Destination Inner Space
| Destination Inner Space | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Francis D. Lyon |
| Produced by | Earle Lyon |
| Written by | Arthur C. Pierce |
| Starring |
Scott Brady Gary Merrill Sheree North Wende Wagner |
| Music by | Paul Dunlap |
| Cinematography | Brick Marquard |
| Edited by | Robert S. Eisen |
Production company |
Harold Goldman Associates |
| Distributed by | United Pictures Corporation |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 83 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Destination Inner Space is a 1966 science fiction film directed by Francis D. Lyon and written by Arthur C. Pierce. The film stars Scott Brady, Gary Merrill, Sheree North, and Wende Wagner, along with Mike Road, John Howard, William Thourbly, and Biff Elliot. The film was released in May 1966.[1][2]
Plot
The story centers on a group of researchers working in an underwater laboratory. After an encounter with an Unidentified Submerged Object (USO—an undersea flying saucer), the base is attacked by a monster that may be the vanguard for invading aliens. The researchers and the base's military staff must deal with the creature and destroy the USO.
Cast
- Scott Brady as Cmdr. Wayne
- Sheree North as Dr. Rene Peron
- Gary Merrill as Dr. LaSatier
- Wende Wagner as Sandra Welles
- Mike Road as Hugh Maddox
- John Howard as Dr. James
- William Thourlby as Tex
- Biff Elliot as Dr. Wilson
- Glenn Sipes as Mike
- Richard Niles as Ellis
- Roy Barcroft as Skipper
- Ed Charles Sweeny as Bos'un
- Ken Delo as Radio Man
- Ron Burke as The Thing
- James Hong as Ho Lee
Production
Destination Inner Space is notable for being Sheree North's comeback film. North, who had been working in TV, hadn't appeared in a motion picture since Mardi Gras (1958).
Many of the rest of the cast are known to SF/F/H fandom from other fantasy and science-fiction movies and TV shows. Mike Road is famous for his work in Hanna-Barbera cartoons, where he voiced numerous characters, including government agent/bodyguard Roger "Race" Bannon on Jonny Quest. Wagner played Brit Reid's secretary, Lenore "Casey" Case, in The Green Hornet TV series co-starring Bruce Lee. Brady appeared in Gremlins and Journey to the Center of Time, among other genre flicks. Merrill appeared in the Ray Harryhausen film The Mysterious Island, and The Power, by George Pal.
The plot resembles a submerged version of Howard Hawks' The Thing from Another World, though the production values, budget, and direction by Francis D. Lyon do not come up to the quality of Hawks' film.
The film's score is by Paul Dunlap, composer for several other famous SF films, including cult favorite The Angry Red Planet.
Release
Barely released to theaters in 1966, Destination Inner Space is largely unknown outside of horror and science-fiction fandom. It was a staple of late-night broadcast television in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Home media
It was released on DVD in 2011 by Cheezy Flicks. As of fall of 2014, there are no plans for high-end or enhanced DVD releases of the film. As of 2015, the film was available as a streaming video on Amazon.com, and free (to watch) for the members of Amazon's Prime service.
Reception
The film is famous among horror and science-fiction buffs for its aquatic monster, which looks like a cross between a piranha and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. It is also infamous for its low-budget production values, including unconvincing miniatures and sets. Despite these drawbacks, the film does contain some scares and remains a cult favorite with monster fans.
In his book A Pictorial History of Science Fiction Films, author Jeff Rovin calls the film "low budget but intriguing," and notes that it "has mediocre performances, but does create an aura of suspense," and "though it is a composite of most every invader-from-space film, it provides ninety minutes of fast-paced entertainment."[3] His final assessment is quite charitable: "Low budget and average performances do not prevent director Francis Lyon from providing a first-rate entertainment. Nothing profound; just fun."[3]
See also
References
- ↑ "Destination Inner Space (1966) - Overview". TCM.com. Retrieved 2015-06-14.
- ↑ "Destination-Inner-Space - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2015-06-14.
- 1 2 Rovin, Jeff (1975) A Pictorial History of Science Fiction Films, p. 173. Citadel Press, Secaucus, NJ. ISBN 0806505370