Mar 9, 2024
The Land Unknown (1957)
"We'll find the wreck without your help."
"Maybe you will, if you aren't trampled to death first, or eaten alive, or die of starvation. Wait till the Antarctic night comes and for nine months the black air hangs round you like a rotten rag, and your eyes are blinded from the dark and from your own sweat. And you lose each other, and you're alone! Alone, do you hear me? Always alone."
#the land unknown#creature feature#1957#american cinema#virgil w. vogel#lászló görög#william n. robson#charles palmer#jock mahoney#shirley patterson#william reynolds#henry brandon#douglas kennedy#phil harvey#ralph brooks#george calliga#tom coleman#kenner g. kemp#william alland#bing russell#cute and dumb monster mash‚ in which a quartet of incredibly square jawed American sciencey types plummet their helicopter through some#Antarctic ice and wind up in a prehistoric wonder land of creatures and horrors including some dinosaurs that are variously portrayed via#men in suits‚ puppets‚ and just shooting monitor lizards closeup it's all pretty adorable and makes for an easy fun time but the Americana#and the period typical chauvinism can be a little grating (and a fr warning for the introduction of and immediate horrific destruction of a#very cute and furry little friend). of the cast‚ the stand out is definitely Henry Brandon as the sole survivor of a previous group of#castaways (what are the chances!) driven near to madness by his years alone in a dino infested jungle of death.#he's fully ham but has some wonderful moments waxing lyrical on his loneliness and the dangers of facing down lizardy horrors#originally intended as a lavish colour feature‚ this had its budget slashed by Universal after the disappointing box office of sci fi#alien feature This Island Earth (this budget slash may also account for the less than stellar effects but it's all part of the charm..)