AT THE EARTH'S CORE was the second Amicus/AIP co-production based upon
the works of Burroughs and starring Doug McClure. This time Doug is
joined by Hammer favorites Peter Cushing and Caroline Munro. It's the
turn of the century and an industrialist and a scientist team up to
construct a massive drilling machine that will explore the regions
beneath the Earth's crust. What they find is a
prehistoric world where humans are slaves to intelligent pterodactyls!
Sheer fun and kiddie matinee adventure, the film remains a favorite with
many. Some beautiful sets and effects on display, though the bulk of
the monsters (and there are plenty) have been criticized as being
Mupppet-like. They aren't that bad, of course, but it's also fair to say
they aren't the best dinosaurs ever put on the screen. Still, it's hard
to imagine a kid not loving the experience to pieces!
CRACK
IN THE WORLD came before the disaster cycle, and has been said to fit
more comfortably within the 50's science-gone-awry genre. An attempt to
release geothermal energy by use of a subterranean atomic missile
results in a cataclysmic redirection of energy that causes an
ever-growing split in the planet's crust. It threatens to encircle the
globe if not stopped. Dana Andrews stars, and I've been
a fan of his since way back. Janette Scott and Kieron Moore co-star,
having recently been paired in THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS as well. Although
an American picture, it often feels like a British film, useful in
helping to ground it's fantastic story. Some amazing miniature effects
on display. The film is part soap opera, but it's pretty gripping.
GHIDRAH
THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER was a real milestone in the genre, bringing
together the major monster stars from earlier films to take on a new
menace that was to become a fixture of future
films. When a fiery meteor crashes to earth, it coincides with the
arrival of a prophetess who bears a striking resemblance a
recently-assassinated Princess. Enemy agents come after her and a cop
tries to protect her, although his job isn't made any easier by his
reporter sister! Meanwhile, the prophecies predict the return of
Godzilla and Rodan to Japan, as well as new terror Ghidrah. Mothra is
brought in to organize the earth monsters against this new menace from
space! Ghidrah would return for the next film, MONSTER ZERO, and again
as the main heavy in DESTROY ALL MONSTERS. GODZILLA ON MONSTER ISLAND
would be his last showy bit in the original run. The monster team-up
idea, likely patterned after the old Universal Frankenstein films of the
40's, became something of a staple of the Godzilla series afterward.
Ultimately, it became sort of like watching sporting events and seeing
which old pro was going to be brought onto the field.
Issue 3 and two volumes of prose stories are due for publication early this year. I can now color my own pages, so I've dived into issue 4. Of course, I'll let you know when these books become available, but it's looking like a very productive year for the franchise, praise God!
