The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues (1955)

Although I really do try to keep an objective mind when it comes to my cinematic adventures, I must confess that "The Phantom From 10,000 Leagues" (1955) already had one strike against it, personally speaking, as I sat down to peruse it recently. I mean, how dare this picture rip off the title of one of my favorite films of all time, "The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms" (1953)? The fact that the esteemed "Maltin's Movie Guide" gives "Phantom" its lowest BOMB rating did not bother me overmuch (the editors there are a notoriously grumpy bunch as regards genre fare), but an attempt to overtly copy one of the greatest monster movies ever made...not forgivable! Anyway, as it turns out, despite the negative word of mouth and blatant title riffing of a beloved classic (actually, that title is almost as silly as the one from "Beast"; if a league really is 2.4 to 4.6 miles, that would give an ocean depth for the Phantom creature of some 40,000 miles...patent BS; but then again, a title such as "The Phantom From 40 Feet" really doesn't sound all that imposing, right?), the film in question was kinda fun, and even interesting, in some surprising ways.In it, the viewer encounters hunky-dude scientist Ted Stevens (Kent Taylor, who would go on to star in the psychotronic Filipino wonder "Brain of Blood"), who is working for the U.S. government to get to the bottom of a rash of killings that have occurred off the California (?) coast. It seems that several bodies have recently washed ashore, with radiation burns on them. Meanwhile, an unnamed foreign power is seeking information about the lab work of another scientist, the Pacific College of Oceanography's Professor King (Michael Whalen, soon to star in the legendary "Missile to the Moon"), and his experiments with radioactive effects on sea life. Stevens, who has also done work along those lines, dives into the ocean along the coast and discovers a radioactive rock that is guarded by a manlike, tusked, reptilian monster! During the course of his investigation, he romances Dr. King's daughter, Lois (pretty Cathy Downs, whose career had started out well, in such major-studio films as "My Darling Clementine" and "The Dark Corner," and who would soon be starring in such baby-boomer-favorite horror fare as "The She-Creature," "The Amazing Colossal Man" and, again, "Missile to the Moon"). Meanwhile, to add to the confusion (and I must admit that the film IS a tad confusing to watch, at least during the first half hour of its 72-minute running time), King's lab assistant, George (Phillip Pine, who many Trekkers will recognize as Colonel Green from 1969's "The Savage Curtain"), is being pressured by those foreign powers to come up with King's secrets, while the professor's secretary, Ethel (Vivi Janiss), is behaving very mysteriously herself....Today, "The Phantom From 10,000 Leagues" is historically noteworthy as being part of the first mind-boggling double feature to be released by American Releasing Corp., soon to be known as American International Pictures (AIP). It was released along with Roger Corman's "Day the World Ended," which, come to think of it, also featured a monster that was birthed via the mutating effects of atomic radiation. The films were a great success; "Phantom" had had a production budget of $75K, and the double bill ultimately brought in $400K. And for good reason! Despite the Maltin assessment, "Phantom" is hardly deserving of that BOMB rating. Director Dan Milner makes some interesting choices in his mutant movie, and some of his camera angles are striking. The film features very nice-looking nighttime and underwater photography, and the film looks just fine overall. The acting is fairly solid, and the picture, with that compact running time, never wears out its welcome. Another plus, and one that I would have appreciated as a little kid: We do not have to wait more than 30 seconds before we get our first good look at the monster in question. Strangely enough, the monster here is not stressed as a major selling point, and never really seems all that menacing. It never leaves the vicinity of the radioactive boulder that had birthed it, and only harms those who swim directly into its clutches, never even venturing onto the shore. (The darn thing is really about as dangerous as a moray eel, in effect. Don't go near it and you'll be okay.) Rather, the film seems to be more interested in dishing out those cloak-and-dagger antics previously alluded to, and to gaping at Ms. Downs as she lounges in her bathing suit on the beach and looks at her brassiered torso in a mirror. The monster in the film is actually kind of pitiful, and way too easily dispatched by the film's conclusion. Compared to the previous year's "Creature From the Black Lagoon," another vaguely reptilian-looking underwater dweller, the Phantom is just a lethargic doofus, with an energy level barely above that of a sea cucumber. Nice to know that not ALL radioactive menaces have superhigh energy levels, I suppose. Anyway, the bottom line is that "The Phantom From 10,000 Leagues," while certainly not the worst way to pass an hour and a quarter, is fairly bottom rung when it comes to memorable menaces. In truth, Phillip Pine wielding a badly aimed speargun turns out to be a much more intimidating proposition here....

A 1950s creature movie can be awful and that's OK if its so bad its good- some are hilarious or have a fun goofy monster ("The Giant Claw"). Unfortunately The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues has none of the awful plus factors going for it. Its slow, boring and directed by someone who lacked the ability to either reach up to make good film or to reach down to the lowest Ed Wood levels of schlock. And the monster here is not campy or anything.Cathy Downs was capable of giving good performances, as was perennial leading man Kent Taylor. Downs looks fine as she wears various sporty outfits, swimsuits etc. but unfortunately that is all her role requires, no acting is even remotely required. Taylor seems rather bemused as he knows this movie is not redeemable even as camp.I watch this movie because I like the cast, but the silly monster that bobs around the surface in shallow water has no impact at all.A 1950's monster film completist will need this in their collection but other than such enthusiasts I doubt that anyone else would be interested.

I watched this mainly because Cathy Downs was in it. I'd always thought she was quietly sexy in "My Darling Clementine" and that Victor Mature was a fool. Besides, she was a trained nurse. Nurses can make a good living and she could have supported me, I mean Victor Mature, while he lay around getting drunk and gambling. She couldn't act but she had a mellow and very feminine voice.Here she is, still an attractive woman, but older and stuck in the role of "the scientist's daughter," which all science fiction movies seem to have. (Sometimes they're "the scientist's assistant.") The very nervous scientist here is Michael Whalen, who's doing some suspicious stuff to the sea water somewhere around Laguna Beach. Kent Taylor is a familiar face, and is the visiting oceanographer who comes poking around, his face a handsome mask of make up.It's putting it mildly to say that none of the roles scintillate because, in fact, nothing in the movie is worth paying any attention to. It's all so crudely done that a viewer is forced to ask who the intended audience was. Certainly nobody over eight years old. Maybe some tribe in the New Guinea highlands who had never seen a film before.Of course there are budget constraints to be taken into account, but a talented director can work around these weaknesses with a decent story. I'm not thinking of Val Lewton at RKO because he had the advantage of being able to use standing sets and, unquestionably, a better budget. This production couldn't afford any extras, and only one bit part -- a single officer from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Office. But take a look at something as cheaply made as "The Little Fugitive" to see how an engaging minor film can be made for practically nothing.Dan Milner, the director, commits the first botch even before the credits roll. We see a man in a rowboat. (We'll see that rowboat again.) A man-sized monster -- meaning a man in a ridiculous monster suit -- rises up from the depths, overturns the dinghy, and attacks the occupant, who washes up on the beach later with radiation burns. The monster can hardly move under the water, what with the actor encased in all that flabby rubber. Val Lewton was too tasteful to show a shabby monster openly. And how can any director allow Kent Taylor to emerge from the ocean with his hair gelled and perfectly combed? It doesn't call for genius.I don't think the plot deserves any scrutiny. I don't think the movie deserves much further comment. It isn't bad enough to be funny. It's just plain bad.

"Nature has many secrets that man mustn't disturb. This was one of them!" Thus, we're blithely informed by the bored and boring Kent Taylor character right at the finish. In actual fact, however, this movie has no secrets at all. In fact, it's the movie you can't escape as it's currently available on just about half the DVD labels in the world including M-G-M, St Clair Vision, Alpha, Ventura, Retromedia. My copy is on a Hollywood House Video DVD – and an excellent copy it is too! A pity you can't say the same thing about the movie itself. The word I need is "inept". And that applies to all facets of the production including the acting, the direction, the script, the sets, the monster – especially the laughable monster! – the acting, the dialogue – especially the corny, instant information dialogue, and even the casting of the players. Mystery man hero, Kent Taylor, is as deadly dull as he usually is. And it's hard to believe that Michael Whalen (who seems as bored as he's boring) is not the brother of amiable heroine, Cathy Downs, but is actually supposed to be her dad! Not to be outdone by the beautiful Cathy, TV actress, Vivi Janis, treats us to a way overlong Sylvia Sidney impersonation. And as for the nondescript direction and the alleged $100,000 cost to make this excuse for a movie, who's kidding who?