"VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA: SEASON 2, VOLUME 1"
DVD Review
by Rachel Buccicone
| MOVIE: ** (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: ** (out of 5 stars) STARRING Richard Basehart as ADM. HARRIMAN NELSON Robert Dowdell as LT. COMDR. CHIP MORTON David Hedison as CAPT. LEE B. CRANE Not Rated Studio: 20th Century Fox Created by Irwin Allen Back to DVD Review Home |  |
In 1965, the SSRN Seaview saw many firsts during the second season of “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.” Now available on DVD is the first half of that second season.
The first season to be filmed in color, “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea: Season 2, Volume 1” is more light-hearted than the Cold War-themed episodes of season one. The SSRN Seaview has been mildly redesigned and now features the flying sub, an addition far too based in sci-fi, but one that resonates with fans.
The premise of “Voyage” is based on the 1961 movie of the same name. SSRN Seaview is a U.S. Navy nuclear submarine research vessel. Admiral Nelson (Richard Basehart), Lieutenant Morton (Robert Dowdell), and Captain Crane (David Hedison) are the main characters aboard the sub. Their adventures always take them underwater and often involve foreign nations.
Every episode seems to come complete with some sexy and foreign woman. Sometimes she acts as a partner, sometimes an enemy, and every now the only excuse for some eye candy is as a main character’s date. The plot themes of this season are either sci-fi based or highly improbable.
The one-hour episodes of season two have crew members being swallowed by a giant whale, battling cyborgs, being invaded by an alien, or saving the U.S. from drone submarines. However, this season does have a few episodes with more believable plot lines. Many involve bombs or missiles or trouble with foreign defense officials.
The “special” effects for this show are horrendous by today’s standards. Sets like the belly of a whale are made of fabric, and special perspectives are easily identified as unrealistic.
Performance wise, Richard Basehart (“Being There”) is oh-so-dramatic as Nelson. Frankly, his performance is a little too much. Robert Dowdell (“Wicked Stepmother”) certainly plays a heartthrob, but beyond that his performance is mundane. All other actors give performances not even worth noting.
The three-disc DVD set comes with minimal bonus material. First, what is called “Special Effects Footage” is beyond disappointing. The feature lacks an audio track, so one is left watching repeated takes of about three different scenes with no sound or explanation of what he’s viewing. The still galleries are minimally thrilling. Four separate galleries offer drawings, photographs, promotional images, and best of all a Mad Magazine parody of the show.
Individuals who watched and enjoyed “Voyage” in the sixties, may enjoy having the collection on DVD, but for those of a younger generation, the show will struggle to gain a following. In the era of computer graphics and more advanced scientific theory, our expectation of special effects and plot lines are equally advanced. “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea” may be seen as less classic and more lame by today’s audiences.
Specifications: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Full Frame (1.33:1). English and Spanish Language Tracks. English and Spanish Subtitles. Closed Captioned for the hearing impaired.
