THE ATOMIC SUBMARINE

the alien gives us the eye

THE ATOMIC SUBMARINE (1959). Director: Spencer Gordon Bennet. Colorized. 

A mysterious force is destroying ships and submarines in the waters near the Arctic, and the crew of the Tiger Shark sub are sent there to investigate and, if necessary, destroy their adversary. On board are Commander Wendover (Dick Foran); scientist Sir Ian Hunt (Tom Conway of Voodoo Woman); big brain Dr. Kent (Victor Varconi); Lt. Commander "Reef" Holloway (Arthur Franz); and Dr. Carl Neilson Jr. (Brett Halsey), who will operate a special diving bell; among others. Eventually Wendover and his associates discover that a flying saucer is operating in the waters -- they call it "cyclops" due to its dome -- sending out highly destructive beams. When torpedoes prove ineffective against the invader, Wendover simply rams the saucer with his sub, which winds up stuck. Now Neilson and the others have to use the diving bell to get inside the saucer and free the sub, but they may have to contend with a huge one-eyed tentacled creature inside the living saucer that is totally bent on conquest of earth. 

Franz flees from alien (in globe) inside saucer

The Atomic Submarine is a really fun comic book movie that is even more entertaining in color. The FX and sets are sparse, to say the least, but they cleverly work in spite of it. One doesn't question why the alien even bothers destroying subs and ships, which only gives away its existence. The acting is professional enough, although Halsey, looking like a wounded sheepdog throughout, displays virtually no charisma and not even much personality. Others in the cast include western star Bob Steele, serial star Jack Mulhall (of The She Creature), Joi Lansing (who's thrilled by Franz' kisses in an early sequence), and Sid Melton (of Why Must I Die?). The alien itself is an effectively gruesome horror. Alexander Laszlo's [Attack of the Giant Leeches] quirky score adds to the eerieness. 

Verdict: Like reading a neat sci fi comic book. ***.