Unknown World (1951)

Director:

Terry O. Morse

Writer:

Millard Kaufman (original screenplay)

Release Date:

26 October 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Romance | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Drilling into the forbidding depths of the earth!

Plot:

Scientists use a gigantic drilling machine for an expedition to the center of the earth.

Plot Keywords:

Scientist | Subterranean | Nuclear War | Drilling Machine | Male Female Relationship

Cast

Bruce Kellogg	...	Wright Thompson
Otto Waldis	...	Dr. Max A. Bauer
Jim Bannon	...	Andy Ostergaard
Tom Handley	...	Dr. James Paxton
Dick Cogan	...	Dr. George Coleman
George Baxter	...	Carlisle Foundation Chairman
Marilyn Nash	...	Dr. Joan Lindsey
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Victor Kilian	...	Dr. Jeremiah Morley (uncredited)
Harold Miller	...	Carlisle Foundation Board Member (uncredited)

Directed by
Terry O. Morse		(as Terrell O. Morse)

Writing credits
Millard Kaufman		(original screenplay)

Produced by
Irving Block	....	producer (as I.A. Block)
Jack Rabin	....	producer (as J.R. Rabin)
Robert L. Lippert	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Ernest Gold

Cinematography by
Henry Freulich		(photography by)
Allen G. Siegler		(photography by)

Film Editing by
Terry O. Morse		(as Terrell O. Morse)

Production Design by
Irving Block		(as I.A. Block)
Jack Rabin		(as J.R. Rabin)

Set Decoration by
Glenn P. Thompson		(as Glenn Thompson)

Makeup Department
Kiva Hoffman	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Glenn Cook	....	production supervisor

Art Department
Menrad von Mulldorfer	....	associate production designer (as M. von Mulldorfer)

Sound Department
Harvey Henry	....	sound engineer
Marshall Pollock	....	sound effects editor

Special Effects by
Willis Cook	....	mechanical effects

Visual Effects by
Irving Block	....	special photographic effects (as I.A. Block)
Jack Rabin	....	special photographic effects (as J.R. Rabin)
Menrad von Mulldorfer	....	special photographic effects associate (as M. von Mulldorfer)

Camera and Electrical Department
Lester Shorr	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mickey Meyers	....	wardrobe

Music Department
Ernest Gold	....	conductor

Other crew
Irving Block	....	copyright (as I.A. Block)
Jack Rabin	....	copyright (as J.R. Rabin)

Production Companies

• Lippert Pictures

Distributors

• Lippert Pictures (1951) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Mill Creek Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Prism Entertainment Corporation (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (VHS)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (????) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Night Without Stars (USA) (working title)
To the Center of the Earth

Runtime:

74 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

Bronson Caves, Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Lippert Pictures

Trivia:

Both the mountains mentioned, Mt Lefat and Mt Neleh, are fictional.

Quotes:

Dr. Jeremiah Morley: The world's changed since yesterday.

A not-really-very-good movie that I love! (I gave it a "10"!)

I have probably watched this science-fiction movie more than any other over the years, principally because it continues to bring back a happy childhood memory of mine--playing "cyclotram" in my parent's San Fernando Valley laundry room, using our washing machine as my control panel!

The movie, which actually stars Victor Kilian--but whose name has been eliminated for some reason from all extant prints (by his choice?)--is the improbable (and highly unscientific) tale of a journey undertaken by a group of scientists into the Earth, via an amphibious machine called a "cyclotram", in order to find a possible "safe haven for mankind." It isn't really a very exciting movie, it isn't really a very good movie, but I LOVE IT!

Side note: although portions of this movie were "filmed in Carlsbad Caverns" (all second-unit work, it would appear), the majority of the "underground" scenes were filmed in Los Angeles' Griffith Park's famed Bronson Caves!