What Was This Movie?
August 29, 2023 10:57 AM Subscribe
Please hope figure out what this movie was, that I saw on TV (possibly on TCM) ages ago...
I’ve only seen this movie once, and I have been trying to figure-out what it was, but all manner of searching keywords that I think should work have come up empty.
It’s b/w, and, from what I can recall, looked to be made anywhere between the 30s and the 50s.
I would only sort-of consider it scifi, if only because it seemed to involve some kind of super-secret science-ish facility, but I cannot for the life of me recall what kind of science was being done.
The science-ish facility was underground. But, it also seemed like the ground it was under was beneath a large body of water, like an ocean just offshore. I recall some sort of rail transport that brings people down into the facility. There were these rather large, heavy metal doors that sealed-off the facility.
On the other side of the heavy doors was the area where the science-ish stuff was going on. The image that really sticks in my head is that of some sort of large, enclosed control station/tower, where it was all being controlled from.
The big thing that sticks with me is that the exterior roof of the control station was festooned with enormous glass tubes and whatnot, all bright and sparking big electrical effects. These were pretty obviously matted-in closeups of some actual electrical equipment, much in the same manner as the underground machinery in Things to Come.
There was some kind of tension going on between characters (of course.) One of them, I think was taking the experiments too far and endangering everyone. Eventually, the guy going too far (I think) seals himself in the control room and takes things too far. The facility starts crumbling, and seawater starts leaking in. The facility ends up exploding, and we’re treated to a big explosion of water at the surface of the ocean.
Here’s the oddest part of this whole thing...I want to say that this was a Canadian film. That, or, there was language in the film that led me to believe the facility was either a joint US-Canada science-ish facility, or it merely sat on the US-Canada border.
This one is a real longshot, I know. I’m pretty sure I had to have seen it on TCM, way back in the day, if that helps.
Thanks!
I’ve only seen this movie once, and I have been trying to figure-out what it was, but all manner of searching keywords that I think should work have come up empty.
It’s b/w, and, from what I can recall, looked to be made anywhere between the 30s and the 50s.
I would only sort-of consider it scifi, if only because it seemed to involve some kind of super-secret science-ish facility, but I cannot for the life of me recall what kind of science was being done.
The science-ish facility was underground. But, it also seemed like the ground it was under was beneath a large body of water, like an ocean just offshore. I recall some sort of rail transport that brings people down into the facility. There were these rather large, heavy metal doors that sealed-off the facility.
On the other side of the heavy doors was the area where the science-ish stuff was going on. The image that really sticks in my head is that of some sort of large, enclosed control station/tower, where it was all being controlled from.
The big thing that sticks with me is that the exterior roof of the control station was festooned with enormous glass tubes and whatnot, all bright and sparking big electrical effects. These were pretty obviously matted-in closeups of some actual electrical equipment, much in the same manner as the underground machinery in Things to Come.
There was some kind of tension going on between characters (of course.) One of them, I think was taking the experiments too far and endangering everyone. Eventually, the guy going too far (I think) seals himself in the control room and takes things too far. The facility starts crumbling, and seawater starts leaking in. The facility ends up exploding, and we’re treated to a big explosion of water at the surface of the ocean.
Here’s the oddest part of this whole thing...I want to say that this was a Canadian film. That, or, there was language in the film that led me to believe the facility was either a joint US-Canada science-ish facility, or it merely sat on the US-Canada border.
This one is a real longshot, I know. I’m pretty sure I had to have seen it on TCM, way back in the day, if that helps.
Thanks!
Response by poster: That’s it!!! Thank you, Ashwagandha!
Looks like I got a couple of details wrong, and totally spaced it was about saving the earth. But, yeah, watching the trailer brought the whole thing coming back to me.
posted by Thorzdad at 12:50 PM on August 29, 2023
Looks like I got a couple of details wrong, and totally spaced it was about saving the earth. But, yeah, watching the trailer brought the whole thing coming back to me.
posted by Thorzdad at 12:50 PM on August 29, 2023
Looks like I got a couple of details wrong, and totally spaced it was about saving the earth.
If I had a nickel for everytime I said that...
posted by y2karl at 4:45 PM on August 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
If I had a nickel for everytime I said that...
posted by y2karl at 4:45 PM on August 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
You had the most important detail correct though - the underground facility in Canada. Magnetic Monster is the only film I can think of with that detail. It is available to stream for free on Tubi (at the moment).
posted by Ashwagandha at 4:53 AM on August 30, 2023
posted by Ashwagandha at 4:53 AM on August 30, 2023
Response by poster: It is available to stream for free on Tubi
And I hit it almost as soon as I saw your answer. It was a fun watch, and the print was absolutely pristine. Thank you again!
posted by Thorzdad at 6:07 AM on August 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
And I hit it almost as soon as I saw your answer. It was a fun watch, and the print was absolutely pristine. Thank you again!
posted by Thorzdad at 6:07 AM on August 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
The other 2 films in the series are fun as well , though for me Gog with the presence of the robots, edges out Riders to the Stars.
posted by Ashwagandha at 7:50 AM on August 30, 2023
posted by Ashwagandha at 7:50 AM on August 30, 2023
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posted by Ashwagandha at 11:24 AM on August 29, 2023 [9 favorites]