When the world was mysterious There were times when something could be discovered in the world: the origins of the Nile, new islands. Now that it is believed that everything can be seen from dormant satellites in orbit, there is nothing to open. All I have to do is stare at the screen and yawn. However, satellites are not all-seeing - say, the nuclear tests of South Africa and Israel, made near the Prince Edward Islands in 1979, the obsolete Vela satellite was spotted only by accident. And other systems are not always able to give an exhaustive answer – for example, when the sonar network tracked in 1997 a monstrous low-frequency howl in sub-Antarctic waters (the famous Bloop), no one could interpret this phenomenon. Whether the whales roared in chorus, or Cthulhu woke up ... by the way, Bloop sounded not far from the point marked by Lovecraft as the location of R’liech.
But cinema has for some time stubbornly held the opinion that nothing new can be found on Earth. I don't think it will come from space. Or in the wild American outback, mutants will rise up. And ghost spirits, of course. Mummies are all over there.
Thanks again to Kevin Connor for his lost worlds. He - in line with the traditions of Weird Tales, Lovecraft and Burroughs - did not let cool fading faith in the possibility of discovery.
This film - the second, after "From Beyond the Grave", directed by Connor - is just according to Burroughs, based on the novel of the same name from the cycle about Caspak. The famous science fiction writer Michael Moorcock participated in the creation of the script (we will remember all the “puzzling” who appeared after the breakthrough of fantasy on our book market).
The adventure began far, far behind the scenes, in 1721, when the Italian traveler Caproni, some wind brought into the sub-Antarctic waters (Imho, Italian so far did not swim), found a rocky snow-covered island, to the shores of which he could not land – and sailed back, naming the island by his name – Caprona. However, in many sources, Capron is called a subcontinent, although there is a hand-drawn map of the island with a large-scale ruler in miles. The island is not small, but it is not suitable for subcontinents. This is a giant volcanic crater, in which various prehistoric flora and fauna thrive due to underground heat, including hominids of varying degrees of intelligence (see more about this in the film “The People That Time Forgot”).
Almost two hundred years later, in 1916, the submarine U33 from the Kaisermarine under the command of Captain Von Schonworth (John McInery) reaches Capron surrounded by ice and fog. Although Von Schonworth did not voluntarily swim there, a whole series of events affected. The U33 was first torpedoed by a British steamer. Then the survivors from the ship managed to capture U33, which emerged from the periscope depth to “breathe”. Well-played showdowns on board the submarine (with a three-fold change of power) ended with the fact that the U33 went far south instead of west and sank the German steamer - the only one that could replenish fuel and food supplies on the submarine. The heroes, with gnashing teeth reached a forced understanding, had only to swim forward in the hope of landing somewhere. And ahead was Caprona, where the underground river led.
It should be noted that the scenes on the submarine, the view of the underground river and the passage of U33 through the tunnel are brilliant. But even better were the relationships of the characters - correct, restrained and reasonable, but inside rather ardent and even romantic Von Schonworth, business and decisive Bowen Tyler (Doug McClur), the leader of the group from the steamer, arrogant and internally spiteful old man Dietz (Anthony Ainley), and for tenderness - saved from the steamer Liz Clayton (Susan Penhaligon), very nice and nature created to flaunt in a pajama suit. And the rest of the characters, up to the unnamed third row, are selected and play well. Even the Neanderthal Asch, caught and tamed on Capron, is not a passing figure of a savage, but a personality that develops in the course of the film and causes interest.
But the mysteries of Caprona - an increase in the level of evolution from south to north, the presence of strange microorganisms in the water, an altar-like source of water in the camp of savages (clearly a man-made stone ball-giant with a pool at the top and four drains) - passed in the film somehow glimpses, failing to develop and find the answer. The same thing happened in the sequel. Sorry!
However, the heroes take action - more in Louis-Bussenar or Jullvernian than in the Berrowsian spirit - shooting a water dinosaur with a vintage M18 submachine gun and roasting a lizard for lunch, they land on the shore of a crater lake, find natural oil outlets to the surface and establish artisanal production of diesel fuel for U33, simultaneously shooting off fossil monsters (even from a deck cannon!) and engaging in skirmishes with savages. Naturally, Liz falls into the clutches of Neanderthals, a volcano wakes up to a pile, everything burns and explodes. As a result, Bowen and Liz remain on Capron, integrated into the local Cro-Magnon environment. "The People That Time Forgot" is a follow-up.
Von Schonworth is extremely good - a nobleman, a diplomat, a gentleman with an expressive look and a rich facial expression that conveys all shades of feelings. Such a person can safely send a steamer to the bottom with people, be extremely kind to a lady, conduct scientific discussions and admire the fact that he rediscovered the legendary Caprona. While the plot moves, the German captain changes - belligerent and adamant at first, then he is drawn into scientific conversations with Liz, increasingly looks at her, tries to be closer to her, says that he does not mind surrendering the submarine to some neutral country. He wants to get out of the war and return to peace. At the end of the disaster, Von Schonworth repeats, “It’s too late!” Too late..." In his own way, good and old man Dietz - a kind of black shadow behind the shoulders of Von Schonworth, Mr. Hyde under Dr. Jekyll ... As always with Connor, magnificent Doug Macleur is a born leader, a guy of all trades, calm and sensitive, able even to pity a dinosaur (albeit posthumously). Susan Penhaligon is a cutie, but one of those smart girls who play with gesture and face, without protruding an eloquent body. And the rest of the composition, including the stealth sailor - a real ensemble played.
Recommendations: watch. Good movie.
7 out of 10
