FLIGHT OF THE LOST BALLOON

Marshall Thompson and Mala Powers

FLIGHT OF THE LOST BALLOON (1961). Written and directed by Nathan Juran. 

When Dr. Joseph Faraday (Marshall Thompson) learns that the fiance, Sir Hubert (Douglas Kennedy), of Ellen Burton (Mala Powers of The Unknown Terror) -- daughter of explorer Adam Burton (Robert W. Gillette) -- has disappeared in Africa, he suggests a novel and quicker way of traversing the continent to find him: by balloon. But when it comes time to go, a mysterious man and guide known only as the Hindu (James Lanphier) arranges it so that Ellen goes along with him and Faraday instead of Adam Burton. Along the way the intrepid trio encounter a drunk cannibal queen and her cohorts, a flock of screeching attacking birds, bad-tempered gorillas, and a hostile 7 or so foot native named Golem (Felippe Birriel). On an island in Lake Victoria, the Hindu reveals his true colors. It all has to do with the ancient treasure of Cleopatra. 

James Lanphier

I suspect that Flight of the Lost Balloon was rushed out to compete with the following year's Five Weeks in a Balloon, as anything associated with Jules Verne -- who wrote Five Weeks -- was considered fair game after the success of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Journey to the Center of the Earth. The movie is perhaps too low-budget to take advantage of its plot and scenery, with most of the trip by balloon -- which is never "lost" -- occurring via a mediocre blue screen process. 

Douglas Kennedy with Mala Powers

The actors are another story, as they handle the material with aplomb, especially James Lanphier as the very sinister Hindu, who is perfectly willing to torture Ellen to get her fiance to reveal the location of the treasure. Douglas Kennedy is also quite effective as the greedy Sir Hubert, who would rather spend years in captivity than give up the fabulous treasure he has been searching for. There's a good musical score by Hal Borne, but there isn't enough of it to drum up some excitement in key moments. Despite a lot of activity the film still threatens to become a bit tedious at times. Nathan Juran also directed First Men in the Moon and many others. NOTE: According to the Internet Movie Data Base this was an uncredited and very loose adaptation of Five Weeks in a Balloon, but 20th Century-Fox, who were working on their own version, forced them to remove all references to Jules Verne. 

Verdict: Rocket ships and subs are more fun than balloons. **1/4. 

DOOMSDAY MACHINE

Grant Williams and Bobby Van 

DOOMSDAY MACHINE (1976). Directors: Harry Hope; Lee Sholem. 

Several astronauts, including Colonel Price (Denny Miller), Major Mason (Grant Williams of The Leech Woman), and Danny (Bobby Van), are about to take off for a flight to Venus when they are told some of the other men must leave to make way for three women: Dr. Turner (Ruta Lee), Lt. Carlson (Lorri Scott), and Russian Major Bronski (Mala Powers of The Unknown Terror). Some of the men are appalled with this development, while others leer. Halfway or so through the journey, they discover that a nuclear chain reaction has completely obliterated the earth. Will the group manage to reach Venus, who will pair off with whom, and will Mason manage to restrain himself before he has his way with Carlson? Wise old Dr. Perry (Henry Wilcoxon) might have all the answers. 

Ruta Lee and Mala Powers

Doomsday Machine sat on the shelf for years because there was no money to finish the picture. Even when it was finally released it was never quite finished, as the ending --which drags and drags -- features two different actors and different voices as Danny and the Russian major wind up in a lost Soviet spaceship. The shame is that while Doomsday Machine is very, very low-budget, it boasts some very good performances and an interesting story that keeps you watching. The shape of the spaceship they are traveling in keeps changing, there are all kinds of technical errors, and the crew, although initially shocked, never have any real reaction to the loss of loved ones back on earth. 

Grant Williams

As the kind of sleazy Captain Mason, Williams probably gives the best performance in the film, but the others are all very credible. Casey Kasem plays a mission control officer back on earth and James Craig of The Cyclops is Dr. Haines. There is a creepy, uncredited score that borrows a bit from Forbidden Planet but certainly adds to the atmosphere. Lee Sholem also directed Pharaoh's Curse. 

Verdict: Interesting casting and storyline help cope with a miniscule budget and other problems. **1/2. 

THE UNKNOWN TERROR

Powers, Grey, Howard, Richards, Milton

THE UNKNOWN TERROR (1957). Director: Charles Marquis Warren. NOTE: Some plot points are given away.

Wealthy Dan Matthews (John Howard) has been searching for his brother-in-law, who disappeared while trying to find the infamous "Cave of the Dead" in Mexico. On one such jaunt seasoned spelunker Peter Morgan (Paul Richards) was badly injured but managed to save Matthews' life. Morgan also has some sort of history with Matthews' wife, Gina (Mala Powers of Man on the Prowl), and she insists on going with them to Mexico, where they stay with Dr. Ramsey (Gerald Milton) and his gorgeous native wife, Concha (May Wynn). Ramsey experiments with different species of fungi, although he claims absolutely no knowledge of the Cave of the Dead. However, an offer of $10,000 may get someone in the village -- perhaps Ramsey's sinister servant, Lino (Duane Grey of Female Jungle) -- to take them to the cave where dread horror awaits them. 

fungus on the move!

The Unknown Terror was one of several Cinemascope/black and white movies made by Regal Films and released by 20th Century-Fox. I have seen the film several times over the years but this is the first time I've seen it in the full widescreen version. Besides that, one of the film's assets is the excellent cinematography of Joseph F. Biroc, who manages to light cave sequences so that you can see what's going on without ever over-lighting them. The cavern sets in the movie are fairly elaborate. The suspenseful picture takes a bit of a dip when certain monsters are introduced -- these are wisely kept in the shadows -- but the dripping fungus, although an effect produced rather cheaply, is fun and effective enough. 

Paul Richards and Mala Powers

The acting in the flick is very uneven. John Howard and Gerald Milton actually come off as amateurish during their more dramatic moments, but the ladies Wynn and Powers fare better. Paul Richards is fine, as are Duane Grey as Lino and Richard Gilden as another frightened native who comes to a bad end. The influences on this film seem to be everything from H. G. Wells' Morlocks to the Boogie Men from Laurel and Hardy's Babes in Toyland. Whatever its obvious flaws and moments of sheer illogic, The Unknown Terror is fun. It may seem bizarre that the Cave of the Dead, whose entrance is miles away, is right below the doctor's house, but the characters spend hours -- and quite a few miles -- getting there through various underground passages. A highlight of the film is when Calypso singer Sir Lancelot offers his rendition of the strange and snappy "You Got to Suffer to Be Born Again," which supposedly relates to the Cave of Death. 

Verdict: Best seen in widescreen, this is a hoot! ***. 

MAN ON THE PROWL

James Best and Mala Powers

MAN ON THE PROWL (1957). Director: Art Napoleon. 

Living with his horrible mother (Vivi Janiss), Doug Gerhardt (James Best of Killer Shrews) has developed a positive hatred for women. He beats one poor gal who resists his advances to death with his fists. Then Doug accidentally encounters Marian Wood (Mala Powers), who is married to car dealer Woody (Jerry Paris) and has two cute little boys (Josh and Jeff Freeman).  Arrogant and attracted to Marian -- one senses she is drawn to Doug despite her love for her husband --  Doug does his best to court her, but she will only agree to having a beer with him because he tells her they went to the same school. This only makes Doug obsess more over Marian, putting both her husband and her children in mortal danger. 

Man on the Prowl may have been the only starring role for James Best, who gives a strong performance as the psychopath, with good work from Mala Powers and Jerry Paris as well. Ted de Corsia is fine as the detective on the case, and Vivi Janiss makes an impression as Doug's monster mother. The film features a tense and suspenseful climax. Art Napoleon directed only two other films, the Diana Barrymore biopic, Too Much, Too Soon, starring Dorothy Malone and Errol Flynn, and The Activist ten years later. 

Verdict: Worthwhile minor suspense film ***.