ALL SCI-FI

[Pow]

The British film company, Amicus Productions, originally wanted Doug McClure in the lead role for this movie, but he refused. Stuart Whitman was signed instead.

Samuel Z. Arkoff of American International Pictures came on board the project as a co-financer who provided the bulk of the budget, but only if Doug would be the lead role. McClure changed his mind and accepted the role, so Whitman was out.

Sidebar: Without knowing any more about this incident, seems to me to simply be a case of a producer preferring one actor over another. In other words, I don't think Whitman did anything wrong or was clashing (a.k.a. "creative differences") with the producers, cast, and crew. He just wasn't who Arkoff wanted cast in the role. And since A.I.P. was giving the film the major bucks, Sam got to call the shots.

[Pow]

A script was sent to Ray Harryhausen for this project based upon the 1918 Edgar Rice Burroughs novel.

It has all the elements that would make a perfect Harryhausen film: a German U-boat, an island with primitive humans existing alongside dinosaurs. The drama is topped off with an exploding volcano in the finale.

At this stage, however, Ray was not hiring himself out for other people's movies, instead instigating his own productions with Charles Schneer. The idea of the film may well have appealed, but not being in control of the vital creative and production elements had led to frustration for him in the past.
Harryhausen: The Lost Movies by John Walsh.

I suppose we can assume that since Amicus sent Ray their script that they were prepared to spend the time and money required for Ray's labor intensive stop-motion techniques. Then again, never assume anything in the movie business.

Had Ray done the film the way he wanted it would be on many fans must see list. As it is, it is an unremarkable film.

[tmlindsey]

Wow, a Harryhausen FX version would have been quite a thing to see!

I enjoyed the heck out of this film as a kid, and I always like Doug McClure.
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