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Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea

Play trailer Poster for Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea PG 1961 1h 45m Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
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72% Tomatometer 18 Reviews 39% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Harriman Nelson (Walter Pidgeon) is the creator of a revolutionary nuclear submarine. After testing its capabilities in the Arctic Ocean, Nelson and the commanding officer (Robert Sterling) surface the vessel, only to discover the sky ablaze. Learning that the Van Allen radiation belt has caught fire, Nelson conceives a plan that could save the planet from destruction, but the U.N. shoots it down. Nelson is convinced it will work, but an onboard psychiatrist (Joan Fontaine) questions his sanity.

Critics Reviews

View All (18) Critics Reviews
Penelope Gilliatt Observer (UK) An unwarily comic science-fiction piece about the near-end of civilisation as we know it. Mar 6, 2024 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins True science-fiction components are practically missing altogether; it's more of a moderate, procedural, cautionary tale, or even a war movie, than a futuristic adventure. Rated: 6/10 Aug 27, 2020 Full Review Tracy Moore Common Sense Media Campy sci-fi undersea adventure features mild peril. Rated: 4/5 Sep 2, 2014 Full Review Matt Brunson Creative Loafing Walter Pidgeon stars as the sub commander, a pre-I Dream of Jeannie Barbara Eden plays his secretary, and Peter Lorre amuses as a brilliant scientist. Rated: 3/4 Nov 6, 2013 Full Review Paul Chambers Movie Chambers The science in the movie is crazy bad. The special effects are cheesy and laughable. But, it's campy and fun. Rated: B Oct 14, 2013 Full Review James Plath Movie Metropolis Irwin Allen's "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" may be a campy affair, but you've got to give them credit for talking about climate change at least 30 years before it became a "hot" topic in the scientific community. Rated: 6/10 Oct 10, 2013 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (103) audience reviews
Angelo C Very good movie. Sure it’s campy, but that’s what it’s supposed to be. Special effects were good and the acting was perfect for the type of movie it is. I read one of the critics mentioned global warming. This was a movie of a meteorite hitting the atmosphere and causing the fire in the sky. Democrat talking points. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/03/24 Full Review Steve D Extremely dull given its premise. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 09/25/24 Full Review Rosana B Criei uma vã expectativa, que filminho insosso, nem comento sobre os efeitos, e ambientação, ok, relevo, mas a história altamente esquisita, para ser amena, que me deixa na dúvida entre o apocalíptico, o caótico e o corajoso… Felizmente o intento do submarino Seaview foi bem-sucedido, os estadunidenses salvaram o mundo, mas só fiquei a pensar na MSC que homenageara com esse nome um de seus Cruzeiros, no qual tive o prazer de desfrutar alegremente, mas o filme é bem chatinho... Rated 2 out of 5 stars 08/11/24 Full Review Red T It's Not Good. This has a dry, wooden, and boring tone for most of the runtime. The acting is one of the main problems. It's so muted and subpar the entire way. No one has any character to them and are just used to carry out the plot and rattle off plot exposition and explain technical jargon the entire runtime in a monotone fashion. The best way to describe how the dialouge is delivered is its like everyone is a radio announcer calling a Dodgers game in the 30's. Poor Peter Lorre half the time looks like he doesn't even know why he's there. Joan Fontaine is the best actor in this but she does nothing until the dumb plot twist where she is the saboteur which makes no sense at all. It's sad to see her reduced to this. Everyone else blends in and is so wooden. The cinematography is not good either. The camerawork is basic, the set designs are cheap looking as with the lighting, the special effects are subpar and I'm not sure whether its that they look cheap or are too ambitious for their time or both. There is never anything really interesting to look at with the characters because its always them standing in the sub just explaining plot. The music is barely used for most of the runtime giving a very dry feel and the title track isn't good. When there is music its generic and forgettable. At least the editing is ok enough but the pacing isn't that good. This has passable moments sprinkled throughout like the decent squid fight and the mine explosions but any momentum this gets it instantly kills with boring plot expose scenes and cheap effects/set design. This is kind of like a thriller/adventure and disaster movie merged together but because of the multitude of reasons listed never is anything good. I can't recommend this to anyone. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 09/12/23 Full Review CodyZamboni Irwin Allen's cheesy flick is campy, with laughable fx. But, the movie is watchable, with hammy performances, by dignified old school stars, And Frankie Avalon sings the theme song !!! Other positive : Barbara Eden is really attractive. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/28/23 Full Review Scott S For rather light entertainment, (a category clear from the Frankie Avalon sung opening credits to the bouncy charleston dance from Barbara Eden to the trumpet of Frankie) this fills the bill. Well produced, an the acting is competent and convincing. But it does appear that madames Eden and Fontaine may be wearing high heel shoes on a submarine conducting a dangerous mission. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Harriman Nelson (Walter Pidgeon) is the creator of a revolutionary nuclear submarine. After testing its capabilities in the Arctic Ocean, Nelson and the commanding officer (Robert Sterling) surface the vessel, only to discover the sky ablaze. Learning that the Van Allen radiation belt has caught fire, Nelson conceives a plan that could save the planet from destruction, but the U.N. shoots it down. Nelson is convinced it will work, but an onboard psychiatrist (Joan Fontaine) questions his sanity.
Director
Irwin Allen
Producer
Irwin Allen
Screenwriter
Charles Bennett, Irwin Allen
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox
Rating
PG
Genre
Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 30, 2016
Runtime
1h 45m