DVD : Undersea Kingdom (volume 1)
Amazon.com's Price: $7.98 Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
This item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping.
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0089218412393
Format: Black & White, DVD-Video, NTSC
Label: Alpha Video
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Alpha Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: March 18, 2003
Running Time: 124 minutes
Sales Rank: 135850
Studio: Alpha Video
Theatrical Release Date: May 30, 1936
Related Items:
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
This is the same sort of fun stuff as the "Phantom Empire" serial, starring Gene Autry... only this one mostly takes place at the bottom of the ocean.
The hero is Ray "Crash" Corrigan, a revered young U.S. Naval officer who is called in to investigate the cause of a rash of various natural disasters which appear to have happened unexpectedly around the planet. Of course the evil Unga Kahn is literally at the root of the problem in his undersea city. He plans to eventually emerge from his Atlantis and take over the earth after he has brought everyone to their knees by using his ingenious machine which causes the earth to shudder under these various natural disasters.
The whole story evolves into a "sci-fi undersea western" of sorts, complete with horses, chariots, helmeted warriors, rockets, and very cool robots ("Volkites," who gad about with ray guns in a speedy Juggernaut), once Corrigan gets to the scene of the action via submarine. There is a "good faction," the nemesis of Unga Kahn, in the undersea civilization and Corrigan teams up with this group in an effort to overcome the sinister tyrant. Two featured stars whom viewers may connect with include Monte Blue (Unga Kahn) and Lon Chaney, Jr. (as Kahn's minion).
This fine old Republic serial (1936) was originally marketed in two separate volumes (still available), each in its own packaging. Here, you get both discs in one package. The film runs for a total of 230 minutes over 12 chapters. ... Read More
Rating:  -
I almost gave up on this serial in the first chapter. I thought an undersea kingdom where they're obviously running around under a clear blue sky was ludicrous. But then I realized that Republic almost never produced a really bad serial, and found people saying some good things about it, so I gave it another shot. I decided to take it at face value and treat it like any other science fiction (such as "Flash Gordon"), and it became palatable. I guess Universal's production values in 1936 weren't too good.
Crash Corrigan (1902-1976) was originally a movie stunt man, doubling for Johnny Weissmuller in the "Tarzan" films. Republic gave him the name "Crash" (note the similarity to "Flash.") He became best known for Republic's "Three Mesquiteers" series of Westerns and Monogram's "Range Busters." Crash Corrigan was the first star to appear on a Wheaties box!
Chapter Eight contains probably the biggest cheat in the history of serials. Corrigan is tied onto the Juggernaut, a vehicle that looks like a tank, and goes crashing through closed gates, wood splintering and flying everywhere, no possibility the hero could live through it. In Chapter Nine the resolution is that someone actually opened the gate just before the vehicle would have crashed it!
Monte Blue, a veteran character actor, is fine as the evil dictator Unga Khan (I'm surprised they didn't go all out and call him Unga Bunga). William Farnum, another familiar bad guy, is the high priest ... Read More
Rating: -
VCI Entertainment and Republic Pictures present Nat Levine's "Undersea Kingdom" (1936) (Dolby digitally remastered), 12 Chapters of vintage serial loaded with action sequences featuring Crash Corrigan who can do just about everything that each episode requires...Corrigan graduated from Annapolis only to be recruited by Professor Norton to venture beneath the ocean depths with Diana a go getting reporter, Norton's son Billy and Briny Deep as the take a ride in a rocket submarine...will they locate the "Lost City of Atlantis"...can Naval Lieutenant Crash Corrigan escape the war monging Atlanteans and save Professor Norton from the spell that Unga Khan has cast upon the Professor...there is a war between Khan's Black Robe Guards and the White Robed followers of Sharad...which side will Crash choose and can he use his exceptional skills and power to defeat the evil villains in every chapter...the White Robe's need a leader, will Crash be chosen for that high office and become commander...Professor Norton is working on his priming powder that will be used to propel Unga Khan's tower to the upper world and conquer all who stand in his way...what threatening calamity awaits Crash during these 12 Republic Serial chapers or can he device a plan to turn the tables and good triumph over evil...some interesting special effects by John T. Coyle, Howard Lydecker and Theodore Lydecker, not to mention the production team of Barney A. Sarecky and Sol C. Siegel...the outlandish costumes that Crash and other ... Read More
Rating: -
VCI Entertainment and Republic Pictures present Nat Levine's "Undersea Kingdom" (1936) (Dolby digitally remastered), 12 Chapters of vintage serial loaded with action sequences featuring Crash Corrigan who can do just about everything that each episode requires...Corrigan graduated from Annapolis only to be recruited by Professor Norton to venture beneath the ocean depths with Diana a go getting reporter, Norton's son Billy and Briny Deep as the take a ride in a rocket submarine...will they locate the "Lost City of Atlantis"...can Naval Lieutenant Crash Corrigan escape the war monging Atlanteans and save Professor Norton from the spell that Unga Khan has cast upon the Professor...there is a war between Khan's Black Robe Guards and the White Robed followers of Sharad...which side will Crash choose and can he use his exceptional skills and power to defeat the evil villains in every chapter...the White Robe's need a leader, will Crash be chosen for that high office and become commander...Professor Norton is working on his priming powder that will be used to propel Unga Khan's tower to the upper world and conquer all who stand in his way...what threatening calamity awaits Crash during these 12 Republic Serial chapers or can he device a plan to turn the tables and good triumph over evil...some interesting special effects by John T. Coyle, Howard Lydecker and Theodore Lydecker, not to mention the production team of Barney A. Sarecky and Sol C. Siegel...the outlandish costumes that Crash and other ... Read More
Rating:  -
This is the second Republic serial ever (after Darkest Africa with Clyde Beatty) and if you like serials you'll appreciate this hokum-it's what serials are all about. You've GOT to cook up a batch of popcorn and have some M&M's and coke and pretend you're in you're local moviehouse in 1936 with all the other kids and looking forward to "Things To Come" which was probably the featured attraction.
Crash Corrigan must have incredible B.O. with all that half-neked wrastlin'. Lon Chaney Jr. is fun to watch so young.
All these guys keep pouring out this tunnel and ride their horses down the SAME trail, that's how you know the chase is on. We've got a guy with a dial-o-disaster on his chest plate and a rocket launcher that can't possibly be accurate. But all is in fun. Femme fatale has minimum screen time as does comedy relief duo.
Two discs DVD, sound and picture are ok, the Roan Group copy is the best out there.
Browse for similar items by category:
|
