The Disappearing Floor

While looking for a missing scientist, Frank and Joe get more than they bargained for with a UFO that runs them off the road and an old house with growing rooms and disappearing floors. The boys also discover that someone else is looking for the scientist - a couple of Russian agents.

The Disappearing Floor is a good, fun episode. I remember when it first aired and how much I loved it. It's got a lot to offer with the UFO, creepy house, interesting mystery, and the sense of danger. But looking back at it today, you can easily see the episode's faults. It's a very ambitious episode for a show like The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries. By today's standards, the special effects are . . . well, they're weak. None of it looks at all realistic. But, I'll cut The Disappearing Floor some slack based on when it was released and what it tries to do and give it a 7/10.

One thing that has always puzzled me about The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries is all the sound looping or dubbing (whatever you call it). A lot of the dialogue sounds so unnatural and was obviously recorded later on in a studio. While it's hard not to notice in any of the episodes, it seemed especially apparent in this one. It can be distracting if you're not ready for it.

The Hardy Boys, while doing some legwork on a case of their father's involving a missing scientist and stolen equipment, see a UFO that leads them to a mysterious mansion full of illusions, where floors disappear and rooms change size. Someone else is looking for the scientist - a couple of Russian agents. Who is that man they see near the strange mansion? Is he the scientist?

Quite a wacky yet fun episode with disappearing floors and UFO's. I like how the suspense is sustained throughout. There's a sense of innocence in these episodes but they have a timely charm. The special effects is quite good for its time.