Doug McClure and Kevin Connor team for their fourth period adventure film, although this is the first not based on a novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs. McClure’s part of a deep sea diving expedition in a not very convincing contraption (it is open at the bottom); he winds up in Atlantis. He and a mate get there via the contraption but then the guys on the ship just swim there, which seemed like cheating somehow.
Atlantis itself is a bit silly. I know the other films made by this team were silly too but this one is especially so. The locals wear Prince Valiant haircuts, the art direction isn’t as impressive and there’s not as much action. Some sloppiness which hints at a lowered budget - when an octopus attacks the ship water gets on the lens – couldn’t they protect the camera? Also the story isn’t much: it was a mistake to have so many sailors wind up on the expedition; the plot is mostly arrive-get arrested-escape; there’s no emotional connection (the romance with the girl seems perfunctory); McClure is starting to look old. Also there’s this irritating coda about mutinous crew members, when we don’t really care.
The cast include Shane Rimmer and a pre-Cheers John Katzenberger. Atlantians include Daniel Massey and good old Cyd Charisse, who even flashes her legs for old time’s sake – they’re still great! And the opening credit sequence is spookily enjoyable. But generally this is pretty poor. It needed a stronger story and atmosphere, and more effort all round.
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