THE MOLE PEOPLE

John Agar, Nestor Paiva, Hugh Beaumont

THE MOLE PEOPLE (1956). Director: Virgil W. Vogel. Colorized. 

A group of archeologists including Roger (John Agar), Jud (Hugh Beaumont of Pier 23), and LaFarge (Nestor Paiva) ascend a mountain to come across some Sumerian ruins. A section of ground collapses, revealing a deep tunnel. The men descend, ostensibly to find the body of the scientist who fell through the crack, but are much more interested in finding the rest of the lost city. A rock slide kills another man and the survivors are trapped underground. (No one bothers to mourn or even remark upon either of the dead men.) There they find the lost city, which has inhabitants, humans as well as weird creatures who can burrow into the ground and are treated like slaves. King Nazar (Rodd Redwing) and the High Priest Elinu (Alan Napier) at first think the three men are gods, messengers of Ishtar, and that their flashlight is a mystical weapon. But when the batteries wear down the scientists may find themselves in a spot of trouble ... Elinu doesn't want anyone threatening his power.

Right into real estate: Cynthia Patrick as the doomed Adad

The early climbing scenes of The Mole People are well-done and the movie begins auspiciously, but after awhile what began as a fun popcorn flick becomes a little tedious and constantly threatens to turn into utter schlock. For some feminine pulchritude the movie introduces Adad (Cynthia Patrick), a beautiful serving wench who is somehow different from the rest of the lovely ladies -- she doesn't get burned to a crisp when they are exposed to sunlight, for instance (not that this does her much good, considering her ultimate fate). Patrick had mostly bit parts both before and after appearing in Mole People and eventually went into real estate. The other actors do the best they can with a silly screenplay. The music helps a lot. Virgel Vogel also directed the superior The Land Unknown and even The Kettles on Old MacDonald's Farm!

Verdict: This gets worse with each viewing and the color doesn't help. **1/4.