You’ll hear that familiar Seaview ping as the underwater drama’s fourth season rises from beneath the waves and onto DVD. This season is the one I’ve been waiting for, but the show is good cheesy fun.
I like Vincent Price, so kill me. The reason I started reviewing Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea was in hopes that the episode with Unca’ Vinnie would show up in my review box. With the way the show was being volumed I knew that it was going to be a longer haul that I imagined.
Well, the day has come and The Deadly Dolls is on this set. To speak of Voyage in particular, it’s cheesy. However, there’s something about a nice slice of cheese – it’s delicious.
Voyage was in its fourth season and sometimes the seams showed or the screenplays seemed like they were from another season, just changed around or aliens added. Sinking ratings would lead to the Seaview sinking into the depths (and fond memories of some kids) and not returning for a fifth season.
It’s amusing that sometimes the Seaview is supposed to be underwater but when Nelson takes out the Flying Sub the ship is clearly floating on the surface since they kept using the same special effects shot over and over again. Only one more volume and our crew’s voyage will come to an end, but it’s been a fun ride for fans of Irwin Allen or vintage television.
Disc one, Side A:
Fires of Death: The Seaview’s mission to prevent the explosion of a deadly volcano is jeopardized by an aging alchemist’s desperate plan to obtain the elixir of youth.
The Deadly Dolls: Nelson and Crane battle a sinister puppet master whose deadly doppelgangers replace the crewmen.
Cave of the Dead: After finding a mysterious dagger, Nelson falls under an ancient curse and is haunted by bizarre visions.
Journey with Fear: Crane and Morton are transported to the unstable surface of Venus, where they are held captive by hostile aliens.
Disc one, Side B:
Sealed Orders: While on a mission to deliver a neutron missle, the men are gripped by a mass hallucinations when the missle malfunctions.
Man of Many Faces: Racing to prevent the moon from colliding with the Earth, the Seaview – and thus the entire planet – is imperiled by a diabolical master of disguise.
Disc two, Side A:
Fatal Cargo: When a scientist’s unscrupulous assistant sabotages an animal-control experiment, a huge white gorilla runs amok aboard the submarine.
Time Lock: Metallic androids from the future kidnap Nelson with the intent of adding him to a collection of zombie-like military figures.
Disc two, Side B:
Rescue: With Crane trapped in the flying sub and running out of air, a saboteur aboard the Seaview thwarts the crew’s rescue attempt.
Terror: Nelson attacks his own crew when his mind is controlled by an alien plant creature intent on taking over the planet.
Disc three, Side A:
A Time to Die: The ship is thrust a million years into the past by a strange little man named Mr. Pem and his pocket sized time machine.
Blow Up: After using a new type of breathing apparatus, Nelson becomes paranoid and delusional, sparking talk of mutiny among the crew and endangering the entire fleet of navy ships.
Disc three, Side B:
Deadly Amphibians: The Seaview is disabled by an advanced race of creatures that are half-man and half-fish, and Kowalski is partially transformed into an amphibian.
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea is presented in fullscreen. Special features, located on disc three, Side B, include a recut, unaired version of the pilot. There are also 4 minutes of interviews with star David Hedison and a still gallery.
I really like watching these old sci-fi shows and Voyage is certainly a cheesy good time. It’s also revealing as how Seaquest started off as a science show and gradually morphed into kid-friendly cheese ala Voyage.
I’ve been happy discovering the show and am now glad to have the Vincent Price guest starring episode in my collection. Sadly, the special features are not as comprehensive as we’d like, but it’s better than nothing (they’re not listed on the back of the packaging, only on the inner sleeve episode list). Dive!
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea: Season 4, Vol. 1 is now available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.
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