MOVIES and MANIA score:
On the Earth’s Core is a 1976 fantasy sci-fi movie a few scientist and his backer who drill into a wierd underground labyrinth dominated by a species of big telepathic birds, prehistoric monsters and cavemen.
The film was directed by Kevin Connor (Motel Hell; The Folks That Time Forgot; The Land That Time Forgot; From Past the Grave). It was primarily based on the fantasy novel of the identical title by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the primary e book of his Pellucidar collection.
The Amicus Productions-Atkins World Enterprises co-production stars Peter Cushing, Doug McClure, Caroline Munro and Philippa Herring.
Plot:
Physician Abner Perry (Peter Cushing), a British Victorian scientist and his US financier David Innes (Doug McClure) make a check run of their Iron Mole drilling machine in a Welsh mountain however find yourself in a wierd underground labyrinth dominated by a species of big telepathic flying reptiles, the Mahars, and filled with prehistoric monsters and cave individuals.
They’re captured by the Mahars, who hold primitive people as their slaves by way of thoughts management. David falls for the attractive slave lady Princess Dia (Caroline Munro) however when she is chosen as a sacrificial sufferer within the Mahar metropolis, David and Perry should rally the surviving human slaves to insurgent and never solely save her but additionally the liberty of the slaves…
Our assessment:
Even making an allowance for that this monster mash was geared toward a youngish viewers, Milton Subotsky’s script is painfully simplistic – screenwriting was by no means his forte – and Peter Cushing’s doddery outdated Brit inventor character (virtually a repeat of his ’60s efficiency for Amicus as Physician Who) is meant to be endearing however sometimes borders on being irritating as a result of repetitious dialogue. As an illustration, he refers to Doug McClure’s character ‘David’ so many occasions it’s laughable (we didn’t rely however one web site mentions sixty-six occasions!). That stated, humourous traces akin to “You can not mesmerise me, I’m British!” elevate a wry smile.
The usage of low cost again projection will be distracting however the rubbery men-in-suit monsters are surprisingly endearing and the flying (on apparent wires) reptile Mahars with their controlling eyes are fairly creepy. And so they even explode when they’re killed! There’s additionally good use of lighting in what are cramped Pinewood units. McClure huffs and puffs (actually, he can’t take a cigar out of his mouth within the opening scenes) and appears bemused by sultry Caroline Munro, who shines in a job that’s sadly underwritten.
In the meantime, former Manfred Mann guitarist Mike Vickers gives a discordant rating that lends the proceedings a barely unsettling edge that maybe wasn’t supposed. Regardless of some shortcomings, On the Earth’s Core is undemanding, barely surreal enjoyable. And there’s no hurt in that.
Adrian J Smith, MOVIES and MANIA
Different evaluations:
“Peter Cushing is on (over the) high kind brandishing his trusted umbrella while uttering such traditional traces as: “You’ll be able to’t mesmerise me – I’m British!” and: “They’re so excitable – like all foreigners”. Doug McClure’s ‘David’ gamely battles numerous men-in-rubber-suit-monsters; a man-eating plant bearing a outstanding resemblance to the singing plant in Frank Oz’s 1986 remake of Little Store of Horrors...” Comprises Average Peril
” …the units, colourful lighting, rubber monsters and (really fairly efficient) sound design all work collectively to present the movie a wierd, otherworldly environment that form of works regardless of the budgetary shortcomings, leading to an virtually hallucinatory high quality; taken on the extent of a form of trippy 70s fever dream, the movie stays fairly diverting stuff. The Stalking Moon
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“Daft stuff, however the telepathic crow-creatures are spectacular, and there’s sufficient idiocy to maintain corn collector’s completely happy.” Anne Billson, Time Out (London)
“Satisfying hokum, directed with a straight face by one-time editor Kevin Connor and acted with gratifying zest by Cushing. Particular results and monsters are solely reasonable and all too usually the wires holding the flying creatures will be seen.” Alan Frank, The Science Fiction and Fantasy Movie Handbook, Batsford, 1982
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