Warlords of Atlantis (1978)

aka: Warlords of the Deep
Dir: Kevin Connor

The fourth collaboration between director Kevin Connor (MOTEL HELL) and star Doug McClure (THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT, AT THE EARTH'S CORE, and THE PEOPLE THAT TIME FORGOT being the first three) continues the low budget action adventure format of the previous films. Matte paintings, rear projection, rubber monsters, miniatures, swash buckling fights, I love it all. They don't make 'em like this anymore.

Professor Aitken (Donald Bisset EYE OF THE DEVIL) and his son Charles (Peter Gilmore CARRY ON series) have hired the ship Texas Rose (out of Boston ?!?!), her captain (Shane Rimmer DR. STRANGELOVE) and crew (Hal Galili, Derry Power and John Ratzenberger who later appeared in the director's MOTEL HELL) to study fish. That's what they've told the crew anyway. Their real mission is to look for the lost civilization of Atlantis by using the new fangled diving bell created by family friend Greg (Doug McClure who you may recall from such films as HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP or SATAN'S TRIANGLE) who is along to pilot the device.

Shortly after launching the bell with Charles and Greg inside, they discover a golden statue and send it top side while they continue their exploration of the world under the waves. The professor recognizes it as a sign that Atlantis does exist while the crew are in the grips of gold fever. Not wanting to share, the crew cut the bell loose and move on the captain. Suddenly, a giant octopus attacks the ship. It grabs the captain and crew and while submerged, its tentacles seize the diving bell.

Charles, Greg and the ship's crew find themselves on dry land. They are met by Atmir (Michael Gothard THE LAST VALLEY) who informs them that they have found the fabled Atlantis. Atmir takes a liking to Charles with him being a brainiac and all. Charles is taken to the inner sanctum where Atraxon (Daniel Massey THE VAULT OF HORROR) and Atsil (Cyd Charisse, her legs looking fabulous), the rulers of Atlantis, reveal all and persuade him to join the regime. The rest of the average and not quite average intelligence humans are thrown into a jail cell destined to be slaves. Greg, as dreamy as he is, quickly befriends Delphine, who, along with her father, gets them up to speed on what is to become of them. Fearful of the society the Atlanteans have created, the outsiders plan their escape.

WARLORDS OF ATLANTIS is not a great film by any measure and its FX were crude at the time of release never mind nearly forty years on. But it is an enjoyable B-movie romp. Doug McClure is Doug McClure, a likeable enough action star who no one expects to be Olivier but can effectively portray the everyman even when caught up in improbable and fantastic scenarios such as this one (and much of his filmography).

Worth a watch for nostalgia alone.

**1/2 out of ****