Around the World Under the Sea

Interesting submarine thriller, featuring many TV stars (including David McCallum, Lloyd Bridges, Brian Kelly and Marshall Thompson) but not much spectacle. Shirley Eaton, Keenan Wynn, Gary Merrill, Ron Hayes. Directed by Andrew Marton., Interesting submarine thriller, featuring many TV stars (including David McCallum, Lloyd Bridges, Brian Kelly and Marshall Thompson) but not much spectacle., Ivan Tors Productions, the firm responsible for such aquatic TV delights as Sea Hunt and Flipper, was the prime mover behind MGM’s Around the World Under the Sea. The official stars include Lloyd Bridges, Shirley Eaton, Brian Kelly, David McCallum, Keenan Wynn, Marshall Thompson, and Gary Merrill. The real stars are underwater photographer Lamar Bowen, diving-sequence director Ricou Browning, and the folks in Tors’ special effects department. The plot concerns a series of underwater volcanic eruptions. Sub commander Bridges (who else?) heads into the depths to find out the cause of the disturbances. Before the THE END sign presents itself, Bridges and his crew are nearly devoured by a sea monster and sucked into a vortex. Though the film’s technology-both on-screen and behind the camera–is dated, Around the World Under the Sea is still credible, not to mention thoroughly enjoyable.