The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues * (1955, Kent Taylor, Cathy Downs, Michael Whalen) – Classic Movie Review 7728

Producer-director Dan Milner’s independently made 1955 American black-and-white science fiction monster film The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues stars Kent Taylor, Cathy Downs, Michael Whalen and Philip Pine. It is a Z grade psychotronic cult film, and enjoyable on that laughable level, though the four main actors work hard to make the performances as credible as possible. The title was invented by American Releasing Corporation’s co-founder James H Nicholson.

Lou Rusoff writes the screenplay from a rather exotic original story by Dorys Lukather, in which a radioactive rock on the bottom of the sea mutates the ocean life into a monster. Then a scientist and government agent investigate when radioactive bodies drift ashore.

The main cast are Kent Taylor as Dr Ted Stevens, alias Ted Baxter, Cathy Downs as Lois King, Michael Whalen as Professor King, Phillip Pine as Agent George Thomas, Rodney Bell as William Grant, Vivi Janiss as Ethel Hall, Helene Stanton as spy chief Wanda, Michael Garth as Sheriff, Pierce Lyden as Andy the Janitor and Norma Hanson as The Phantom.

American Releasing Corporation distributed it in December 1955 as its first double feature with Day the World Ended. Both films cost $100,000 to make and each earned $400,000 in the first two months of their release. ARC split the costs 60/40 per cent with Dan and Jack Milner, film editors who wanted to get into feature production, operating as Milner Brothers Productions. ARC later changed its name to American International Pictures.

It is available on a double feature DVD Region 1 US Import with The Beast with a Million Eyes (1955).

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7728

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