This week’s mystery movie was the 1959 Allied Artists film “The Atomic Submarine,” with Arthur Franz, Dick Foran, Brett Halsey, Paul Dubov, Bob Steele, Victor Varconi, Joi Lansing, Selmer Jackson, Jack Mulhall, Jean Moorhead, Richard Tyler, Sid Melton, Ken Becker, Frank Watkins and Tom Conway.
Written by Orville H. Hampton. Photography by Gilbert Warrenton, art direction by Don Ament and Dan Haller, assistant to the producer Ruth Alexander.
Edited by William Austin, production manager Edward Morey, assistant director Clark Paylow, set decoration by Harry Reif, properties by Max Frankel, chief set electrician George Satterfield, sound by Ralph Butler, narration by Pat Michaels, alien cyclops creature’s voice by John Hilliard.
Production associate and dialogue supervisor Jack Cash, wardrobe by Roger J. Weinberg and Norah Sharpe, makeup by Emile Lavigne, script supervisor Judith Hart, sound editor Marty Greco, music editor Neil Brunnekant.
Associate Producer Orville H. Hampton. Electro-sonic music composed and conducted by Alexander Laszlo. Produced by Alex Gordon, in association by Jack Rabin and Irving Block.
Directed by Spender G. Bennet.
“The Atomic Submarine” is available for streaming from Amazon.
I picked “The Atomic Submarine” because I had a request for a movie about sinking ships (figuring a submarine was close enough) and it’s Jack Mulhall’s last film. I also recognized Alex Gordon’s name from his days with Gene Autry.
Harrison’s Reports (Jan. 9, 1960) said:
Among the first to come along featuring the headline aspects of the atomic submarine, this Allied Artists tale of seagoing danger and derring-do makes lively program entertainment. And business should be abetted by the title and current interest in things naval and atomic.
…. “The Atomic Submarine” should be able to power its way to a fair box office in action situations.
Motion Picture Daily (Jan. 5, 1960) said:
The first picture concerned with the fabled exploits of the nation’s latest underseas craft, this Gorham production, released under the AA banner, should be pre-sold wherever headline-conscious audiences reside.
The straight-away screen story, thankfully ignoring the trifles and irrelevancies that can conceivably slow down any theme bordering on the patriotic, has to do with the dangerous mission of the atomic submarine, the Tiger Shark, assigned to search out and, if possible, destroy the unknown enemy object which has been raising havoc with sea craft in polar waters.
In its New York debut, “The Atomic Submarine” was the bottom half of a double bill with Disney’s “Toby Tyler.”
Howard Thompson (April 20, 1960) said:
In this science fiction item with Arthur Franz and Dick Foran in the leads, an American submarine stalks a death-dealing “underwater flying saucer” (so help us) in the Arctic. Credit the Allied Artists entry with some erratic but genuine suspense, a beguiling assortment of miniature, grotto-like settings and a good, eerie musical score. Then forget it.
For Monday, we have a mystery woman. Her companions have been cropped out due to insufficient mysteriousness and will appear later in the week. And as difficult as this may be to believe, she does not approve of such goings-on. Really. She doesn’t.
For “Hm Wednesday,” here’s one of our mystery woman’s mystery companions.
For Friday, here’s the second mystery companion of Monday’s mystery woman.
Update: This is Arthur Franz, Paul Dubov and Jean Moorhead. (Dubov and Franz were also in “The Sniper.”)
For Tuesday, we have a mysterious object. And as incredible as this may seem, none of the people in our mystery movie approves of such goings-on.
Update: This is an underwater flying saucer.
Brain Trust roll call: Benito (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery woman) and Mrs. Benito (Monday’s mystery woman).
Also for “Hm Wednesday,” we have one of our favorite mystery guests.
Update: Jack Mulhall makes a brief appearance for his final film role, with 448 credits on IMDB.
Our mystery craft seems to be tilted. Or our mystery guests have neck problems. Or something. Also an oscilloscope.
Update: This is Frank Watkins and Victor Varconi.
Brain Trust roll call: Tucson Barbara (mystery movie, mystery woman and mysterious UFO), Mary Mallory (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery woman), Sarah (mystery movie) and Earl Boebert (mystery movie, mystery woman and mysterious UFO).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have these mysterious gents.
Update: This is Bob Steele and Sid Melton.
We also have this mystery woman.
Update: This is Joi Lansing.
We also have this mystery fellow.
Update: This is Tom Conway.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Monday’s added mystery guest, and Wednesday’s mystery guests, mysterious UFO), Mike Hawks (mystery movie, Monday’s mystery guests, Wednesday’s mystery gents No. 1 and No. 3), Tucson Barbara (Monday’s mystery gent, Wednesday’s mystery guests Nos. 1 and 2), Sheila (Wednesday’s mystery guest No. 1), Sue Slutzky (mystery movie, Monday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and all mystery guests) and Thom and Megan (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mystery guests Nos. 1 and 2).
Note to Beachgal: I did something different this week by re-cropping Monday’s mystery picture to reveal another mystery companion for Wednesday.
For Friday, we have this mystery officer. And a lot of mysterious equipment.
Update: This is Dick Foran, a previous mystery guest from “Private Detective” and “Gentlemen Are Born.”
And our mysterious leading man. And yes, I know he looks familiar.
Update: This is Arthur Franz, whom we just saw in “The Sniper.”
And finally….
Brain Trust roll call: Blackwing Jenny (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mystery man No. 1 and Thursday’s mystery woman), Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery guests Nos. 2-4), Sylvia E. (mystery movie, Monday’s mystery woman and Thursday’s mystery guests), Floyd Thursby (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mystery guest No. 1 and Thursday’s mystery guests), Tucson Barbara (Thursday’s mystery guests Nos. 3-4), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery guests), Beachgal (mystery movie and all mystery guests), David Inman (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guests Nos. 3-4), Gary (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guests Nos. 2-3), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests Nos. 2-4), Roget-L.A. (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guests), Sue Slutzky (Thursday’s mystery guests), Patrick (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Megan and Thom (Monday’s mystery guests and Thursday’s mystery guests) and L.C. (mystery movie and mystery cast).
Gary has a nice recollection of Thursday’s mystery woman. Thanks for sharing!
