precise target, it is this that leads to Professor Norton's expedition to Atlantis and also the means by which Unga Khan means to conquer or destroy the upper world.
The Reflector Plate is the most ubiquitous device used throughout the serial. This is a screen that acts much like a view screen, or videophone
, in more modern science fiction. It is used to communicate between two plates or it is used, most frequently, to view (and hear) any remote location. No cameras or microphones are apparently necessary to this second function and it appears to have no limits - viewing the Sacred City, areas of Atlantis and the upper world with no problems.
Unga Khan's Imperial Guard are augmented by Volkites, a type of robot
controlled by a bulky remote control device often worn by Hakur. They also perform tasks in the tower, for example operating the Master Controls of other devices such as the Disintegrator when commanded to by remote control (the remote control of most devices are usually done through remotely controlling the Volkite(s) to operate the Master Controls to remotely control the actual device). While the Imperial Guard use swords or bows, the Volkites are armed with Atomguns, rifle sized ray guns. Occasionally these are used by others where necessary but only when taken from a Volkite.
In terms of vehicles, Unga Khan has one tank
, called the Juggernaut. This can be controlled by remote as well as by the driver (either human or Volite). It has no armament itself but is used as a battering ram during siege warfare. Though not used very often Unga Khan's forces also have several aircraft called Vol Planes (also known as Sky Chariots by the White Robes).
Unga Khan's tower is armed with one Projector which fires one Aerial Torpedo at a time. This is, again, controlled by remote control.
Unga Khan uses his Transformation Chamber to make people "change their mind". It is a brain washing device that makes the victim Unga Khan's willing slave. The effect wears off in time and can be reversed by the Chamber.
The Magnetic Ray is used only once to pull the Rocket Submarine into Atlantis (much like a tractor beam
in Star Wars
or Star Trek
) in the first chapter. In the last chapter, an Invisible Wall of Atom Rays is activated to provide Unga Khan's tower with a force field
to protect it from the United States Navy's bombardment. Finally, the tower itself has automatic sliding doors and elevators.
The most advanced technology seemingly available to the opposing White Robes of Sharad are catapult
s and flame throwers built into the walls of the Sacred City.
.
Source:
.
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
Flash Gordon
Flash Gordon (serial)
Flash Gordon is a 1936 science fiction film serial. Told in 13 installments, it was the first screen adventure for the comic-strip character Flash Gordon, and tells the story of his first visit to the planet Mongo and his encounter with the evil Emperor Ming the Merciless. Buster Crabbe, Jean...
. It was the second of the sixty-six serials made by Republic. In 1966 scenes from the serial was edited into a 100-minute television film titled Sharad of Atlantis.
Following a suspicious earthquake, and detecting a series of signals, Professor Norton leads an expedition, including Lt Crash Corrigan and Reporter Diana Compton, in his Rocket Submarine to the suspected location of Atlantis. Finding the lost continent they become embroiled in an Atlantean civil war between Sharad (with his White Robes) and the usurper Unga Khan (with his Black Robes) who wishes to conquer Atlantis and then destroy the upper world with Earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
s generated by his Disintegrator. Thus he will rule the world unless he can be stopped in time.
The star of the serial is Ray "Crash" Corrigan, using that screen name for the first time. The name was created to sound similar to "Flash Gordon", in one of many similarities. Formerly a stunt man — he was the person swinging on vines in Tarzan the Ape Man — Corrigan went on to use this screenname for the rest of his career in serials and B-Westerns.
The first two chapters of the serial were mocked on the TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
.
Plot
Lieutenant Crash Corrigan, in his last year at Annapolis
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
, is invited by Billy Norton to visit his father, Professor Norton, after a wrestling match. At their house, the professor is demonstrating his new invention, which can detect and prevent (at short range) earthquakes, to Diana Compton and his theory about regular tremours from the area where Atlantis
Atlantis
Atlantis is a legendary island first mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias, written about 360 BC....
used to be.
When Atlantean tyrant Unga Khan and his Black Robe army turn their Disintegrator beam on St Clair, Professor Norton leads an expedition
Exploration
Exploration is the act of searching or traveling around a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information. Exploration occurs in all non-sessile animal species, including humans...
to investigate. Along with him in his Rocket Submarine are Crash, Diana, three sailors (Briny Deep, Salty, Joe) and their pet parrot
Parrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
Sinbad. Unknown to the expedition until it is underway and in trouble, Billy has stowed away
Stowaway
A stowaway is a person who secretly boards a vehicle, such as an aircraft, bus, ship, cargo truck or train, to travel without paying and without being detected....
on the Rocket Sub as well.
Problems for the expedition begin when Joe, in charge of the engine room, is driven mad by the fear that the submarine cannot survive such depths. In order to prove this, he locks the engine room door and sends the sub into a fatal dive. As soon as this crisis is averted, Unga Khan and Captain Hakur detect their approach and bring them through a tunnel into the Inland Sea with a Magnetic Ray.
Main cast
- Ray "Crash" Corrigan as Crash Corrigan, Athlete and US NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
LieutenantLieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. Crash Corrigan's stage name came from this serial. - Lois WildeLois WildeLois Wilde was an American actress most famous for appearing in B-Western and Action movies.-External links:...
as Diana Compton, Reporter from the Times who joins the expedition to Atlantis to get a story - Monte BlueMonte BlueMonte Blue was a movie actor who began his career as a romantic leading man in the silent film era, and later progressed to character roles....
as Unga Khan, Tyrant and leader of the Black Robes - William FarnumWilliam FarnumWilliam Farnum was a major movie actor. One of three brothers, Farnum grew up in a family of actors. He made his acting debut at the age of ten in Richmond, Virginia in a production of Julius Caesar, with Edwin Booth playing the title character...
as Sharad, High priest of Atlantis and leader of the White Robes - Boothe Howard as Ditmar, one of Unga Khan's Black Robes
- Raymond HattonRaymond HattonRaymond William Hatton was an American movie actor who appeared in almost five hundred movies, including a stint of being paired in 1920s comedies with Wallace Beery....
as Gasspom, one of Unga Khan's Black Robes - C. Montague ShawC. Montague ShawCharles Montague Shaw was an Australian character actor, often appearing in small supporting parts in more than 150 films....
as Professor Norton, American scientist and leader of the expedition to Atlantis in his Rocket Submarine - Lee Van AttaLee Van AttaLee Van Atta was an American child actor between 1936 and 1939.-Filmography:* Twelve Crowded Hours as Copyboy* The Affairs of Annabel as Robert Fletcher* Dangerous Holiday as Eddie...
as Billy Norton, Professor Norton's young son who stows away aboard the submarine expedition - Smiley BurnetteSmiley BurnetteLester Alvin Burnett , better known as Smiley Burnette, was a popular American country music performer and a comedic actor in Western films and on radio and TV, playing sidekick to Gene Autry and other B-movie cowboys. He was also a prolific singer-songwriter who could play as many as 100 musical...
as Briny Deep, a sailorSailorA sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
in Professor Norton's Rocket Sub expedition and comic relief - Frankie Marvin as Salty, a sailor in Professor Norton's Rocket Sub expedition and comic relief
Supporting Cast
- Lon Chaney, Jr.Lon Chaney, Jr.Lon Chaney, Jr. , born Creighton Tull Chaney, was an American character actor. He was best known for his roles in monster movies and as the son of famous silent film actor, Lon Chaney...
as Captain Hakur, Black Robe commander, Unga Khan's main henchmanHenchmanHenchman referred originally to one who attended on a horse for his employer, that is, a horse groom. Hence, like constable and marshal, also originally stable staff, henchman became the title of a subordinate official in a royal court or noble household...
. Captain Hakur was "probably" Lon Chaney, Jr.'s "most colourful henchman." - Lane ChandlerLane ChandlerLane Chandler was an American actor specializing in Westerns.-Early life:He was born as Robert Chandler Oakes on a ranch near Culbertson, Montana, the son of a horse rancher. At an early age, the family relocated to Helena, Montana, where he graduated from high school...
as Darius, one of Sharad's White Robes - Jack MulhallJack MulhallJack Mulhall, born John Joseph Francis Mulhall, was a film actor since the silent film era and appeared in over 430 films....
as Lieutenant Andrews, US Navy - John Bradford as Joe, a sailor in Professor Norton's Rocket Sub expedition who goes mad with fear and almost kills them all
- Malcolm McGregorMalcolm McGregorMalcolm McGregor was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 55 films between 1922 and 1936. He was born in Newark, New Jersey and died in Hollywood, California....
as Zogg, one of Unga Khan's Black Robes - Ralph Holmes as Martos, one of Sharad's White Robes
- John Merton as Moloch, Black Robe whose life is spared by Corrigan and switches sides
- Ernie Smith as Gourk, one of Unga Khan's Black Robes
- Lloyd WhitlockLloyd WhitlockLloyd Whitlock was an American actor. He appeared in 199 films between 1916 and 1949.-Selected filmography:* The Thrill Chaser * The Woman of Bronze...
as Captain Clinton, US Navy Captain
Production
Undersea Kingdom was budgeted at $81,924 although the final negative costNegative cost
Negative cost is the cost of actually producing and shooting a film. It does not include such costs as distribution and promotion.Low-budget movies, for example The Blair Witch Project, can have promotional expenses that are much larger than the negative cost.The term comes from the costs up to the...
was $99,222 (a $17,298, or 21.1%, overspend). It has the lowest budget of any Republic serial but it was only the third cheapest in actual production cost. The serial was filmed between 3 March and 28 March 1936 under production number 417. The only cheaper serials were the subsequent The Vigilantes Are Coming
The Vigilantes Are Coming
The Vigilantes Are Coming is a 1936 American Republic film serial. It was the third of the sixty six serials made by Republic Pictures ....
($87,655) and, in 1938, The Fighting Devil Dogs
The Fighting Devil Dogs
The Fighting Devil Dogs is a 12-chapter Republic movie serial starring Lee Powell and Herman Brix, the latter better known by his later stage name, Bruce Bennett. It was directed by William Witney and John English...
($92,569). By comparison, the larger Universal Pictures spent $350,000 in producing the first Flash Gordon serial.
Stunts
- George DeNormand
- Tracy Layne
- Ted Mapes
- Eddie ParkerEddie ParkerEddie Parker was a stuntman and actor who appeared in many classic films, mostly westerns and horror films...
- Charles Schaeffer
- Tom SteeleTom Steele (stuntman)Tom Steele was a stunt man and actor, best remembered for appearing in serials, especially those produced by Republic Pictures, in both capacities.-Early life:...
started his serial career in this serial. He went on to work in most of the subsequent serials produced by Republic and Universal PicturesUniversal Pictures-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
. - Bill Yrigoyen
Special Effects
- John T. Coyle
- The Lydecker brothersLydecker brothers-Partial filmography:*Darkest Africa *Women in War - Oscar nominated*Adventures of Captain Marvel *Flying Tigers - Oscar nominated*Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe...
- Bud ThackeryBud ThackeryEllis J. "Bud" Thackery was an American cinematographer who took part in two episodes of The Virginian and many episodes of the Ironside TV series on NBC. He was nominated for an Oscar along with Howard Lydecker, William Bradford and Herbert Norsch in 1941 for Best Effects, Special Effects in the...
These include the Volkites (The robotic army of the Black Robes), The Juggernaut (their tank), Vol Planes (Atlantean rocketships) and Professor Norton's Rocket Submarine, as well as sets and Unga Khan's tower.
This is the first appearance of the "Republic Robot" (as the "Volkites"). It would turn up again in Mysterious Doctor Satan
Mysterious Doctor Satan
Mysterious Doctor Satan is a 1940 film serial named after its chief villain. Doctor Satan's main opponent is The Copperhead, a masked mystery man secretly Bob Wayne....
(1940) and Zombies of the Stratosphere
Zombies of the Stratosphere
Zombies of the Stratosphere was intended as the second serial featuring "new hero" Commando Cody and the third 12-chapter serial featuring the rocket-powered flying suit introduced in King of the Rocket Men...
(1952). It is parodied
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
in Star Trek: Voyager's
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. Set in the 24th century from the year 2371 through 2378, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, which becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light-years from Earth while...
The Adventures of Captain Proton.
Some of the model effects seen within the serial:
Unga Khan's Technology
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
wielding cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
and chariot
Chariot
The chariot is a type of horse carriage used in both peace and war as the chief vehicle of many ancient peoples. Ox carts, proto-chariots, were built by the Proto-Indo-Europeans and also built in Mesopotamia as early as 3000 BC. The original horse chariot was a fast, light, open, two wheeled...
s the main type of military force, Unga Khan's Black Robes (or Imperial Guard) have several very advanced items of technology.
Unga Khan's Disintegrator is the main plot device. A machine capable of artificially creating earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
s at a precise target, it is this that leads to Professor Norton's expedition to Atlantis and also the means by which Unga Khan means to conquer or destroy the upper world.
The Reflector Plate is the most ubiquitous device used throughout the serial. This is a screen that acts much like a view screen, or videophone
Videophone
A videophone is a telephone with a video screen, and is capable of full duplex video and audio transmissions for communication between people in real-time...
, in more modern science fiction. It is used to communicate between two plates or it is used, most frequently, to view (and hear) any remote location. No cameras or microphones are apparently necessary to this second function and it appears to have no limits - viewing the Sacred City, areas of Atlantis and the upper world with no problems.
Unga Khan's Imperial Guard are augmented by Volkites, a type of robot
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
controlled by a bulky remote control device often worn by Hakur. They also perform tasks in the tower, for example operating the Master Controls of other devices such as the Disintegrator when commanded to by remote control (the remote control of most devices are usually done through remotely controlling the Volkite(s) to operate the Master Controls to remotely control the actual device). While the Imperial Guard use swords or bows, the Volkites are armed with Atomguns, rifle sized ray guns. Occasionally these are used by others where necessary but only when taken from a Volkite.
In terms of vehicles, Unga Khan has one tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
, called the Juggernaut. This can be controlled by remote as well as by the driver (either human or Volite). It has no armament itself but is used as a battering ram during siege warfare. Though not used very often Unga Khan's forces also have several aircraft called Vol Planes (also known as Sky Chariots by the White Robes).
Unga Khan's tower is armed with one Projector which fires one Aerial Torpedo at a time. This is, again, controlled by remote control.
Unga Khan uses his Transformation Chamber to make people "change their mind". It is a brain washing device that makes the victim Unga Khan's willing slave. The effect wears off in time and can be reversed by the Chamber.
The Magnetic Ray is used only once to pull the Rocket Submarine into Atlantis (much like a tractor beam
Tractor beam
A tractor beam is a device with the ability to attract one object to another from a distance. Since the 1990s, technology and research has labored to make it a reality, mostly at microscopic level. Less commonly, a similar beam that repels is called a pressor beam or repulsor beam...
in Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
or Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
) in the first chapter. In the last chapter, an Invisible Wall of Atom Rays is activated to provide Unga Khan's tower with a force field
Force field
A force field, sometimes known as an energy shield, force shield, or deflector shield is a concept of a field tightly bounded and of significant magnitude so that objects affected by the particular force relating to the field are unable to pass through the central axis of the field and reach the...
to protect it from the United States Navy's bombardment. Finally, the tower itself has automatic sliding doors and elevators.
The most advanced technology seemingly available to the opposing White Robes of Sharad are catapult
Catapult
A catapult is a device used to throw or hurl a projectile a great distance without the aid of explosive devices—particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. Although the catapult has been used since ancient times, it has proven to be one of the most effective mechanisms during...
s and flame throwers built into the walls of the Sacred City.
Theatrical
Undersea Kingdoms official release date is 30 May 1936, although this is actually the date the sixth chapter was made available to film exchanges. It was re-released on 15 February 1950 between the first runs of Radar Patrol vs. Spy King and The Invisible MonsterThe Invisible Monster
The Invisible Monster is a Republic film serial.-Plot:A would-be American dictator and mad-scientist, known only as The Phantom Ruler, has developed a formula which, when sprayed on some solid object, renders that object and everything it contains invisible when exposed to rays emitted by a...
.
Television
Undersea Kingdom was one of several Republic serials re-released as a film for television in 1966. It was renamed as Sharad of Atlantis. This version was cut down to 100-minutes in length.Critical reception
In the words of Cline, Undersea Kingdom was a "totally unbelievable - but visually enjoyable - twelve-chapter madhouse chase."Chapter titles
- Beneath the Ocean Floor (30 min 51s)
- Undersea City (19 min 13s)
- Arena of Death (18 min 58s)
- Revenge of the Volkites (18 min 7s)
- Prisoners of Atlantis (17 min 33s)
- The Juggernaut Strikes (16 min 40s)
- The Submarine Trap (17 min 20s)
- Into the Metal Tower (16 min 49s)
- Death in the Air (16 min 48s)
- Atlantis Destroyed (17 min 28s)
- Flaming Death (19 min 23s)
- Ascent to the Upperworld (16 min 54s)
Source:
Cliffhangers
- Beneath The Ocean Floor: Flying torpedoes cause a landslideLandslideA landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
and blow Crash and Billy off a cliff as they try to escape the Volkites. - The Undersea City: Crash is hit by an atom gun and falls down an elevator shaft.
- Arena of Death: Crash is dragged behind a chariot.
- Revenge of the Volkites: During a siege, Crash and Moloch fall into the path of a Black Robe cavalry charge.
- Prisoners of Atlantis: Diana is trapped in the brainwashing Transformation Chamber.
- The Juggernaut Strikes: As Crash (with Billy on his back) walks a tightropeTightrope walkingTightrope walking is the art of walking along a thin wire or rope, usually at a great height. One or more artists performs in front of an audience or as a publicity stunt...
across a chasm, Ditmar snaps the cable with torpedoes. - The Submarine Trap: Crash is caught an explosion when an arrow hits the cylinders of Priming Powder.
- Into the Metal Tower: Crash is tied to the front of the Juggernaut (The Black Robe TankTankA tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
)) as it rams the gates of the sacred city. - Death in the Air: The heroes' aircraft is shot down by Unga Khan.
- Atlantis Destroyed: The heroes are caught in the Sacred City under aerial bombardmentStrategic bombingStrategic bombing is a military strategy used in a total war with the goal of defeating an enemy nation-state by destroying its economic ability and public will to wage war rather than destroying its land or naval forces...
. - Flaming Death: Crash and Professor Norton are caught in the jets of Unga Khan's rocket engines.
Solutions
Many of the solutions to these cliffhangers are "cheats"- they change or obviously do not match the events shown in the preceding cliffhangerCliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction...
.
- The Undersea City: Crash and Billy take cover on the other side of the peak.
- Arena of Death: Crash does not fall but catches the side of the shaft and climbs down.
- Revenge of the Volkites: Crash climbs into the chariot and takes over.
- Prisoners of Atlantis: Crash and Moloch lie flat and are unharmed as the charge passes around them.
- The Juggernaut Strikes: Crash rescues Diana before the process is completed.
- The Submarine Trap: Crash grabs hold of the cable before it snaps and they are able to drop safely to the ground.
- Into the Metal Tower: Crash dives underwater moments before the explosion.
- Death in the Air: Despite the visible effects of crashing into the gate in the previous chapter, this time the gates are opened before impact and the Juggernaut simply enters the courtyard.
- Atlantis Destroyed: Crash, Billy and Professor Norton climb out of the wreckage without significant injury.
- Flaming Death: Although Sharad is killed when a column falls on him, none of the heroes are seriously injured.
- Ascent to the Upper World: Moloch is caught in the flames and dies, but Crash and Professor Norton escape to shelter in a lower level of the caves under Unga Khan's tower.
See also
- List of film serials
- List of film serials by studio
- List of films in the public domain
External links
Undersea Kingdom (1936) is a Republic Pictures film serial released in response to Universal's
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
Flash Gordon
Flash Gordon (serial)
Flash Gordon is a 1936 science fiction film serial. Told in 13 installments, it was the first screen adventure for the comic-strip character Flash Gordon, and tells the story of his first visit to the planet Mongo and his encounter with the evil Emperor Ming the Merciless. Buster Crabbe, Jean...
. It was the second of the sixty-six serials made by Republic. In 1966 scenes from the serial was edited into a 100-minute television film titled Sharad of Atlantis.
Following a suspicious earthquake, and detecting a series of signals, Professor Norton leads an expedition, including Lt Crash Corrigan and Reporter Diana Compton, in his Rocket Submarine to the suspected location of Atlantis. Finding the lost continent they become embroiled in an Atlantean civil war between Sharad (with his White Robes) and the usurper Unga Khan (with his Black Robes) who wishes to conquer Atlantis and then destroy the upper world with Earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
s generated by his Disintegrator. Thus he will rule the world unless he can be stopped in time.
The star of the serial is Ray "Crash" Corrigan, using that screen name for the first time. The name was created to sound similar to "Flash Gordon", in one of many similarities. Formerly a stunt man — he was the person swinging on vines in Tarzan the Ape Man — Corrigan went on to use this screenname for the rest of his career in serials and B-Westerns.
The first two chapters of the serial were mocked on the TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
.
Plot
Lieutenant Crash Corrigan, in his last year at Annapolis
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
, is invited by Billy Norton to visit his father, Professor Norton, after a wrestling match. At their house, the professor is demonstrating his new invention, which can detect and prevent (at short range) earthquakes, to Diana Compton and his theory about regular tremours from the area where Atlantis
Atlantis
Atlantis is a legendary island first mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias, written about 360 BC....
used to be.
When Atlantean tyrant Unga Khan and his Black Robe army turn their Disintegrator beam on St Clair, Professor Norton leads an expedition
Exploration
Exploration is the act of searching or traveling around a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information. Exploration occurs in all non-sessile animal species, including humans...
to investigate. Along with him in his Rocket Submarine are Crash, Diana, three sailors (Briny Deep, Salty, Joe) and their pet parrot
Parrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
Sinbad. Unknown to the expedition until it is underway and in trouble, Billy has stowed away
Stowaway
A stowaway is a person who secretly boards a vehicle, such as an aircraft, bus, ship, cargo truck or train, to travel without paying and without being detected....
on the Rocket Sub as well.
Problems for the expedition begin when Joe, in charge of the engine room, is driven mad by the fear that the submarine cannot survive such depths. In order to prove this, he locks the engine room door and sends the sub into a fatal dive. As soon as this crisis is averted, Unga Khan and Captain Hakur detect their approach and bring them through a tunnel into the Inland Sea with a Magnetic Ray.
Main cast
- Ray "Crash" Corrigan as Crash Corrigan, Athlete and US NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
LieutenantLieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. Crash Corrigan's stage name came from this serial. - Lois WildeLois WildeLois Wilde was an American actress most famous for appearing in B-Western and Action movies.-External links:...
as Diana Compton, Reporter from the Times who joins the expedition to Atlantis to get a story - Monte BlueMonte BlueMonte Blue was a movie actor who began his career as a romantic leading man in the silent film era, and later progressed to character roles....
as Unga Khan, Tyrant and leader of the Black Robes - William FarnumWilliam FarnumWilliam Farnum was a major movie actor. One of three brothers, Farnum grew up in a family of actors. He made his acting debut at the age of ten in Richmond, Virginia in a production of Julius Caesar, with Edwin Booth playing the title character...
as Sharad, High priest of Atlantis and leader of the White Robes - Boothe Howard as Ditmar, one of Unga Khan's Black Robes
- Raymond HattonRaymond HattonRaymond William Hatton was an American movie actor who appeared in almost five hundred movies, including a stint of being paired in 1920s comedies with Wallace Beery....
as Gasspom, one of Unga Khan's Black Robes - C. Montague ShawC. Montague ShawCharles Montague Shaw was an Australian character actor, often appearing in small supporting parts in more than 150 films....
as Professor Norton, American scientist and leader of the expedition to Atlantis in his Rocket Submarine - Lee Van AttaLee Van AttaLee Van Atta was an American child actor between 1936 and 1939.-Filmography:* Twelve Crowded Hours as Copyboy* The Affairs of Annabel as Robert Fletcher* Dangerous Holiday as Eddie...
as Billy Norton, Professor Norton's young son who stows away aboard the submarine expedition - Smiley BurnetteSmiley BurnetteLester Alvin Burnett , better known as Smiley Burnette, was a popular American country music performer and a comedic actor in Western films and on radio and TV, playing sidekick to Gene Autry and other B-movie cowboys. He was also a prolific singer-songwriter who could play as many as 100 musical...
as Briny Deep, a sailorSailorA sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
in Professor Norton's Rocket Sub expedition and comic relief - Frankie Marvin as Salty, a sailor in Professor Norton's Rocket Sub expedition and comic relief
Supporting Cast
- Lon Chaney, Jr.Lon Chaney, Jr.Lon Chaney, Jr. , born Creighton Tull Chaney, was an American character actor. He was best known for his roles in monster movies and as the son of famous silent film actor, Lon Chaney...
as Captain Hakur, Black Robe commander, Unga Khan's main henchmanHenchmanHenchman referred originally to one who attended on a horse for his employer, that is, a horse groom. Hence, like constable and marshal, also originally stable staff, henchman became the title of a subordinate official in a royal court or noble household...
. Captain Hakur was "probably" Lon Chaney, Jr.'s "most colourful henchman." - Lane ChandlerLane ChandlerLane Chandler was an American actor specializing in Westerns.-Early life:He was born as Robert Chandler Oakes on a ranch near Culbertson, Montana, the son of a horse rancher. At an early age, the family relocated to Helena, Montana, where he graduated from high school...
as Darius, one of Sharad's White Robes - Jack MulhallJack MulhallJack Mulhall, born John Joseph Francis Mulhall, was a film actor since the silent film era and appeared in over 430 films....
as Lieutenant Andrews, US Navy - John Bradford as Joe, a sailor in Professor Norton's Rocket Sub expedition who goes mad with fear and almost kills them all
- Malcolm McGregorMalcolm McGregorMalcolm McGregor was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 55 films between 1922 and 1936. He was born in Newark, New Jersey and died in Hollywood, California....
as Zogg, one of Unga Khan's Black Robes - Ralph Holmes as Martos, one of Sharad's White Robes
- John Merton as Moloch, Black Robe whose life is spared by Corrigan and switches sides
- Ernie Smith as Gourk, one of Unga Khan's Black Robes
- Lloyd WhitlockLloyd WhitlockLloyd Whitlock was an American actor. He appeared in 199 films between 1916 and 1949.-Selected filmography:* The Thrill Chaser * The Woman of Bronze...
as Captain Clinton, US Navy Captain
Production
Undersea Kingdom was budgeted at $81,924 although the final negative costNegative cost
Negative cost is the cost of actually producing and shooting a film. It does not include such costs as distribution and promotion.Low-budget movies, for example The Blair Witch Project, can have promotional expenses that are much larger than the negative cost.The term comes from the costs up to the...
was $99,222 (a $17,298, or 21.1%, overspend). It has the lowest budget of any Republic serial but it was only the third cheapest in actual production cost. The serial was filmed between 3 March and 28 March 1936 under production number 417. The only cheaper serials were the subsequent The Vigilantes Are Coming
The Vigilantes Are Coming
The Vigilantes Are Coming is a 1936 American Republic film serial. It was the third of the sixty six serials made by Republic Pictures ....
($87,655) and, in 1938, The Fighting Devil Dogs
The Fighting Devil Dogs
The Fighting Devil Dogs is a 12-chapter Republic movie serial starring Lee Powell and Herman Brix, the latter better known by his later stage name, Bruce Bennett. It was directed by William Witney and John English...
($92,569). By comparison, the larger Universal Pictures spent $350,000 in producing the first Flash Gordon serial.
Stunts
- George DeNormand
- Tracy Layne
- Ted Mapes
- Eddie ParkerEddie ParkerEddie Parker was a stuntman and actor who appeared in many classic films, mostly westerns and horror films...
- Charles Schaeffer
- Tom SteeleTom Steele (stuntman)Tom Steele was a stunt man and actor, best remembered for appearing in serials, especially those produced by Republic Pictures, in both capacities.-Early life:...
started his serial career in this serial. He went on to work in most of the subsequent serials produced by Republic and Universal PicturesUniversal Pictures-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
. - Bill Yrigoyen
Special Effects
- John T. Coyle
- The Lydecker brothersLydecker brothers-Partial filmography:*Darkest Africa *Women in War - Oscar nominated*Adventures of Captain Marvel *Flying Tigers - Oscar nominated*Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe...
- Bud ThackeryBud ThackeryEllis J. "Bud" Thackery was an American cinematographer who took part in two episodes of The Virginian and many episodes of the Ironside TV series on NBC. He was nominated for an Oscar along with Howard Lydecker, William Bradford and Herbert Norsch in 1941 for Best Effects, Special Effects in the...
These include the Volkites (The robotic army of the Black Robes), The Juggernaut (their tank), Vol Planes (Atlantean rocketships) and Professor Norton's Rocket Submarine, as well as sets and Unga Khan's tower.
This is the first appearance of the "Republic Robot" (as the "Volkites"). It would turn up again in Mysterious Doctor Satan
Mysterious Doctor Satan
Mysterious Doctor Satan is a 1940 film serial named after its chief villain. Doctor Satan's main opponent is The Copperhead, a masked mystery man secretly Bob Wayne....
(1940) and Zombies of the Stratosphere
Zombies of the Stratosphere
Zombies of the Stratosphere was intended as the second serial featuring "new hero" Commando Cody and the third 12-chapter serial featuring the rocket-powered flying suit introduced in King of the Rocket Men...
(1952). It is parodied
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
in Star Trek: Voyager's
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. Set in the 24th century from the year 2371 through 2378, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, which becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light-years from Earth while...
The Adventures of Captain Proton.
Some of the model effects seen within the serial:
Unga Khan's Technology
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
wielding cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
and chariot
Chariot
The chariot is a type of horse carriage used in both peace and war as the chief vehicle of many ancient peoples. Ox carts, proto-chariots, were built by the Proto-Indo-Europeans and also built in Mesopotamia as early as 3000 BC. The original horse chariot was a fast, light, open, two wheeled...
s the main type of military force, Unga Khan's Black Robes (or Imperial Guard) have several very advanced items of technology.
Unga Khan's Disintegrator is the main plot device. A machine capable of artificially creating earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
s at a precise target, it is this that leads to Professor Norton's expedition to Atlantis and also the means by which Unga Khan means to conquer or destroy the upper world.
The Reflector Plate is the most ubiquitous device used throughout the serial. This is a screen that acts much like a view screen, or videophone
Videophone
A videophone is a telephone with a video screen, and is capable of full duplex video and audio transmissions for communication between people in real-time...
, in more modern science fiction. It is used to communicate between two plates or it is used, most frequently, to view (and hear) any remote location. No cameras or microphones are apparently necessary to this second function and it appears to have no limits - viewing the Sacred City, areas of Atlantis and the upper world with no problems.
Unga Khan's Imperial Guard are augmented by Volkites, a type of robot
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
controlled by a bulky remote control device often worn by Hakur. They also perform tasks in the tower, for example operating the Master Controls of other devices such as the Disintegrator when commanded to by remote control (the remote control of most devices are usually done through remotely controlling the Volkite(s) to operate the Master Controls to remotely control the actual device). While the Imperial Guard use swords or bows, the Volkites are armed with Atomguns, rifle sized ray guns. Occasionally these are used by others where necessary but only when taken from a Volkite.
In terms of vehicles, Unga Khan has one tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
, called the Juggernaut. This can be controlled by remote as well as by the driver (either human or Volite). It has no armament itself but is used as a battering ram during siege warfare. Though not used very often Unga Khan's forces also have several aircraft called Vol Planes (also known as Sky Chariots by the White Robes).
Unga Khan's tower is armed with one Projector which fires one Aerial Torpedo at a time. This is, again, controlled by remote control.
Unga Khan uses his Transformation Chamber to make people "change their mind". It is a brain washing device that makes the victim Unga Khan's willing slave. The effect wears off in time and can be reversed by the Chamber.
The Magnetic Ray is used only once to pull the Rocket Submarine into Atlantis (much like a tractor beam
Tractor beam
A tractor beam is a device with the ability to attract one object to another from a distance. Since the 1990s, technology and research has labored to make it a reality, mostly at microscopic level. Less commonly, a similar beam that repels is called a pressor beam or repulsor beam...
in Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
or Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
) in the first chapter. In the last chapter, an Invisible Wall of Atom Rays is activated to provide Unga Khan's tower with a force field
Force field
A force field, sometimes known as an energy shield, force shield, or deflector shield is a concept of a field tightly bounded and of significant magnitude so that objects affected by the particular force relating to the field are unable to pass through the central axis of the field and reach the...
to protect it from the United States Navy's bombardment. Finally, the tower itself has automatic sliding doors and elevators.
The most advanced technology seemingly available to the opposing White Robes of Sharad are catapult
Catapult
A catapult is a device used to throw or hurl a projectile a great distance without the aid of explosive devices—particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. Although the catapult has been used since ancient times, it has proven to be one of the most effective mechanisms during...
s and flame throwers built into the walls of the Sacred City.
Theatrical
Undersea Kingdoms official release date is 30 May 1936, although this is actually the date the sixth chapter was made available to film exchanges. It was re-released on 15 February 1950 between the first runs of Radar Patrol vs. Spy King and The Invisible MonsterThe Invisible Monster
The Invisible Monster is a Republic film serial.-Plot:A would-be American dictator and mad-scientist, known only as The Phantom Ruler, has developed a formula which, when sprayed on some solid object, renders that object and everything it contains invisible when exposed to rays emitted by a...
.
Television
Undersea Kingdom was one of several Republic serials re-released as a film for television in 1966. It was renamed as Sharad of Atlantis. This version was cut down to 100-minutes in length.Critical reception
In the words of Cline, Undersea Kingdom was a "totally unbelievable - but visually enjoyable - twelve-chapter madhouse chase."Chapter titles
- Beneath the Ocean Floor (30 min 51s)
- Undersea City (19 min 13s)
- Arena of Death (18 min 58s)
- Revenge of the Volkites (18 min 7s)
- Prisoners of Atlantis (17 min 33s)
- The Juggernaut Strikes (16 min 40s)
- The Submarine Trap (17 min 20s)
- Into the Metal Tower (16 min 49s)
- Death in the Air (16 min 48s)
- Atlantis Destroyed (17 min 28s)
- Flaming Death (19 min 23s)
- Ascent to the Upperworld (16 min 54s)
Source:
Cliffhangers
- Beneath The Ocean Floor: Flying torpedoes cause a landslideLandslideA landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
and blow Crash and Billy off a cliff as they try to escape the Volkites. - The Undersea City: Crash is hit by an atom gun and falls down an elevator shaft.
- Arena of Death: Crash is dragged behind a chariot.
- Revenge of the Volkites: During a siege, Crash and Moloch fall into the path of a Black Robe cavalry charge.
- Prisoners of Atlantis: Diana is trapped in the brainwashing Transformation Chamber.
- The Juggernaut Strikes: As Crash (with Billy on his back) walks a tightropeTightrope walkingTightrope walking is the art of walking along a thin wire or rope, usually at a great height. One or more artists performs in front of an audience or as a publicity stunt...
across a chasm, Ditmar snaps the cable with torpedoes. - The Submarine Trap: Crash is caught an explosion when an arrow hits the cylinders of Priming Powder.
- Into the Metal Tower: Crash is tied to the front of the Juggernaut (The Black Robe TankTankA tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
)) as it rams the gates of the sacred city. - Death in the Air: The heroes' aircraft is shot down by Unga Khan.
- Atlantis Destroyed: The heroes are caught in the Sacred City under aerial bombardmentStrategic bombingStrategic bombing is a military strategy used in a total war with the goal of defeating an enemy nation-state by destroying its economic ability and public will to wage war rather than destroying its land or naval forces...
. - Flaming Death: Crash and Professor Norton are caught in the jets of Unga Khan's rocket engines.
Solutions
Many of the solutions to these cliffhangers are "cheats"- they change or obviously do not match the events shown in the preceding cliffhangerCliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction...
.
- The Undersea City: Crash and Billy take cover on the other side of the peak.
- Arena of Death: Crash does not fall but catches the side of the shaft and climbs down.
- Revenge of the Volkites: Crash climbs into the chariot and takes over.
- Prisoners of Atlantis: Crash and Moloch lie flat and are unharmed as the charge passes around them.
- The Juggernaut Strikes: Crash rescues Diana before the process is completed.
- The Submarine Trap: Crash grabs hold of the cable before it snaps and they are able to drop safely to the ground.
- Into the Metal Tower: Crash dives underwater moments before the explosion.
- Death in the Air: Despite the visible effects of crashing into the gate in the previous chapter, this time the gates are opened before impact and the Juggernaut simply enters the courtyard.
- Atlantis Destroyed: Crash, Billy and Professor Norton climb out of the wreckage without significant injury.
- Flaming Death: Although Sharad is killed when a column falls on him, none of the heroes are seriously injured.
- Ascent to the Upper World: Moloch is caught in the flames and dies, but Crash and Professor Norton escape to shelter in a lower level of the caves under Unga Khan's tower.
See also
- List of film serials
- List of film serials by studio
- List of films in the public domain
External links
Undersea Kingdom (1936) is a Republic Pictures film serial released in response to Universal's
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
Flash Gordon
Flash Gordon (serial)
Flash Gordon is a 1936 science fiction film serial. Told in 13 installments, it was the first screen adventure for the comic-strip character Flash Gordon, and tells the story of his first visit to the planet Mongo and his encounter with the evil Emperor Ming the Merciless. Buster Crabbe, Jean...
. It was the second of the sixty-six serials made by Republic. In 1966 scenes from the serial was edited into a 100-minute television film titled Sharad of Atlantis.
Following a suspicious earthquake, and detecting a series of signals, Professor Norton leads an expedition, including Lt Crash Corrigan and Reporter Diana Compton, in his Rocket Submarine to the suspected location of Atlantis. Finding the lost continent they become embroiled in an Atlantean civil war between Sharad (with his White Robes) and the usurper Unga Khan (with his Black Robes) who wishes to conquer Atlantis and then destroy the upper world with Earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
s generated by his Disintegrator. Thus he will rule the world unless he can be stopped in time.
The star of the serial is Ray "Crash" Corrigan, using that screen name for the first time. The name was created to sound similar to "Flash Gordon", in one of many similarities. Formerly a stunt man — he was the person swinging on vines in Tarzan the Ape Man — Corrigan went on to use this screenname for the rest of his career in serials and B-Westerns.
The first two chapters of the serial were mocked on the TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
.
Plot
Lieutenant Crash Corrigan, in his last year at Annapolis
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
, is invited by Billy Norton to visit his father, Professor Norton, after a wrestling match. At their house, the professor is demonstrating his new invention, which can detect and prevent (at short range) earthquakes, to Diana Compton and his theory about regular tremours from the area where Atlantis
Atlantis
Atlantis is a legendary island first mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias, written about 360 BC....
used to be.
When Atlantean tyrant Unga Khan and his Black Robe army turn their Disintegrator beam on St Clair, Professor Norton leads an expedition
Exploration
Exploration is the act of searching or traveling around a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information. Exploration occurs in all non-sessile animal species, including humans...
to investigate. Along with him in his Rocket Submarine are Crash, Diana, three sailors (Briny Deep, Salty, Joe) and their pet parrot
Parrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
Sinbad. Unknown to the expedition until it is underway and in trouble, Billy has stowed away
Stowaway
A stowaway is a person who secretly boards a vehicle, such as an aircraft, bus, ship, cargo truck or train, to travel without paying and without being detected....
on the Rocket Sub as well.
Problems for the expedition begin when Joe, in charge of the engine room, is driven mad by the fear that the submarine cannot survive such depths. In order to prove this, he locks the engine room door and sends the sub into a fatal dive. As soon as this crisis is averted, Unga Khan and Captain Hakur detect their approach and bring them through a tunnel into the Inland Sea with a Magnetic Ray.
Main cast
- Ray "Crash" Corrigan as Crash Corrigan, Athlete and US NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
LieutenantLieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. Crash Corrigan's stage name came from this serial. - Lois WildeLois WildeLois Wilde was an American actress most famous for appearing in B-Western and Action movies.-External links:...
as Diana Compton, Reporter from the Times who joins the expedition to Atlantis to get a story - Monte BlueMonte BlueMonte Blue was a movie actor who began his career as a romantic leading man in the silent film era, and later progressed to character roles....
as Unga Khan, Tyrant and leader of the Black Robes - William FarnumWilliam FarnumWilliam Farnum was a major movie actor. One of three brothers, Farnum grew up in a family of actors. He made his acting debut at the age of ten in Richmond, Virginia in a production of Julius Caesar, with Edwin Booth playing the title character...
as Sharad, High priest of Atlantis and leader of the White Robes - Boothe Howard as Ditmar, one of Unga Khan's Black Robes
- Raymond HattonRaymond HattonRaymond William Hatton was an American movie actor who appeared in almost five hundred movies, including a stint of being paired in 1920s comedies with Wallace Beery....
as Gasspom, one of Unga Khan's Black Robes - C. Montague ShawC. Montague ShawCharles Montague Shaw was an Australian character actor, often appearing in small supporting parts in more than 150 films....
as Professor Norton, American scientist and leader of the expedition to Atlantis in his Rocket Submarine - Lee Van AttaLee Van AttaLee Van Atta was an American child actor between 1936 and 1939.-Filmography:* Twelve Crowded Hours as Copyboy* The Affairs of Annabel as Robert Fletcher* Dangerous Holiday as Eddie...
as Billy Norton, Professor Norton's young son who stows away aboard the submarine expedition - Smiley BurnetteSmiley BurnetteLester Alvin Burnett , better known as Smiley Burnette, was a popular American country music performer and a comedic actor in Western films and on radio and TV, playing sidekick to Gene Autry and other B-movie cowboys. He was also a prolific singer-songwriter who could play as many as 100 musical...
as Briny Deep, a sailorSailorA sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
in Professor Norton's Rocket Sub expedition and comic relief - Frankie Marvin as Salty, a sailor in Professor Norton's Rocket Sub expedition and comic relief
Supporting Cast
- Lon Chaney, Jr.Lon Chaney, Jr.Lon Chaney, Jr. , born Creighton Tull Chaney, was an American character actor. He was best known for his roles in monster movies and as the son of famous silent film actor, Lon Chaney...
as Captain Hakur, Black Robe commander, Unga Khan's main henchmanHenchmanHenchman referred originally to one who attended on a horse for his employer, that is, a horse groom. Hence, like constable and marshal, also originally stable staff, henchman became the title of a subordinate official in a royal court or noble household...
. Captain Hakur was "probably" Lon Chaney, Jr.'s "most colourful henchman." - Lane ChandlerLane ChandlerLane Chandler was an American actor specializing in Westerns.-Early life:He was born as Robert Chandler Oakes on a ranch near Culbertson, Montana, the son of a horse rancher. At an early age, the family relocated to Helena, Montana, where he graduated from high school...
as Darius, one of Sharad's White Robes - Jack MulhallJack MulhallJack Mulhall, born John Joseph Francis Mulhall, was a film actor since the silent film era and appeared in over 430 films....
as Lieutenant Andrews, US Navy - John Bradford as Joe, a sailor in Professor Norton's Rocket Sub expedition who goes mad with fear and almost kills them all
- Malcolm McGregorMalcolm McGregorMalcolm McGregor was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 55 films between 1922 and 1936. He was born in Newark, New Jersey and died in Hollywood, California....
as Zogg, one of Unga Khan's Black Robes - Ralph Holmes as Martos, one of Sharad's White Robes
- John Merton as Moloch, Black Robe whose life is spared by Corrigan and switches sides
- Ernie Smith as Gourk, one of Unga Khan's Black Robes
- Lloyd WhitlockLloyd WhitlockLloyd Whitlock was an American actor. He appeared in 199 films between 1916 and 1949.-Selected filmography:* The Thrill Chaser * The Woman of Bronze...
as Captain Clinton, US Navy Captain
Production
Undersea Kingdom was budgeted at $81,924 although the final negative costNegative cost
Negative cost is the cost of actually producing and shooting a film. It does not include such costs as distribution and promotion.Low-budget movies, for example The Blair Witch Project, can have promotional expenses that are much larger than the negative cost.The term comes from the costs up to the...
was $99,222 (a $17,298, or 21.1%, overspend). It has the lowest budget of any Republic serial but it was only the third cheapest in actual production cost. The serial was filmed between 3 March and 28 March 1936 under production number 417. The only cheaper serials were the subsequent The Vigilantes Are Coming
The Vigilantes Are Coming
The Vigilantes Are Coming is a 1936 American Republic film serial. It was the third of the sixty six serials made by Republic Pictures ....
($87,655) and, in 1938, The Fighting Devil Dogs
The Fighting Devil Dogs
The Fighting Devil Dogs is a 12-chapter Republic movie serial starring Lee Powell and Herman Brix, the latter better known by his later stage name, Bruce Bennett. It was directed by William Witney and John English...
($92,569). By comparison, the larger Universal Pictures spent $350,000 in producing the first Flash Gordon serial.
Stunts
- George DeNormand
- Tracy Layne
- Ted Mapes
- Eddie ParkerEddie ParkerEddie Parker was a stuntman and actor who appeared in many classic films, mostly westerns and horror films...
- Charles Schaeffer
- Tom SteeleTom Steele (stuntman)Tom Steele was a stunt man and actor, best remembered for appearing in serials, especially those produced by Republic Pictures, in both capacities.-Early life:...
started his serial career in this serial. He went on to work in most of the subsequent serials produced by Republic and Universal PicturesUniversal Pictures-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
. - Bill Yrigoyen
Special Effects
- John T. Coyle
- The Lydecker brothersLydecker brothers-Partial filmography:*Darkest Africa *Women in War - Oscar nominated*Adventures of Captain Marvel *Flying Tigers - Oscar nominated*Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe...
- Bud ThackeryBud ThackeryEllis J. "Bud" Thackery was an American cinematographer who took part in two episodes of The Virginian and many episodes of the Ironside TV series on NBC. He was nominated for an Oscar along with Howard Lydecker, William Bradford and Herbert Norsch in 1941 for Best Effects, Special Effects in the...
These include the Volkites (The robotic army of the Black Robes), The Juggernaut (their tank), Vol Planes (Atlantean rocketships) and Professor Norton's Rocket Submarine, as well as sets and Unga Khan's tower.
This is the first appearance of the "Republic Robot" (as the "Volkites"). It would turn up again in Mysterious Doctor Satan
Mysterious Doctor Satan
Mysterious Doctor Satan is a 1940 film serial named after its chief villain. Doctor Satan's main opponent is The Copperhead, a masked mystery man secretly Bob Wayne....
(1940) and Zombies of the Stratosphere
Zombies of the Stratosphere
Zombies of the Stratosphere was intended as the second serial featuring "new hero" Commando Cody and the third 12-chapter serial featuring the rocket-powered flying suit introduced in King of the Rocket Men...
(1952). It is parodied
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
in Star Trek: Voyager's
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. Set in the 24th century from the year 2371 through 2378, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, which becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light-years from Earth while...
The Adventures of Captain Proton.
Some of the model effects seen within the serial:
Unga Khan's Technology
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
wielding cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
and chariot
Chariot
The chariot is a type of horse carriage used in both peace and war as the chief vehicle of many ancient peoples. Ox carts, proto-chariots, were built by the Proto-Indo-Europeans and also built in Mesopotamia as early as 3000 BC. The original horse chariot was a fast, light, open, two wheeled...
s the main type of military force, Unga Khan's Black Robes (or Imperial Guard) have several very advanced items of technology.
Unga Khan's Disintegrator is the main plot device. A machine capable of artificially creating earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
s at a precise target, it is this that leads to Professor Norton's expedition to Atlantis and also the means by which Unga Khan means to conquer or destroy the upper world.
The Reflector Plate is the most ubiquitous device used throughout the serial. This is a screen that acts much like a view screen, or videophone
Videophone
A videophone is a telephone with a video screen, and is capable of full duplex video and audio transmissions for communication between people in real-time...
, in more modern science fiction. It is used to communicate between two plates or it is used, most frequently, to view (and hear) any remote location. No cameras or microphones are apparently necessary to this second function and it appears to have no limits - viewing the Sacred City, areas of Atlantis and the upper world with no problems.
Unga Khan's Imperial Guard are augmented by Volkites, a type of robot
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
controlled by a bulky remote control device often worn by Hakur. They also perform tasks in the tower, for example operating the Master Controls of other devices such as the Disintegrator when commanded to by remote control (the remote control of most devices are usually done through remotely controlling the Volkite(s) to operate the Master Controls to remotely control the actual device). While the Imperial Guard use swords or bows, the Volkites are armed with Atomguns, rifle sized ray guns. Occasionally these are used by others where necessary but only when taken from a Volkite.
In terms of vehicles, Unga Khan has one tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
, called the Juggernaut. This can be controlled by remote as well as by the driver (either human or Volite). It has no armament itself but is used as a battering ram during siege warfare. Though not used very often Unga Khan's forces also have several aircraft called Vol Planes (also known as Sky Chariots by the White Robes).
Unga Khan's tower is armed with one Projector which fires one Aerial Torpedo at a time. This is, again, controlled by remote control.
Unga Khan uses his Transformation Chamber to make people "change their mind". It is a brain washing device that makes the victim Unga Khan's willing slave. The effect wears off in time and can be reversed by the Chamber.
The Magnetic Ray is used only once to pull the Rocket Submarine into Atlantis (much like a tractor beam
Tractor beam
A tractor beam is a device with the ability to attract one object to another from a distance. Since the 1990s, technology and research has labored to make it a reality, mostly at microscopic level. Less commonly, a similar beam that repels is called a pressor beam or repulsor beam...
in Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
or Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
) in the first chapter. In the last chapter, an Invisible Wall of Atom Rays is activated to provide Unga Khan's tower with a force field
Force field
A force field, sometimes known as an energy shield, force shield, or deflector shield is a concept of a field tightly bounded and of significant magnitude so that objects affected by the particular force relating to the field are unable to pass through the central axis of the field and reach the...
to protect it from the United States Navy's bombardment. Finally, the tower itself has automatic sliding doors and elevators.
The most advanced technology seemingly available to the opposing White Robes of Sharad are catapult
Catapult
A catapult is a device used to throw or hurl a projectile a great distance without the aid of explosive devices—particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. Although the catapult has been used since ancient times, it has proven to be one of the most effective mechanisms during...
s and flame throwers built into the walls of the Sacred City.
Theatrical
Undersea Kingdoms official release date is 30 May 1936, although this is actually the date the sixth chapter was made available to film exchanges. It was re-released on 15 February 1950 between the first runs of Radar Patrol vs. Spy King and The Invisible MonsterThe Invisible Monster
The Invisible Monster is a Republic film serial.-Plot:A would-be American dictator and mad-scientist, known only as The Phantom Ruler, has developed a formula which, when sprayed on some solid object, renders that object and everything it contains invisible when exposed to rays emitted by a...
.
Television
Undersea Kingdom was one of several Republic serials re-released as a film for television in 1966. It was renamed as Sharad of Atlantis. This version was cut down to 100-minutes in length.Critical reception
In the words of Cline, Undersea Kingdom was a "totally unbelievable - but visually enjoyable - twelve-chapter madhouse chase."Chapter titles
- Beneath the Ocean Floor (30 min 51s)
- Undersea City (19 min 13s)
- Arena of Death (18 min 58s)
- Revenge of the Volkites (18 min 7s)
- Prisoners of Atlantis (17 min 33s)
- The Juggernaut Strikes (16 min 40s)
- The Submarine Trap (17 min 20s)
- Into the Metal Tower (16 min 49s)
- Death in the Air (16 min 48s)
- Atlantis Destroyed (17 min 28s)
- Flaming Death (19 min 23s)
- Ascent to the Upperworld (16 min 54s)
Source:
Cliffhangers
- Beneath The Ocean Floor: Flying torpedoes cause a landslideLandslideA landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
and blow Crash and Billy off a cliff as they try to escape the Volkites. - The Undersea City: Crash is hit by an atom gun and falls down an elevator shaft.
- Arena of Death: Crash is dragged behind a chariot.
- Revenge of the Volkites: During a siege, Crash and Moloch fall into the path of a Black Robe cavalry charge.
- Prisoners of Atlantis: Diana is trapped in the brainwashing Transformation Chamber.
- The Juggernaut Strikes: As Crash (with Billy on his back) walks a tightropeTightrope walkingTightrope walking is the art of walking along a thin wire or rope, usually at a great height. One or more artists performs in front of an audience or as a publicity stunt...
across a chasm, Ditmar snaps the cable with torpedoes. - The Submarine Trap: Crash is caught an explosion when an arrow hits the cylinders of Priming Powder.
- Into the Metal Tower: Crash is tied to the front of the Juggernaut (The Black Robe TankTankA tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
)) as it rams the gates of the sacred city. - Death in the Air: The heroes' aircraft is shot down by Unga Khan.
- Atlantis Destroyed: The heroes are caught in the Sacred City under aerial bombardmentStrategic bombingStrategic bombing is a military strategy used in a total war with the goal of defeating an enemy nation-state by destroying its economic ability and public will to wage war rather than destroying its land or naval forces...
. - Flaming Death: Crash and Professor Norton are caught in the jets of Unga Khan's rocket engines.
Solutions
Many of the solutions to these cliffhangers are "cheats"- they change or obviously do not match the events shown in the preceding cliffhangerCliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction...
.
- The Undersea City: Crash and Billy take cover on the other side of the peak.
- Arena of Death: Crash does not fall but catches the side of the shaft and climbs down.
- Revenge of the Volkites: Crash climbs into the chariot and takes over.
- Prisoners of Atlantis: Crash and Moloch lie flat and are unharmed as the charge passes around them.
- The Juggernaut Strikes: Crash rescues Diana before the process is completed.
- The Submarine Trap: Crash grabs hold of the cable before it snaps and they are able to drop safely to the ground.
- Into the Metal Tower: Crash dives underwater moments before the explosion.
- Death in the Air: Despite the visible effects of crashing into the gate in the previous chapter, this time the gates are opened before impact and the Juggernaut simply enters the courtyard.
- Atlantis Destroyed: Crash, Billy and Professor Norton climb out of the wreckage without significant injury.
- Flaming Death: Although Sharad is killed when a column falls on him, none of the heroes are seriously injured.
- Ascent to the Upper World: Moloch is caught in the flames and dies, but Crash and Professor Norton escape to shelter in a lower level of the caves under Unga Khan's tower.
See also
- List of film serials
- List of film serials by studio
- List of films in the public domain