Plantiana Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

ReaderKenka Let's be realistic.

Chirphymium It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Logan By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Michael O'Keefe Atomic submarine lanes near the North Pole are being invaded. A string of submariners turn to the government for help. Summoned is the U.S.S. Tiger Shark to deal with the complaints. It is finally determined that the mysterious menace is a one-eyed creature probably from outer space and it appears to have all the power and capabilities than the smartest scientists can imagine. This attacker seems to be being powered by a submerged flying saucer. The world is counting on the Tiger Shark to at least neutralize the monster and destroy the saucer guiding it. Spenser Gordon Bennet directs this B-movie horror flick that stars some familiar actors: Arthur Franz, Bob Steele, Dick Foran, Brett Halsey, Joi Lansing, Jack Muhall and Sid Melton.

Bloodwank Although pretty much forgotten these days, lost in the vast and crazy whirl of similar budget science fiction of its era, The Atomic Submarine makes a creditable effort at something slightly different to is fellows, albeit not too different. Though the title suggests modernity, technical innovation and perhaps nuclear fear what we really have is an encounter with an entity from beyond our world, the difference being that it takes place beneath the Arctic, in the cold depths of the North Pole. See, something is out and about down there destroying submarines and so the greatest submarine of all and its crew are sent on a search an destroy mission before sub-Arctic travel is rendered a non-viable trade route. The film and its cast do an okay job of brewing up some low grade tension, a mixture of stock footage and model work doesn't always succeed in passing off affairs of taking place where they are claimed, but neither is either inept enough for me to be actually displeased and the focus tends to be more internal anyway, with the submarine tracking its quarry and conflict between the mission commander and a doctor he pretty much despises as a yellow bellied liberal. Political discourse isn't exactly high grade in this one, but Arthur Franz has the right airs and a certain compelling stature as the commander and Brett Halsey conveys a smart but slightly offended dignity as the doctor. Further acting is pretty sound, I'm not familiar with any of the other players really but Tom Conway gives a fun showing as a British scientist, Victor Varconi is stereotypical but interesting as his European counterpart and assorted other folk have appropriate mixtures of duty and derring do in their supporting roles. The trouble with the film is that for a lot of the time, it simply isn't that interesting. The general execution lacks the verisimilitude to maintain constant interest in proceedings, the pacing is a bit slow and the writing is neither smart enough nor overcooked enough to make up for these lacks. As a result, vacant watch-ability flecked with fun is about the highest that the film achieves until it actually gets to the crunch some twenty minutes before the end. Here the film finally becomes a bit of a winner, repaying audience patience with some nifty effects and a fearsome antagonist (handled by the FX team of Jack Rabin, Irving Block and Louis DeWitt who also worked on the classic Kronos), that I suspect freaked out more than a few kids back in the day and are still quite striking now. Its a solidly enjoyable final block and memorable in its way, but even so it's still pretty conventional and after the build up (and given the unusual setting) I was really hoping for a slightly more offbeat pay-off. Still good fun though and as far as my viewing of these movies has gone, an entry in the win column. 6/10 from me, worth a look for genre enthusiasts.

oscar-35 *Spoiler/plot-1959, The Atomic Submarine, In the future, the North polar seas are a freeway being used by large submarines for international commerce. These underwater giants are being sunk by an unknown force. The Tigershark, a US Navy super submarine is sent in to investigate and stop the destruction. The Tigershark crew find an alien craft and it's alien intelligence at work. They take military action.*Special Stars- Often seen, Arthur Franz as the sub captain. Cowboy movie veteran, Dick Steele plays the sub's 'chief petty officer'. Blonde bombshell, Joi Lansing plays the XO's girlfriend.*Theme- US Navy owns the arctic seas, under, over and in.*Based on- 50's nuclear submarine news.*Trivia/location/goofs- One of the few science fiction films that the undersea UFO is operating at the North Pole. This has to be the biggest submarine in the world judging by the large expansive control room used. A little unbelievable even for Hollywood.*Emotion- A mostly boring film despite the possible unique plot line that has never been seen before on film. Very little sets and mostly stock footage fuel this film to it's sub-par quality levels. The only interesting part is when the sub crew enter the UFO and confront the alien leader inside. Beware: cornball stuff.

DAVID HALEY I saw this film for the first time a few hours ago. I had not heard of it previously. Although my impression of it is not as favourable as that of most of those who have posted user comments, that may be explained by the fact that I am not a science fiction fan as such. I am happy to watch such films but I take them as I find them.The point which I wish to make here, though, concerns something which is not in the film. Is it an omission or is it something which no one thought to be of any importance ? Lt. Milburn was killed in the fight against the alien invader - "a casualty of war". It is of course clear that the film endorses the position that men in the services must put their lives at risk in the service of their country (or, indeed, as here, the world). However, the film has established Lt. Milburn as the only member of the crew to be seen to have a wife. Not only that, she is expressly described as "the mother of my three children." Despite this, there is no acknowledgement at all, either at the conclusion of the battle, or at the end of the film, that Mrs. Milburn has been left as a widow with three (undoubtedly young) children to raise.I do not expect a discussion of pension rights and entitlements. What may legitimately be expected, I would say, is some reference to the human cost of what has been depicted in the film, as well as the conclusions as to defence and the need for vigilance which are the film's primary messages.