Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961)

The U.S.S. Seaview is a state of the art atomic submarine piloted by Admiral Harriman Nelson (Walter Pidgeon). Sent to destroy a ring of radioactive fire that will destroy the Earth if left alone, Adm Nelson and his team of experts including Comm. Lucius Emery (Peter Lorre), Dr. Susan Hiller (Joan Fontaine), Capt. Lee Crane (Robert Sterling), and Lts. Cathy Conners (Barbara Eden) and Danny Romano (Franklie Avalon) must battle giant squids, mine fields, saboteurs and a mutinous crew to save the world.

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea is a grossly inaccurate scientific adventure that recalls a time before CG. The innards of the vast submarine are an array of blinking buttons, huge knobs, dials, and steering wheels that the cast convincingly sells. The film’s color palate is evident in the rainbow of ridiculously colored scuba suits. Frankie Avalon gets in a solid trumpet solo and viewers also get a great look at Barbara Eden.

As I see it, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea is vintage sci-fi. Inaccurate hokum that entertains, strings and all!