UNKNOWN WORLD *** USA 1951 Dir: Terry O. Morse. 74 mins
The naivety of Science fiction films of the fifties does not fail to bring about a feeling similar to having a visit from an old friend. Nowadays some friends even if they know each other lose the ability to talk face to face, staring and suddenly realizing that they may have grown apart. Unknown World (1951) is another example of the well-intentioned hokum, the silly dialogue delivered with conviction and the special effects all spell a good ‘turn off the brain’ moment.
In this case warnings and stock footage of the benefits and dangers of the atomic age like the more accepted, ominous The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951) not the abysmal 2008 remake with my favourite ‘wooden plank’ Keanu Reeves. The Earth, specifically Mankind is in danger of immediate extinction. A group of scientists propose to tunnel into the Earth in search of a ‘Promised Land’ in which to start a new generation. The project is not funded similarly to today where the ideas are not believed despite evidence falling upon people plus it is ‘a lot of money’. To the rescue comes the rich, globetrotting son of a Newspaper publisher Wright Thompson (Bruce Kellogg) who gives them full funding on the condition that he go along.
The team of scientific people are the best, played by Otto Waldis, Jim Bannon and one woman: Marilyn Nash, who is characterised as an ‘ardent Feminist’ climb into what looks like a combination gigantic drilling tractor designed for the expedition. They descend, walk, emote, and find out about each other in the cavern which was Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. Unknown World (1951) does offer some spectacular views of real deep caverns filled with stalactites and stalagmites and looking for a tunnel system leading to the center.
The film is filled with what today is known as ‘Tech Babble’ that some folk today check out for correctness however in 1951 you went along with the wonder of it all. There are also moments of humanity when personalities change, fights break out, feelings of isolation as the descent continues and detachment. Being the fifties one must have romance as well hinted at with some dark issues explored such as infertility, explored as far as censors then would allow.
Produced by B Movie producer Robert L. Lippert along with Irving Block and Jack Rabin, the latter two who would also provide what now would be ridiculed special effects. This idea of looking at films of this nature and time through the eyes of today is simply not fair. Yes, one can see the rear projection, abundant matte-painting, and plywood interiors of the machine with a lot of flashing lights and gauges.
For the time it was produced Unknown World (1951) worked well when smaller film companies jumped on the trends to make cheaper versions of the bigger budget films for the burgeoning Drive-in circuit and those triple bills. Emphasis on story no matter how silly today instead of the mind-numbing CGI where anything can happen and be passed as being well done or ignored by some jaded folk despite dumb plots.
Unknown World (1951) is all escapist fun with the transfer I saw being quite good considering it not being too well cared for. A musical score by Ernest Gold who went on to write the score for Exodus (1960). Professionally directed by journeyman Terry O. Morse who also was editor. Morse shot various films about all kinds of genres and even worked on the American version of Godzilla, King Of The Monsters! (1956) where newspaper reporter Steve Martin played by Raymond Burr monotonously tells us that the monster is ‘big and scary’. Enjoy Unknown World (1951) for what it is and if it makes one get up and write or say you can do better then more the power to it and you.
Review by Terry Sherwood
UNKNOWN WORLD is available to rent/buy on Amazon Prime Video in the UK and USA
Also available on DVD in the UK and USA