City and Secret Beneath The Sea

After the success of the 'Pathfinders in Space' trilogy (recently reviewed on Film-News), ATV Productions simply had to come up with something in a similar vein. What they came up with is CITY BENEATH THE SEA & SECRET BENEATH THE SEA - indeed a worthy continuation with many of the same team once again on board. Both adventures are available as a 2-disc DVD set to complement the ‘Pathfinders’ trilogy.

However, it must be said that in ‘City/Secret Beneath the Sea’ there are notable absentees, mainly producer Sydney Newman who had gone over to a rival network. Guy Verney, who had directed practically all of the earlier series, took over the producer's reins and Kim Mills took on the director's job. Meanwhile, the highly experienced Mary Field was still heavily involved serving once again as the production assistant while Derek Freeborn's clever sets would be utilised for both the 'Beneath the Seas' adventures.
The partnership of Gerald Flood and the young Stewart Guidotti had proved so popular in 'Pathfinders' that it made good sense to re-unite them again for this new outing although here they are playing different characters: Flood is scientific journalist Mark Bannerman and Guidotti is his energetic young assistant Peter Blake - their actual characters are in fact very similar to their earlier characters. The biggest difference in this instance concerns the scriptwriters. Malcolm Hulke and Eric Paice, who had scripted the ‘Pathfinders in Space’ trilogy, had moved on to other areas and John Lucarotti (who, like Hulke, was later to write for Dr. Who) came in. Admittedly, with practically all of the action (not taking into account endlessly repeated stock footage) taking place under the sea there is nowhere near as much scope as we have in outer space, which, as we all know, is infinite… but bearing this seeming limitation in mind, Lucarotti managed an estimable job.

We kick-off with CITY BENEATH THE SEA (1962) and the first episode is the aptly named 'The Pirates' where we witness a submarine emerging from an undersea fortress (or city... well, it is somewhat of an exaggeration to call it that) named Aegiria. As with ‘Pathfinders…’ we must bear in mind that this was early 60's British TV where a budget of £3000 was considered generous, though of course by nowadays standards the models and props seem almost beyond rudimentary. After said submarine emerges on the Cornish coast, the Captain dons Civilian street apparel and takes off to London where a party is being given for Professor Westfield (Hayden Jones), known for his brilliant undersea research and his invention of a powerful underwater transmitter. We know the 'Captain' in question is up to no good and is posing as a Swedish Professor named Svensson. Mark Bannerman and Peter Blake (who are also at the reception, naturally) are in conversation with Westfield when the three of them are interrupted by the gate-crashing 'Svensson'… who wastes no time in kidnapping Westfield! When this outrage is reported the next morning, the intrepid scientific ‘investigators’ are soon on the case. Peter rightly observes that Svensson didn't look like a professor - more a military type - and Mark seems to recall his face from somewhere. It doesn't take them long to discover the man's true identity: he is none other than former German U-Boot Captain Kurt Swendler (Denis Goacher). Of course, those familiar with the German language will note a little in-joke here, as the German word for trickster is ‘Schwindler’ – no doubt a deliberate wordplay on Swendler.

The kidnapping of Professor Westfield is clearly a case for the Admiralty! Enter naval Captain Payne (good old Peter Williams - a familiar face indeed as he played Professor Wedgewood in 'Pathfinders'). Payne, an authority figure (albeit a likeable one) informs Mark and Peter that a submarine was spotted only the night before just off the Cornish coast. He then invites them to visit a large nuclear submarine, the HMS Cynara - one that just happens to have Westfield's prototype underwater transmitter among its equipment! Lo and behold, no sooner are the lads in the Sub than another Sub is sighted and yes, that IS Swendler on deck, demanding they stop all engines or he'll fire on them. He then promptly takes possession of the Cynara and puts the crew with Captain Payne overboard (well, at least he allows them to float off in dinghies). BUT our heroic duo Mark and Peter are on the ball and in no time succeed in hiding themselves under a bunk in the Captain's quarters. They must know it can't be long before they will be discovered. The interesting thing about Captain Swendler is his complexity (Goacher is very convincing here) - he is anything but a one-dimensional villain.

Obviously, Mark and Peter are on for the duration of the entire episodes and find themselves bound for the underwater city of Aegiria. What they are about to find literally beggar's description. The city is presided over by a scientific genius by the name of Professor Ludwig Ziebrecken (played with relish by Aubrey Morris - a master of sinister high camp) who has a fairly large entourage of people in his employ and needs Westfield's underwater transmitter (or one with an infinitely larger range) to help achieve his final plan… Yes, those who know James Bond flicks (or old Universal horror flicks) will be aware that scientific genius often translates as ‘mad scientist’ and that’s precisely what Ziebrecken is! If he can acquire complete control of the underwater world then he will be in a bargaining position that.... well, you can work it, out can't you. Both Swendler and high ranking but gullible Dr. Ann Boyd (Caroline Blakiston) are assured that Ziebrecken is bent on saving the world while the man himself hints at the naivety of others before him (Einstein comes to mind) who stupidly gave their brilliant findings to powers that you cannot trust. Ah, but can we trust Ziebrecken with his Cheshire Cat grin? Don’t be naïve…

Hot on its heels comes SECRET BENEATH THE SEA (1963) and once again we meet Mark and Peter who will be searching for it. Swendler was too interesting a character to lose completely and indeed, he crops up in the first episode 'The Mysterious Metal' working as a fairground act (Battersea Fun Fair pick up shots by the look of it)… what! Remember, he is on the run and thus in disguise. His act involves demonstrating a very unusual metal which can be heated on one side whilst remaining cold on the other. There is no known such metal but this is no trick! This 'mysterious metal' called Phenicium comes from - yes, you guessed it - Aegiria (or the ocean bed far beneath it). Well then, who are these iffy looking characters among the small audience witnessing a near miracle – in particular scar-faced Sanders (Murray Hayne) who recognises our fake magician as Swendler and tries to intimidate him with a threatening pose backstage. The crooks are in the employ of a sinister old bloke named Sir George (Reginald Smith, sporting seriously bad teeth) who has his own reasons for wanting to get his hands on that little piece of metal… at all costs! Swendler manages to escape them and attempts to get the metal to Mark and Peter. He almost succeeds but unfortunately, Sir George manages to get his hands on the little sheet of Pheniciam after one his men breaks into Mark's office.

Peter and Mark, however, are left with notes and instructions appertaining to it. Captain Payne must be consulted and Mark and Peter (by now a keen photographer) find themselves on board the Cynara bound once again for Aegiria.
Of course, this will be anything but a smooth journey beneath the sea – for one, the admiralty's Dr. Deraad (Richard Coleman) is on board who we know is also in the employ of Sir George and has the Pheniciam sample on him. Can all the other staff, including Dr. Ellen Carey (Delena Kidd) be trusted, or is Deraad the only wrong'un in the pack?
We've already gone well overboard with our word limitation about this tour de force of a series but it should be mentioned that Aagiria has a bathyscaphe – in this case a smallish, globe-like shuttle going down a shaft even further into the earth's core. Rather disappointingly and after a rollicking start, ‘Secret of the Sea’ falls a little flat halfway through.

Nonetheless, despite both adventures being entertaining one can't help wondering if it would have gone just a little above the heads of most young viewers, seeing how Stewart Guidotti and Ingrid Sylvester (who plays Janet Slayton in ‘Secret Beneath the Sea') are the only adolescents among an adult cast (in contrast to ‘Pathfinders in Space’ which featured a number of child actors). That said, both are far more intuitive than their grown-up counterparts. Plaudits must also go to James Goddard and Stan Woodward for the design.

The Special Features for this 2-disc DVD set include: Illustrated production booklet and Image Gallery (including Behind-the-Scenes images).