Introduction

Unknown World is a 1951 independently made American black-and-white science fiction adventure film, directed by Terrell O. Morse, and starring Bruce Kellogg, Marilyn Nash, Jim Bannon, and Otto Waldis.

The film concerns a scientific expedition seeking liveable space deep beneath the Earth’s surface in the event a nuclear war makes living above ground impossible.

Also known as Night Without Stars (US, working title) and To the Centre of the Earth (US, original script title).

Outline

Dr. Jeremiah Morley is concerned about an imminent nuclear war. He organises an expedition of scientists and has them use a large atomic-powered tank-like boring machine, called the Cyclotram, capable of drilling down deep through the Earth’s surface in order to find an underground environment where humanity could escape and survive a future nuclear holocaust.

The expedition (Andy Ostergaard, Dr. Lindsey, Dr. Bauer, Dr. Paxton, and Dr. Coleman) begins after government funding has fallen through, and they are bailed out at the last minute by private funding from newspaper heir Wright Thompson, who insists on going with them as a lark. Romantic rivalry soon develops between Ostergaard and Thompson for Lindsey, and during the dangerous underground expedition two lives are lost to the perils of their adventure.

In the end the scientists accomplish their goal and find an enormous underground expanse with a plentiful air supply, its own large ocean, and phosphorescent light. However, all the lab rabbits brought with them give birth to dead offspring. Through autopsies, it is discovered that this strange underground world has somehow rendered the rabbits, and hence any other life form, sterile. Dr. Morley is deeply depressed by this news. When an underground volcano suddenly erupts, he fails to enter the safety of the Cyclotram and quickly perishes.

The Cyclotram, carrying the remaining survivors, enters the underground ocean to avoid the eruption. They soon find themselves rising toward the surface of the upper world, having been caught up in a strong, upward-moving ocean current. They eventually break the surface near an unknown tropical island.

Cast

• Victor Kilian (uncredited) as Dr. Jeremiah Morley.
• Bruce Kellogg as Wright Thompson.
• Otto Waldis as Dr. Max A. Bauer.
• Jim Bannon as Andy Ostergaard.
• Tom Handley as Dr. James Paxton.
• Dick Cogan as Dr. George Coleman.
• George Baxter as Carlisle Foundation Chairman.
• Marilyn Nash as Dr. Joan Lindsey.
• Harold Miller (uncredited) as Carlisle Foundation Board Member.

Production

Portions of Unknown World were filmed in Carlsbad Caverns, Bronson Caves, Nichols Canyon, and at Pismo Beach.

Unknown World was put together by two Hollywood special effects men, Jack Rabin and Irving Block, who are two of the film’s three producers.

Trivia

• The film is referenced in Season 3, episode 4 of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, in which the film is being played at the local movie theatre (even though the show takes place in the modern day) and is discussed briefly by the characters.
  • The original theatrical poster for the film is also seen on the wall.
• This project was actually put together by two special effects men, Jack Rabin and Irving Block, who are listed as producers.
• His role as Dr. Morley made Victor Kilian the star of this film.
  • However, because he was blacklisted (due to Communist witch hunts of the period), his name did not appear in the credits.
• There seems to be some inspiration for this film taken from Jules Verne’s “Journey to the Centre of the Earth”.
  • Both feature an underground sea, in both the entrance to the Earth is close to the top of the Earth (Iceland in Verne’s novel and Alaska in this film) and the escape from underground is unexpected and amazingly rapid.
• Both the mountains mentioned, Mt. Lefat and Mt. Neleh, are fictional.

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s):
  • Terry O. Morse … (as Terrell O. Morse).
• Producer(s):
  • Irving Block … producer (as I.A. Block).
  • Robert L. Lippert … executive producer (uncredited).
  • Jack Rabin … producer (as J.R. Rabin).
• Writer(s):
  • Millard Kaufman … (original screenplay).
• Music:
  • Ernest Gold.
• Cinematography:
  • Henry Freulich … (photography).
  • Allen G. Siegler … (photography).
• Editor(s):
  • Terry O. Morse … (as Terrell O. Morse).
• Production:
  • Lippert Pictures.
• Distributor(s):
  • Lippert Pictures (1951) (USA) (theatrical).
  • British Lion Film Corporation (1952) (UK) (theatrical).
  • Alpha Video Distributors (2004) (USA) (DVD).
  • Reel Media International (2004) (World-wide) (VHS).
  • Mill Creek Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD).
  • Reel Media International (2007) (World-wide) (all media).
  • Encore Home Video (USA) (DVD).
  • Prism Entertainment Corporation (USA) (VHS).
  • Something Weird Video (SWV) (USA) (VHS).
  • Synergy Entertainment (USA) (DVD).
• Release Date: 26 October 1951 (US).
• Rating: U.
• Running Time: 74 minutes.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

Video Link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRpWMccfQhg