DISCOVER--the 25 great monster episodes of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
The audience has always been divided about the virtues of the monsters in Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, a popular sci-fi TV series from the 1960s, as have the cast and creative talents, but the truth is that when we watched the show as kids we always felt a bit cheated if we didn't get aliens or monsters, and I still prefer those episodes today. In fact, the sillier the menace to the Seaview, the more I enjoyed the show. For better or worse, here are the major creature features from a wonderful adventure series...
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- DirectorJames GoldstoneStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonDavid OpatoshuA scientist on a research facility in Antarctica discovers a new form of sea plankton that turns monstrously large and aggressive if exposed to heat. After the scientist mysteriously disappears, the Seaview is sent in to investigate.Little was left of the original script's ruminations on the origin of life in this story featuring a pulsating lump of illuminated plastic...
- DirectorSobey MartinStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonLeslie NielsenWhen a missile is destroyed by apparent ultrasonic sound, the Seaview investigates with Adams, the mentally unstable launch commander, on board and finds an giant manta ray source which along with Adams' actions pose a threat to safety.In the first of two episodes with this title, the Seaview searches for the cause of another vessel's destruction and finds an oversized manta ray...
- DirectorLeonard J. HornStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonJ.D. CannonThis episode involves the testing of a new air mixture that will allow a submarine to go to the "bottom of the sea" literally! A brash, news hogging, admiral and his aide, along with his assistant all successfully make the first tests in a diving bell. Then it is time for the Seaview to follow suit. Only then does the real fun begin!The creature the British fan club nicknamed ol' Googly Eyes makes his first of three appearances in the series as J.D. Cannon gives a fine performance as a grandstanding glory seeker... The creature itself is a tower of seaweed with two big red eyes (although this episode is in black and white). The same monster also appears in the Lost in Space episode "The Raft".
- DirectorHarry HarrisStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonKaren SteeleA research team are taking measurements of an underwater eruption. They discover a fissure that appears to lead all the way to the Earth's core. While the discovery is exciting, what exists in that fissure could lead to deadly consequences.This is one of the series' most fun episodes, with a scientist growing to such gigantic proportions that he ultimately bursts out of his undersea laboratory and turns into a fanged monster that wrestles with the Seaview! Great one to start with if you've never seen the show.
- DirectorJames B. ClarkStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonTerry BeckerIn 1978, the first space probe to Saturn returns and the Seaview is sent to retrieve it. Despite their stringent decontamination procedures an alien life form survives and, once inside, begins to take over the ship.An inflatable balloon-like creature hitches a ride to Earth on the outside of a space capsule. When the capsule is retrieved by the Seaview, it skulks out of sight and slowly takes over the crew! Hilarious.
- DirectorSobey MartinStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonNehemiah PersoffThe Seaview rescues two men apparently lost at sea. They are actually escaped prisoners who try to take over the Seaview. The situation is complicated by the presence of a giant sea monster attacking the ship.The second appearance of ol' Googly eyes, in colour this time. The storyline concerns escaped convicts from a tropical island prison picked up by the Seaview at sea.
- DirectorJustus AddissStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonRobert LoggiaThe Seaview is returning to the location of a sunken ship to recover its secret cargo. There are a number of other sunken ships in the area, and the thing responsible for all of them soon threatens the Seaview.The main story concerns a man trying to maintain and conceal his secret of immortality, but lurking in the background is a giant jellyfish.
- DirectorNathan JuranStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonKevin HagenThe construction of an undersea canal is about to start with the Seaview tasked with placing the first charge, a 50 megaton nuclear bomb. But as it is being lowered an enormous whale swallows it and swims off.Voyage turned out three giant whale stories, a Moby Dick-themed yarn in the first season, a second season opener to begin the colour episodes in which cast members are swallowed by a giant whale, and this one, which features a fine performance by regular Irwin Allen player Kevin Hagen as a desperate obsessed scientist treated rather harshly by Admiral Nelson...
- DirectorJustus AddissStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonPeter Mark RichmanA test submarine carrying a load of experimental fuel is disabled and lying on the ocean floor. The Seaview is sent to recover the volatile fuel canisters but an enormous underwater spider threatens to destroy them.In a storyline similar to the first season's The Creature, the nemesis is a giant spider spinning undersea webs. The subplot involves volatile experimental fuel.
- DirectorHarry HarrisStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonArthur HillA strange intelligent organism is found at the bottom of the ocean. Once brought on Seaview the real threat the creature represents is realized. Suddenly every life on board the Seaview is in danger.This one's a hoot, as an undersea fissure coughs up a living sentient disembodied brain from space that takes over a scientist's body and spends most of the episode zapping people, making menacing empty threats, and generally being surly and bad-tempered until he gets his comeuppance. There's no monster and no inferno, but don't let that put you off.
- DirectorJustus AddissStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonCharles AidmanScientists on a tropical island are measuring the radioactivity of a volcano when they are attacked by a wolf. Prof. Hollis shows signs of lycanthropy and threatens everyone on board, especially Admiral Nelson, whom he has infected.The first of three werewolf episodes, with a hapless scientist bitten by an infected wolf and stalking the ship Universal-style. "The Brand of the Beast" is a sequel which has Admiral Nelson contracting the virus, and "Man Beast" is an unrelated yarn which gives Captain Crane a chance to grow fur.
- DirectorAlex MarchStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonHugh MarloweA controversial filmmaker's crew is killed by a creature on a remote island. The Seaview goes to investigate the incident. One of the crewmen has a special interest in the mission as his father was one of the victims.Sci-fi movie veteran Richard Carlson (It Came From Outer Space etc.) guests as a cowardly and vainglorious TV scientist who shamefully leaves his camera crew to the mercy of a fearsome amphibious monster and then tries to lie about it. Nice creature suit, good fun.
- DirectorHarry HarrisStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonWilliam SmithersA scientist in an underwater sea lab has created a new form of plant life. His twin brother, who can control him telepathically, is on his way there via the Seaview, with plans of using the new plant creatures for his own sinister purposes.Hilarious yarn about two telepathic twin brothers, both played by a sly and smirking William Smithers, one of whom is cultivating an army of plant men. The series is starting to get seriously silly now, with some great episodes coming up...
- DirectorJustus AddissStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonLyle BettgerWhile on a routine scientific expedition Capt Crane encounters a strange hybrid seaweed humanoid creature. Crane is captured by the creature and the crew of Seaview launch a desperate attempt to rescue Crane before his air runs out.A mad scientist has developed a symbiotic relationship with a giant mound of sentient plankton that can possess human bodies. When cast members are taken over, they have to wear a huge plastic copy of the creature's form on their head. The guest star milks it for all it's worth.
- DirectorGerald MayerStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonAlfred RyderA Norwegian scientific installation makes contact with an alien intelligence. The Seaview goes to investigate and ends up in a life and death struggle after the alien invades the sub.Not sure which is funnier, the guest cast trying to do Scandinavian accents or the oversized Bunsen burner being dollied round the set as the flame creature (spellcheck just changed me to lame creature, but I think that's a bit harsh, this one's quite inventive!).
- DirectorJustus AddissStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonBrendan DillonWhile on routine patrol the Seaview begins to hear strange noises coming from an undersea canyon. Investigating they discover the source of the noise and the power behind the destruction of a British fleet in the area 200 years before.Rock men emerge from cavern walls in this superior monster mash marred by the overdubbing of the guest star with a booming American anchorman voice. Buried under the rather splendid rock suit is Britisher Brendan Dillon, who played Colonel Fettrech in Time Tunnel's "Night of the Long Knives" and was here cast as an ancient mariner.
- DirectorHarry HarrisStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonTerry BeckerThe Seaview is tasked with transporting an Egyptian mummy from a New York museum for special secret testing. It becomes apparent very quickly not all is as it should seem, and soon a terrible threat is unleashed on the crew of Seaview.Another goodie as the Seaview transports an Egyptian mummy across the seas, which naturally emerges from its sarcophagus to run amok to strains of Bernard Herrman's Day the Earth Stood Still soundtrack.
- DirectorJerry HopperStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonTerry BeckerThe Seaview is following up reports of a strange island being sighted when it discovers a strange egg on the ocean floor. Everyone is puzzled and excited by the find until it hatches on board.Bright red rubber suit aliens emerge from large eggs with evil intent. Cool. One of the monster suits is later used in the Lost in Space episodes "The Time Merchant" and "Anti-Matter Man".
- DirectorHarry HarrisStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonTerry BeckerAliens from the planet Centaur bring a capsule containing Commander Morton to Venus. They want to keep earth from invading their planet and kidnap Captain Crane in an attempt to bring the Seaview to their planet.Superb cockroach-like creatures from Venus take umbrage at Earth's attempts to explore outer space. Mental.
- DirectorJerry HopperStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonWoodrow ParfreyA scientist friend of Nelson has developed a device to control a rare white ape. The scientist's jealous assistant causes the beast to kill the scientist and the ape runs wild after being brought aboard Seaview causing destruction.Simian specialist and independent monster maker Janos Prohaska lumbers around the Seaview in one of his best costumes as a giant savage white gorilla being ineffectually controlled by slimy villain Woodrow Parfrey in this classic. Prohaska later modified the suit for an appearance in Star Trek.
- DirectorJerry HopperStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonDon MathesonWhile trying to find the cause of some underwater pressure blasts, the Seaview encounters a race of Amphibians and Kowalski is transformed into one of them.A hostile undersea race of amphibians attacks the Seaview full-on in this fun creature feature. I love the pre-credits teaser with the aliens all dancing around triumphantly after scoring a hit.
- DirectorJustus AddissStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonVictor LundinA lobster man arrives in a space craft claiming to be a friend but in reality he wants one of the nuclear rods to cause an explosion thus paving the way for an invasion.A wonderful suit on this guy, but unimaginative direction.
- DirectorRobert SparrStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonTerry BeckerThe Seaview rescues two scientist from a climate control project at the South Pole but something else is on the ship on a killing spree. The Seaview has to shut down the project before the world's climates change.Scientists working in the Arctic meet a messy fate when one of their number turns into a fur-faced troublemaker and behaves anti-socially on board the Seaview. Watch for the gymnastics display in the missile room.
- DirectorCharles R. RondeauStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonPeter Mark RichmanThe Seaview and an intelligence expert who is more than he seems, try to find a group that is blackmailing the world's nations for gold bullion. The submarine encounters gigantic creatures during their search.More giant versions of undersea life in this espionage yarn about an attempt to blackmail the world's governments.
- DirectorJerry HopperStarsRichard BasehartDavid HedisonLawrence MontaigneWhen Crane tests a new atmosphere to deal with extreme pressures, he turns into a Man Beast. Nelson races the clock to find a cure for Crane.David Hedison's turn to transform into a werewolf-like creature in this Jekyll and Hyde-type escapade.
Jon is not on Facebook, but can reply to comments here, at the base of this list.
Obsessed with the popular culture of the 1960s and surrounding decades, Jon Abbott has been writing about film and TV for over thirty years in around two dozen different publications, trade, populist, and specialist. He is the author of several books, including
Irwin Allen Television Productions 1964-1970,
Stephen J. Cannell Television Productions: A History of All Series and Pilots,
The Elvis Films,
Cool TV of the 1960s: Three Shows That Changed the World,
and Strange New World: Sex Films of the 1970s.
See his Amazon author's page, and his other lists on the IMDB, all under the pre-fix DISCOVER.
