AT THE EARTH’S CORE – The Blu Review

Review by Roger Carpenter

Based upon the classic first novel of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ seven-book Pellucidar series and produced by British genre film company Amicus Productions, At the Earth’s Core (1976) is a star-studded tale of science fantasy complete with dinosaurs, a psychic master race of pteranodon-like monsters, and a caste-like civilization featuring a monkey-faced race who have enslaved the humans who populate the prehistoric land found inside the Earth.

Directed by Kevin Connor (The Land That Time Forgot; The People That Time Forgot; Warlords of the Deep; Motel Hell) and starring Doug McClure (The Land That Time Forgot; The People That Time Forgot; Roots; Humanoids from the Deep), the gorgeous Caroline Munro (The Spy Who Loved Me; Starcrash; Maniac), and the inimitable Peter Cushing, At the Earth’s Core is a fun, kid-oriented special effects extravaganza, with the emphasis on kid-oriented.

Though Amicus is best known for its portmanteau films like Tales from the Crypt and Vault of Horror, in the mid- to late-1970’s, just as the company was winding down, it produced three films based upon Edgar Rice Burroughs’ pulp novels.  Each film was oriented to a pre-teen audience and, in America, they were all rated PG.

While all three films suffer from trying to do too much with too little, At the Earth’s Core suffers particularly.  Though budgeted for 1.5 million dollars, creating a giant drilling machine, optical effects of the Earth’s mantle as the machine drills though the Earth, the creation of an entire underground tropical world, and plenty of dinosaur-like monsters for the heroes to fight was simply too much for the budget.  Thus we have plastic plants that are easily spotted as well as tons of “scary” monsters that are perhaps just a notch above the Japanese Godzilla movies of the sixties and seventies—but just barely. So those viewers expecting a more mature adventure film best stay away.

That being said, if one goes into the film understanding it is essentially a children’s movie, it can be enjoyed on multiple levels.  Regardless of the pre-teen orientation of the film, it’s still a rousing adventure story with plenty of action and intrigue.  Those who have read anything Burroughs has written knows he knew how to keep the reader’s attention.  The special effects are, quite simply, pretty terrible, which can be fun on its own terms.  Seeing rubber monsters wearing atrocious fiberglass heads with rickety hinged jaws may be scary for a young child, but it’s also downright hilarious for someone a bit older.  And while there are plenty of fights—between people, between monsters, between monsters and people—and plenty of death, it’s all quite bloodless and palatable even for the very young.

McClure stars as the hero of the film, David Innes who, along with Cushing’s Dr. Abner Perry, create a gigantic drilling machine to explore Earth’s inner layers.  After a minor mishap knocks them unconscious during their maiden voyage they awaken to realize they have drilled all the way to the Earth’s core—and that far from being a mere molten hell, the core is actually hollow and houses an entire prehistoric society of ancient people and even more ancient monsters.  The two explorers are captured very quickly by the evil, monkey-faced troglodytes and are enslaved along with many other unfortunate humans, including the comely Dia (Munro).  The rest of the picture sees our heroes trying to escape the clutches of their captors while also trying to help the people of Pellucidar conquer the extra-sensory, bird-like monsters who rule the inner Earth.  Along the way there is romantic intrigue as David falls in love with Dia and has to defend her from not one, but two, brutal cavemen who want her as their own.

There is much to enjoy with this kid’s movie even if you are an adult.  Plenty of action set pieces keep the viewer interested throughout the 90-minute runtime and the special effects are laughably entertaining.  While Munro is unfortunately relegated to batting her eyelashes and flashing her cleavage (and I’m not complaining!), McClure comes across as a genuinely good guy for whom honor is a priority.  He’s the kind of leading man all kids want to be as they are growing up.  Cushing is not only a highlight but also an absolute delight as the elderly and gently comedic Dr. Abner.  He fumbles and bumbles his way through the adventure.  As a scientist, he can’t help but stop to admire a newly discovered plant or reflect upon an ancient stone though he is being pursued by things that want to do him harm.  It’s also fun to look for gaffes along the way.  For instance, McClure’s character is never less than clean-shaven even when he’s enslaved in the hellish caverns of Pellucidar.  And Munro is possibly the first cave girl to wear lipstick.  Even McClure’s wounded and bloody shoulder sometimes is magically healed from shot to shot.  Director Connor isn’t terribly worried.  He tells of famed producer Milton Subotsky’s concern when he noticed these things in the rushes.  But Connor wasn’t bothered by these mistakes…after all, what 9-year-old is going to notice those things?

In the end, the two adventurers manage to escape, freeing the humans from the clutches of the evil monsters.  Could it have ended any differently?  In a very humorous ending, the two break the surface of the Earth with their giant drill in a very questionable lawn…and I’ll leave it at that.

At the Earth’s Core is a fun little film.  Sure, it’s hokey and the monsters are in rubber suits, but if you grew up watching Godzilla on Saturday afternoon then you can overlook the cheap nature of the film.  Plus, Caroline Munro in a skimpy cave girl costume and Peter Cushing.  What more do ya want?

Kino Lorber has just released a Blu-ray edition of the film.  While it hasn’t been restored or cleaned up, it looks great.  Special features include a 25-minute interview with Munro, a 20-minute interview with Connor, the original theatrical trailer, and an audio commentary with Connor.  The film can be purchased directly through Kino Lorber at kinolorber.com or through Amazon.