ALL SCI-FI

Bud Brewster · Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 7:53 pm Post subject: Undersea Kingdom (1936 / 1963)

[Also released as: "Sharad of Atlantis"]

More good-natured fun from the Republic Serial factory, involving the sunken city of Atlantis, the evil doings of villian Khan (Monte Blue), the heroics of naval officer Ray "Crash" Corrigan, and all the expected trappings of a Flash-Gordon-styled adventure.

Lon Chaney, Jr. plays Hakur. In twelve thrill-packed chapters you'll see cylinder-shaped robots, futuristic tanks, art deco ray guns, and one guaranteed cliffhanger per episode.

The concept is interesting; Atlantis supposedly sank slowly over a period of years, instead of all at once, thus giving the inhabitants a chance to constructed huge domes over their cities.

Unfortunately, all the scenes in the supposedly "underwater" Altantis are filmed in outdoor locations, with no attempt made to explain the visiable sky and the complete absence of the protective domes.

Admittedly this isn't one of Republic's best, but when you're in the mood for a serial, almost any of them will do. Directed by Joseph Kane and B. Reeves Eason.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Pow · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2015 6:53 am Post subject:

I think this is the serial I saw many years ago as a kid where I was really taken with the Atlantis futuristic tanks roaming around.

orzel-w · Galactic Ambassador Joined: 19 Sep 2014 Posts: 1865

The tank vehicle (called a "juggernaut" in the serial) was later modified as the Jungle Cruiser in the serial Tim Tyler's Luck. Here are some shots of the tank/juggernaut, followed by images of the Jungle Cruiser.

Undersea Kingdom:

Tim Tyler's Luck:

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WayneO
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Pow · Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2015 5:53 am Post subject:

Much thanks for the pix, orzel-w!

I thought these babies were really nifty looking back in the day. Smile

Bud Brewster · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2015 9:55 pm Post subject:

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I remember watching Tim Tyler's Luck as a kid in the 1950s on Saturday morning TV. They showed all the serials they could get their hands on back in those days, and I watched all the serials they showed, religiously.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Bud Brewster · Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 10:18 am Post subject:

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There's more than one version of this serial on YouTube. This one seems to have the best pictures. The picture quality of the other versions seem to be a bit darker.
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___ Undersea Kingdom: Chapter 1 - Beneath the Ocean Floor

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Bud Brewster · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2021 10:49 am Post subject:

Bud Brewster · Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2022 2:58 pm Post subject:

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Enjoy the full serial in a three hour and forty-six minute marathon! Cool

_________________ Undersea Kingdom (1936)

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

tmlindsey · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2022 11:27 am Post subject:

For me, Undersea Kingdom comes off as kind of disjointed and sloppy, though I like the vehicles and tech.

The "comic relief" characters vanish for a big portion of the serial, so why even have them? The main characters seem totally unconcerned for all of the lives lost when Atlantis is flooded, which strikes me as odd.
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"Have you never wondered what it would be like to walk between the ticks and tocks of Time?"