Atlantis: The Lost Continent ** (1961, Sal Ponti, Joyce Taylor, John Dall, Edward Platt, William Smith, Frank DeKova, Jay Novello) – Classic Movie Review 7738

‘SIGHTS NEVER BEFORE SEEN – Adventure never before experienced!’

Fantasy-film producer-director George Pal’s 1961 sci-fi adventure Atlantis: The Lost Continent is based on a play by Sir Gerald Hargreaves and stars Anthony Hall, Joyce Taylor, John Dall, Edward Platt, William Smith, Frank DeKova and Jay Novello.

Anthony Hall [aka Sal Ponti] stars as Greek fisherman Demetrios, who returns fair maiden Princess Antilla (Joyce Taylor) to the Lost Continent of Atlantis only to be imprisoned by the wicked villain evil sorcerer Zaren (John Dall), who is controlling King Kronas (Edgar Stehli).

Atlantis: The Lost Continent is a daft but fairly enjoyable attempt to set a biblical-type epic underwater. It is low on budget for its ambitions and lacking in big star names, but producer-director Pal does his best to entertain, with some good, campy performances to help out.

Though the result is often waterlogged and it is not one of Pal’s best films, nevertheless it is occasionally very amusing and overall entertaining and fun enough.

Also in the cast are Edward Platt as Azor the High Priest, William Smith as Captain of the Guard, Frank DeKova as Sonoy the Astrologer, Jay Novello, Buck Maffei, Bill Smith Berry Kroeger and Wolfe Barzell.

Pal hired film noir thriller writer Daniel Mainwaring (aka Geoffrey Homes, 1902–1977) to write the screenplay for the MGM studios release. Mainwaring is best known for his novel Build My Gallows High and as the writer of the screenplay of Out of the Past [Build My Gallows High] (1947) (aka Geoffrey Homes).

Atlantis: The Lost Continent is directed by George Pal, runs 91 minutes, is made by Galaxy, released by MGM, written by Daniel Mainwaring, shot by Harold E Wellman, produced by George Pal, scored by Russell Garcia.

Sal Ponti got his start in Philadelphia as a songwriter, writing Fabian’s first recorded song ‘I’m in Love’. This is his sole starring role in a feature film during his more than 25 years in Hollywood.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7738

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