City Beneath the Sea is a 1971 adventure science fiction television movie and television pilot for a proposed series by Irwin Allen featuring Stuart Whitman and Robert Colbert. It began as a conceptual 10-minute demonstration reel as a means to sell the plot and concept to television studios. The concept was not bought initially, and a few years later Allen produced it as a two-hour television movie for NBC. The two-hour movie failed to gain the response necessary for a series. In the UK it was shown theatrically in 1972 as One Hour To Doomsday.
It was released in DVD form as part of the Warner Archive Collection.
Storyline
On June 12, 2053, a futuristic oil rig explodes somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. Retired admiral Michael Matthews is busy in his New York City office administering various engineering projects in different parts of the world. He receives a telephone call from the president of the United States. After much debate and against his will, he is reactivated at his old rank as administrator of Pacifica, an underwater city. His escort, commander Woody Patterson, arrives.
They embark via flying submarine for Pacifica. Matthews regrets returning to the city because of a past tragedy that had occurred there, and apologizes because his return means that Patterson will be demoted without cause. The two officers discuss the ongoing transfer of gold from Fort Knox to Pacifica, a project that began under Matthews' previous administration six months earlier and is now nearing completion. The entirety of the American gold reserve will be secured at Pacifica within 17 days.
Cast
Stuart Whitman as Admiral Michael Matthews
Robert Wagner as Brett Matthews
Rosemary Forsyth as Lia Holmes
Robert Colbert as Commander Woody Patterson
Susana Miranda as Elena
Burr DeBenning as Dr Aguila
Richard Basehart as President
Joseph Cotten as Dr Ziegler
James Darren as Dr Talty
Paul Stewart as Mr Barton
Sugar Ray Robinson as Captain Hunter
Whit Bissell as Professor Holmes
1969 teaser reel
Allen filmed the original concept for City Beneath The Sea as a science fiction movie set in the year 2068, but it was never shown publicly. It remained unseen by the public until the DVD release of the Sci-Fi Channel's 1995 documentary The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen, in which it was included as a special feature.
Plot
The plot concerns the destruction of an undersea drilling project that could possibly threaten the thriving undersea city of Triton, run by General Kevin Matthews with his associates Lia Holmes, scientific advisor Dr. Raymond Aguila (an amphibian/human hybrid who can breathe underwater) and his head of security Choo Choo Kino. Their lead engineer Temple is scheming to put an end to an underwater drilling project, which is spearheaded by the U.S. government and run by Matthews' team. In the finale, Matthews confronts Temple on the project's surface platform as it is destroyed in flames.
Cast
The proposed cast consisted of Glenn Corbett, Lloyd Bochner, Lawrence Montaigne, Francine York, Cecile Ozorio and James Brolin.
1971 television movie
The concept was later revised by Allen and television screenwriter John Meredyth Lucas in the form of a two-hour movie of the week. The story combined a natural disaster story with high-stakes crime drama and futuristic adventure. Many props and models from Allen's previous sci-fi series were included.
Filming took place in August 1970 at 20th Century Fox studios.
The movie failed to generate commercial interest for a series.