ironhorse_iv
Given our rapid technological/ scientific advancement in understanding what is the makeup of our planet's core. It's hard to believe, that, there is still, present day pseudoscientific and conspiracy theories about hollow Earth. Most scientific community has dismissed the notion, since the late 18th century. So, anybody believing, this movie concept could be real, need to read a science book. Regardless of that harsh truth, I love the fantasy of discovering an ancient civilization beneath our feet like this movie, does. After all, I did like author Jules Verne's classic, 'A Journey to the Center of the Earth'. However, I have yet to see, any good subterranean sci-fi genre films. All of them, including this B-list movie directed by Virgil W. Vogel seem beneath me. Without spoiling the movie, too much, I have to say, 'Mole People' kinda suck. Released as a double feature with 1956's jungle adventure film, 'Curucu, Beast of the Amazon' by Universal & later spotlight by the ninth season of Mystery Science Theater 3000, episode 3 (1993), this film for the most part, has a lot of the same thing we've seems before. In many cases, it's the exact as the movie has a lot of props, sets, and stock footage recycled from other films. Despite that, the film style did influence other films like 1960's 'The Time Machine' & 1966's 'The Wild World of Batwoman'. Yet, the acting was not as memorable with everybody sounding like they were reading off, the same cue cards, multiple times. Very few emotional delivery. It doesn't help, the film, one bit, that nearly every dialogue in this film is boring exposition, with most of it, being wrong, with the highly fictionalized version of panbabylonism history. I get that, the writers weren't historians, but couldn't they get a little of the history, right. It really felt odd that none of the archaeologists point out, how strange, it was, to see Egyptian painting, on a Sumerian settlement or why there wasn't no language barrier. Instead, the main characters, just over explain, the flaws of the creatures. We get it, the first time! They hate light! We don't really need further laymen terms for that. Also, I didn't like, how preachy, the scientists were. Yes, we get it, slavery is wrong. You don't need to keep on, reminding us. Can we move on, already!? For archaeologists, they really do suck, at their jobs; they pretty much destroy the civilization due to their indoctrination. Despite that, main actor, John Agar is likable, but somewhat annoying as Dr. Bentley, with his cheap John Wayne's accent. Still, he lightyears ahead, of the most of the rest of the cast, whom seems to phone it in, like Hugh Beaumont, Phil Chambers, and Nestor Paiva. The only other character that stood out for me, was Elinu, the High Priest, played by Alan Napier, even if his subplot to overthrown the king was soon abandoned. Regardless of the acting, most of the actor's characters seem to be needed for the story. I can't say, the same with Adad (Cynthia Patrick). She doesn't seem to fit in the world that the movie is, giving us, seeing how the albinos killed, most of the people with some shade. She just doesn't seem real. It felt like, a 1950s man's wet dream of a perfect woman. In other words, she does nothing, but serve as an out of place love-interest for Dr. Bentley. Because of that, she is quite boring. Another thing, boring about this movie was the film pacing. Lot of pacing issues like long climbing scenes and awful dance numbers. The ending was also abrupt and unsatisfying, with producers changed from a typical happily-ever-after scenario because members of the studio felt that the film would promote interracial relationships. So wrong. Even the opening of the film with the real-life lecture from Dr. Frank C. Baxter, an English professor was boring and drawn out. Anyways, how does this scene, help the movie!? Doesn't it, hurt the film, by exposing the movie magic, by stating out, how fictionalized, the film is!? It doesn't help the film, one bit that the visual effects were a bit adequate, too. The mole people's rubber costumes were really cheap looking with the humps being stuff with newspapers and their clothes looking like burlap bags. Fake looking. Still, in the end, the Mole People do not look anywhere near as bad as other 1950's creature flicks. The other visual FX are rather good at times, with the sets, small miniatures & matte painting, however, the movie rarely uses it, besides a few key scenes. Most of the time, we forced to look into low light area with no backgrounds. Lighting, use of shadows and even sounds are not fully taken advantage of in order to help create a specific claustrophobic atmosphere. Instead, the film feels confusing, as the extreme light sensitivity albinos, somehow function, both in low light area, and place where normal light is visual. It begs the question, how much, light do they need to be exposure to, to get burned!? For that matter, how does extreme darkness "forced degeneracy" to turn some people into humanoid mole monsters, yet goats stay the same!? We are told that the mole people are cruel and dangerous, but they seem more like a nuisance than anything else. Don't get me wrong, there is a fair amount of action here, but when your villains get defeat by a flashlight. Then, you know that you have problems. For a civilization that survive thousands of years, underground, they have really quickly forgotten how to effectively wield their weapons in combat. Even other entertaining values felt a bit off. This makes the movie really lacking in excitement and chills. Overall: I think it's safe to say that the idea of descending into the depths of hell would be better than watching 'Mole People', again. I really can't recommended watching this movie.
Scott LeBrun
"The Mole People" is not top-tier in terms of the Universal-International product of the 1950s, but it's not terrible as some reviews might have one believe. It has an entertaining story, good atmosphere, and decent creatures, although it also has a rather sedate pace. Of course, it's hard to knock any movie of this kind that starred John Agar. He's likable as always, and the rest of the cast does effective work. Some of them have some pretty priceless dialogue to recite (you could play a drinking game for every time the name "Ishtar" is uttered).As many genre movies of this period did, this one begins with exposition, as a scientist named Frank Baxter educates us on various theories as to what exists below the surface of the Earth. Then we begin the story proper, as archaeologists including Dr. Roger Bentley (Agar) are on an expedition in the Asian mountains. They venture inside a mountain, and eventually climb down so deep as to discover an ancient Sumerian race that thrives in relative darkness. They also discover the "mole men" beasts that these people treat as slave labour.Agar is well supported by actors such as beautiful Cynthia Patrick, playing the "marked one" Adad, Hugh Beaumont as Dr. Jud Bellamin, Alan Napier as the evil priest Elinu, and the always engaging Nestor Paiva as Professor Lafarge. The stock compositions are used to good effect, the special effects are generally decent, and the masks for the mole men are pretty cool. The conclusion is a little rushed, but that could be said of a number of other movies of this kind during this era. The resolution is actually a little surprising.As directed by Virgil W. Vogel ("The Land Unknown"), who mostly worked in TV, "The Mole People" is nothing special but it *is* reasonably diverting.Six out of 10.
InzyWimzy
Ah, yet another appearance by the great John of Agar. However, this is acceptable (this time) since the Mole People is one movie that I enjoyed a lot more after seeing it a few times. I think Hugh Beaumont as Dr. Jud Bellamin really threw me for a loop.Beaver:"Gee Wally, where's Dad?"Wally:"Aw, you know he's away on that archaeological trip in Asia." Beaver:"Boy, Mom sure does miss him."Without going too much into the story (oh, don't worry. John 'I have a line every minute' Agar will take care of that), the fun of this adventure is seeing how these poor dopes got into this fiasco in the first place! Ah, stock footage - the under-appreciated staple of any B movie recipe. You'll find that along with some matte paintings. Although, they do add to the grandeur of the underground dwellings. As the journey progresses, our pre-Indy archaeologists discover pasty faced minions, mushrooms galore, Nike worship, really goofy Sumerian chants, and much, much more. Special mention goes to Adad who provides top notch quality service. She is proof that being a marked one can be a good thing - RAWRRRRR!!What doesn't this movie have? You've got eccentric high priest Elinu played by Alan Napier (best known as stately Wayne Manor's Alfred). LaFarge never fails to cause chaos and hilarity. There's a guilty pleasure in seeing John Agar's failings in the movie...they don't occur often, so I relish those rare moments. The most memorable over-the-top award goes to Frank Baxter as the 'Down Down' Doctor who explains some (totally uninteresting) theories and proceeds to introduce the feature The Mole People as proof. This reminds me why I really don't miss college lectures.So, watch this one. Please, don't disturb Ishtar on the way out.
