The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues, Sea Monster and Uranium

Dr. Ted Stevens (Kent Taylor) says it best, "Nature has many secrets that man must not disturb." We all know what will happen if we disturb nature's secrets. Yep! Sea monsters will come and eat swimmers...happens all the time. At first glance 1955's "The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues" appears to be a standard scifi/horror B movie. Directed by Dan Milner, our film today has a lot of likable plot devices that make it a very enjoyable watch. Beautiful damsels, square-jawed hunk heroes, and a sultry femme-fatale all add to this flick's allure.

Okay, Professor King of the Pacific College of Oceanography is our mad-scientist that has activated a uranium deposit just off the California coast. This is bad news for several divers and fishermen. Enter Dr. Stevens and G-man William Grant (Rodney Bell). They have picked up on the radiation and begin investigating Prof. King. Meanwhile a sea creature guards the uranium and kills any diver or fisherman who gets close. Ah yes, the Soviets want Prof. King's secrets on radiation experiments. Enter the sultry spy Wanda (Helene Stanton). With one seductive glance Wanda can get any man to kill for her. She has seduced George (Phillip Pine), Prof. King's assistant. With a trusty spear gun, George kills people in search of Prof. King's secrets.

Enter Prof. King's nubile daughter Lois (Cathy Downs). Ted will fall in love with her, but her inclusion in the plot is unnecessary...other than she is very pretty...and that's okay. As the vixen/spy Wanda, the feds, and Ted Stevens close in on Prof. King's secrets, he grows desperate. Soon Prof. King's experiments begin to cause death on a wider scale and he realizes the thing is out of control. As Wanda puts on a very revealing white swimsuit, George is tasked to become more homicidal. As for Lois...well, we'll be treated to her trying on a number of alluring sun dresses.

Will Prof. King's Uranium experiments lead to a Pacific Ocean filled with monsters and radiation? Will Wanda and Lois engage in a cat-fight in the interest of the cold war between the Soviets and the U.S.? Were the 1950s swimsuit and sun dress fashions influenced by this film? For a lot of fun as the summer comes to an end, enjoy "The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues."