The Underwater City

This was one of the last science-fiction adventure relics from the 1950s to early 1960s before the JFK assassination changed the mood of this genre to something less innocent and more grim. Lovely Julie Adams portrays a psychologist who tests engineer William Lundigan to ascertain that he can lead a construction effort to build the world's first underwater metropolis. After completion, the couple plus several others, move down to the city, until it is discovered that it was built on a fault line, creating climactic chaos. An interesting idea, shot in color, is hampered by the fact that it was filmed entirely indoors, on sound stages. The underwater scenes were created by filming through double-paned, water-filled aquarium glasses. Also a laundry alert: Adams wears the same orange outfit 3 times! Karen Norris gives a good performance as a nutritionist, spouting several intriguing ideas of why one should live underwater, while the others (although Lundigan is sausage-stuffed into his diving gear) are competent.

When I saw this movie in 1962, I was very disappointed, as the print was black and white, when all the preview material I had seen was in color. In black and white, everything looked phoney and the storyline seemed tedious. Many years later, I learned some nitwit executive chose to distribute black and white prints. In color the movie is quite entertaining. However, I could have done without the narration, as it gives the movie too much of a 50s feel.

The worse thing about this entire affair is that this film seems to have ended the career of star William Lundigan. Lundigan had a pretty distinguished early career (I'D CLIMB THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN); however, later, Lundigan seems to have graduated to well-written, but cheaply produced science fiction projects, such as RIDERS TO THE STARS and MEN INTO SPACE.

"The Underwater City" has a very low overall rating of 4.7. While you might think 5.0 would be an average score, the scores are skewed upward...with an average film being about 6.5 on this site. So, this means "The Underwater City" was terrible...right? No. I have no idea why the ratings are so low, but it is an enjoyable and well made film.

Some top government scientists want to build an underwater city and that means creating a prototype city. Oddly, the job is given to a very accomplished engineer...who has little faith in such a facility! But over time, he comes to like what he's built. However, disaster is in the offing...and you wonder if it can be averted.

The acting is decent (I'll admit William Lundigan doesn't have the most charisma for a leading man) but I really appreciate the details and how good they made the story look. Never dull and well worth seeing.