City Beneath the Sea (1971 film)
Encyclopedia
City Beneath the Sea is a 1971 science fiction television film and television pilot
for a proposed series by Irwin Allen. It started as a conceptual 10 minute demo reel as a means to sell the plot and concept to television studios. The concept wasn't bought initially and a few years later Allen produced a two hour telefilm for NBC
. The two hour movie again failed to gain the response necessary to be picked up as a series, but has remained a cult favorite amongst sci-fi and Irwin Allen fans. In the UK it was shown theatrically in 1972. It was released on DVD as part of the Warner Bros. Archive Collection.
. Retired Admiral Michael Matthews is busy in his New York City office, administering various engineering projects in different parts of the world. He receives a phone call from the President of the United States (Basehart). After much debate and against his will, he is reactivated at his old rank as administrator of Pacifica, the underwater city. His escort, Commander Woody Patterson (Colbert), arrives. They take off via flying submarine for Pacifica. Matthews regrets returning to the city, due to a past tragedy that occurred there, and apologizes because his return means that Patterson will be forcibly demoted without cause. The two officers discuss the ongoing transfer of gold from Fort Knox to Pacifica, a project that began under Matthews' previous administration six months previously and is now nearing completion. The entirety of the United States gold reserve will be secured at Pacifica within 17 days.
, Lloyd Bochner
, Lawrence Montaigne
, Francine York, Cecile Ozorio and a young but experienced James Brolin
. The plot concerned the destruction of an undersea drilling project that could possibly threaten the undersea city of Triton. Triton is a thriving underwater city run by General Kevin Matthews (Corbett) with his associates Lia Holmes (York), scientific advisor Dr. Raymond Aguila (Montaigne) — an amphibian/human hybrid who can breathe underwater — and his head of security Choo Choo Kino (Ozorio). Their lead engineer Temple (Bochner) is scheming to put an end to an underwater drilling project, which is spearheaded by the US government and run by Matthews' team. The finale involves Matthews confronting Temple on the project's surface platform as it is destroyed in flames.
The original concept was never aired. It remained unseen by the public until the release of the DVD The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen in 1995, where it was included as a special feature.
in the form of a 2 hour movie of the week. The story combined a natural disaster story with high-stakes crime drama and futuristic adventure. In addition, many props and models from Allen's previous scifi series made appearances. Stuart Whitman
would play the lead as the city's administrator Admiral Michael Matthews with Rosemary Forsyth
, Robert Colbert
, Burr DeBenning
and Robert Wagner
as supporting cast. Richard LaSalle
composed the music to the film. The movie became a cult favorite amongst sci-fi and Irwin Allen fans, but again failed to be picked up as a series.
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
for a proposed series by Irwin Allen. It started as a conceptual 10 minute demo reel as a means to sell the plot and concept to television studios. The concept wasn't bought initially and a few years later Allen produced a two hour telefilm for NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. The two hour movie again failed to gain the response necessary to be picked up as a series, but has remained a cult favorite amongst sci-fi and Irwin Allen fans. In the UK it was shown theatrically in 1972. It was released on DVD as part of the Warner Bros. Archive Collection.
Storyline
On June 12, 2053, a futuristic oil rig explodes somewhere in the Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. Retired Admiral Michael Matthews is busy in his New York City office, administering various engineering projects in different parts of the world. He receives a phone call from the President of the United States (Basehart). After much debate and against his will, he is reactivated at his old rank as administrator of Pacifica, the underwater city. His escort, Commander Woody Patterson (Colbert), arrives. They take off via flying submarine for Pacifica. Matthews regrets returning to the city, due to a past tragedy that occurred there, and apologizes because his return means that Patterson will be forcibly demoted without cause. The two officers discuss the ongoing transfer of gold from Fort Knox to Pacifica, a project that began under Matthews' previous administration six months previously and is now nearing completion. The entirety of the United States gold reserve will be secured at Pacifica within 17 days.
The original concept
Allen filmed the original concept for City Beneath The Sea as a sci-fi vehicle set in the year 2068. The proposed cast consisted of Glenn CorbettGlenn Corbett
Glenn Corbett was an American actor best known for his role on CBS's adventure drama Route 66.-Acting career:...
, Lloyd Bochner
Lloyd Bochner
Lloyd Wolfe Bochner was a Canadian actor, usually playing the role of suave, rich leading men.- Career :...
, Lawrence Montaigne
Lawrence Montaigne
Lawrence Montaigne is an American actor, writer, dancer, and occasional stuntman. As an actor, he is best known for his appearances on many 1960s-era television shows....
, Francine York, Cecile Ozorio and a young but experienced James Brolin
James Brolin
James Brolin is an American actor, producer and director, best known for his roles in soap operas, movies, sitcoms, and television. He is the father of actor Josh Brolin and husband of singer/actress Barbra Streisand.-Early life:...
. The plot concerned the destruction of an undersea drilling project that could possibly threaten the undersea city of Triton. Triton is a thriving underwater city run by General Kevin Matthews (Corbett) with his associates Lia Holmes (York), scientific advisor Dr. Raymond Aguila (Montaigne) — an amphibian/human hybrid who can breathe underwater — and his head of security Choo Choo Kino (Ozorio). Their lead engineer Temple (Bochner) is scheming to put an end to an underwater drilling project, which is spearheaded by the US government and run by Matthews' team. The finale involves Matthews confronting Temple on the project's surface platform as it is destroyed in flames.
The original concept was never aired. It remained unseen by the public until the release of the DVD The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen in 1995, where it was included as a special feature.
1971 telefilm
The concept was later revisited by Allen and seasoned TV screenwriter John Meredyth LucasJohn Meredyth Lucas
John Meredyth Lucas was an American writer, primarily for television.He was the son of screenwriter Bess Meredyth and writer/director Wilfred Lucas, and the adopted son of director Michael Curtiz.-Career:...
in the form of a 2 hour movie of the week. The story combined a natural disaster story with high-stakes crime drama and futuristic adventure. In addition, many props and models from Allen's previous scifi series made appearances. Stuart Whitman
Stuart Whitman
Stuart Maxwell Whitman is an American actor.Stuart Whitman is arguably best-known for playing Marshal Jim Crown in the western television series Cimarron Strip in 1967...
would play the lead as the city's administrator Admiral Michael Matthews with Rosemary Forsyth
Rosemary Forsyth
Rosemary Forsyth is a Canadian-born American actress most notable for her role as Bronwyn opposite Charlton Heston in The War Lord in 1965....
, Robert Colbert
Robert Colbert
Robert Colbert is an American actor most noted for his leading role portraying Dr. Doug Phillips on the TV series The Time Tunnel and his two appearances as a third Maverick brother in Maverick....
, Burr DeBenning
Burr DeBenning
Burr DeBenning was an American character actor, who has done work in both film and television. DeBenning appeared in nearly 100 films and TV shows during his career. His credits include the television films The House on Greenapple Road, Wolfen, The Incredible Melting Man, A Nightmare on Elm...
and Robert Wagner
Robert Wagner
Robert John Wagner is an American actor of stage, screen, and television.A veteran of many films in the 1950s and 1960s, Wagner gained prominence in three American television series that spanned three decades: It Takes a Thief , Switch , and Hart to Hart...
as supporting cast. Richard LaSalle
Richard LaSalle
Richard LaSalle is an American film score composer.LaSalle was born in Louisville, Colorado. He began as a performer for local hotels as a pianist and orchestra leader between the 1940's and 50's...
composed the music to the film. The movie became a cult favorite amongst sci-fi and Irwin Allen fans, but again failed to be picked up as a series.
External links
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0896922/ 1968 Pre Production Reel Entry
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065556/ 1971 Telemovie Entry
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZrifEjU-H0 Original Pre Production Reel
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNH_q0qXSHw Excerpt from 1971 Film