Unknown World (1951)

Purely Joyful Movie!

Must See Movie...

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Did you know that the Earth's crust and upper mantle are hollow, with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites, not to mention flat floors graded just right for people to walk on? Did you also know that our planet's core temperature is cooler than its surface? I didn't either, until I saw this exercise in scientific accuracy.Dr. Jeremiah Morley, a world-renowned geologist, is convinced that nuclear war is imminent. (He never explains why he believes that, nor does it occur to anyone to ask.) He and his team of experts design an earth-burrowing vehicle called a Cyclotram, which Morley describes as "a submarine with the ability of a tractor." (I think it looks like a Studebaker, but never mind.) Using the Cyclotram, they will drill hundreds of miles into the earth in the hope of locating an underground environment where humans could survive an atomic holocaust. Not sure how the Cyclotram can do that with no apparent cooling system, but whatever. Oh, and while we're on the subject: the vehicle's drill bit is entirely too small to make holes big enough for the Cyclotram to fit through. The filmmakers knew at the time that their science was wrong; they just didn't care.Besieged by noxious gasses and magma, the team soon finds its numbers dwindling but vows to continue drilling into the earth. By the time they stop, they've gone 1,640 miles underground—a journey that would take approximately two years in real life. Nothing here indicates that the journey took anywhere nearly that long, especially since the Cyclotram could not have held enough provisions to sustain seven people for two years.UNKNOWN WORLD spends its 75-minute running time doing nothing. Since this is ostensibly science fiction (more like anti-science fiction), one might think there would be cheesy-looking monsters in the Earth's core for the Morley Expedition to fight. But no. That would make things potentially interesting, and we certainly can't have that. Factor in the lousy acting typical of low-budget '50s sci-fi, and you have a pointless endeavor ideal for young couples at the drive-in to ignore as they make out in the car (possibly a Studebaker).

Cheapjack Lippert Pictures had an unexpected success with Rocketship XM (1950). I expect this little slice of sci-fi was intended as a follow-up (check out the similar opening scenes). However, instead of burrowing into outer space in a rocketship, these adventurers burrow into inner earth in what looks like a fat submarine with a drill for a nose.They're playing mole because staying on top like everyone else looks like sure death thanks to nuclear weapons. So six hardy Adams and one Eve set out in their big drill to found a new world and refuge for humanity. Naturally, things don't go entirely as expected, otherwise there'd be no movie. And, of course, not all seven survive.Actually, the special effects aren't bad considering the challenges of a fantastic inner earth. Then too, I'm surprised Lippert popped for location shooting all the way to New Mexico's Carlsbad Caverns. However, it's also a no-name cast that unfortunately performs like one, except for Killian and Nash who manage a few sparks of life. All in all, it's an interestingly offbeat slice of 50's sci-fi despite the big cheese factor.(In passing—thanks IMDb for the info on Killian's billing or I should say lack of billing. Killian was one of those distinctive supporting players who could make any movie better.)

Well, to be fair, in 1951, there was still a great deal of conjecture about the Earth's inner structure; not only was the theory of "plate tectonics" completely unknown (it's no longer considered a theory), that the core was a viscous super-heated liquid with a solid center (outer core and inner core) was merely a conjecture (today it too is considered fact). This picture strikes me as a sort of "Journey to the Center of the Earth" (1959) meets "The Core" (2003), with perhaps a little more emphasis on the latter.What was surprising was to see that the credit for music went to Ernest Gold (who appears to have scored a number of forgettable pictures earlier in his career). Gold would go on to score "The Young Philadelphians " (1959), "On the Beach" (1959), "Inherit the Wind" (1960), "Exodus" (1960) and "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" (1963); he won an Oscar for the score to "Exodus." Words were added in 1961 by Pat Boone(!) as "This Land Is Mine." Various versions charted in 1961, including by the piano duo Ferrante & Teicher and Montavani. It still can be heard today on radio stations that program older popular music.

"A scientist has a theory of saving mankind from a nuclear disaster by having people hide in the center of the Earth to avoid the contamination and devastation. With the financial backing of a multi-millionaire, the scientist develops a giant drilling rig and sets out to find the potential safe haven in the Earth's core. A harrowing trip through the Earth brings the explorers to a hidden cavern…" according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis. Blacklisted actor Victor Kilian (as Jeremiah Morley) leads the underground movement.The journey to the center of the Earth is made possible because our planet is mostly cool and hollow. After the six man/one woman crew finds an underground sea, you may agree they have found the "Promised Land" - but, wait until you see if reproduction can occur below sea level. In an unrelated subplot, arrogant Bruce Kellogg (as Wright Thompson) romances the world's weirdest "ardent feminist" doctor, Marilyn Nash (as Joan Lindsey). As you'll immediately discern, this pretty blonde never did get around to burning her bra.** Unknown World (10/26/51) Terry Morse ~ Victor Kilian, Bruce Kellogg, Marilyn Nash, Jim Bannon