THE ATOMIC SUBMARINE was one of those low budget sci-fi films that dominated pre-cable TV back in the 1960s and 70s. As a kid at that time you either didn’t notice the budgetary limitations (stock footage, obvious models) or you didn’t care and that’s because SUBMARINE told a good story in cinematic terms. It has everything from an underwater flying saucer to a one-eyed octopus alien inspired by nothing less than Homer’s THE ODYSSEY. Throw in a generational conflict about war-vs-peace and you actually have a film ahead of its time.
The movie’s cast is a collection of B movie stalwarts such as cowboy star Bob Steele (who wound up on F TROOP), Tom Conway (CAT PEOPLE and George Sanders’ brother), Dick Foran (HORROR ISLAND), and the principal star, Arthur Franz (INVADERS FROM MARS). The youngster in the cast was Brett Halsey who wound up producing and writing for the major studios once his acting career was over. Director Spencer Gordon Bennett started his career in the silent era as did cinematographer Gibert Warrenton (1927’s THE CAT & THE CANARY).
The plot is standard for the era and for this type of sci-fi film. Alien invader under the North Pole disrupts Arctic shipping and so the U.S.’s best “killer sub”, the Tiger Shark, is sent to deal with it. Along the way there is the aforementioned generational clash between Franz and Halsey and many conferences between the ship’s leaders. Once they encounter the alien, the movie becomes visually surreal with images that linger after its over. Of course we win but are left with the question “Who’ll be the next to invade?”
What makes ATOMIC SUBMARINE so remarkable is that it was shot in 6 days on a budget of roughly $130,000. That was the standard schedule and budget for movies of this type but SUBMARINE rises above and beyond its limitations through committed performances and a script that asks valid questions that are still applicable today. So forget the budget and just let yourself be entertained. Beware of cheap copies though. This Image Entertainment disc is the one to get unless you want to spring for the Criterion box set MONSTERS & MADMEN.
The Capsule Critic 