At the Earth's Core

Masterpiece of the Z grade fantasy genre.

I'm serious as well, I mean don't get me wrong, if you haven't got a bent for this type of Z grade, creaky creature feature (why would you be watching is my first thought?) then it's most likely a rating of about 4 to 5 out of 10 tops, but to me it's a special kind of nonsense that takes me back to a nice time in my childhood. You know the kind, where the memories have never left you. Eagerly taking it all in with youthful wonderment as Doug McClure and Peter Cushing tunnel beneath the mantle to do battle with a host of creatures and sub-human species. And guys! Now we are all grown up we can admire most seriously at the wonder of Caroline Munro and her heaving cleavage. No wonder my older brothe...

So bad its bad

A scientist and David Innes (Peter Cushing and Doug McClure) use the formers awesome drill vehicle, the Iron Mole, to journey to the core of the planet where they discover the inner-world of Pellucidar. This prehistoric realm is run by giant telepathic flying reptiles, called Mahars, who are served by the ape-like Sagoth and enslave the primitive humans, including Dia (Caroline Munro) and Ra (Cy Grant).

At the Earths Core (1976) was an Amicus production, a company that ended their low-budget output with three films based on Edgar Rice Burroughs books, all starring Doug McClure: The Land that Time Forgot (1975), this one, and The People that Time Forgot (1977). Despite their obvious modest budgets, I like those oth...

Ok, this is just a daft Victorian action-adventure film with Doug McClure as the dashing explorer ably assisted by Peter Cushing (delivering a very similar style of performances as his "Doctor Who") as the boffin who designed the ultimate boring machine to travel to the innards of the planet. Once there, they encounter slaves ruled by a race of giant, angry looking, telepathic penguins. Based upon an Edgar Rice Burroughs fable, the effects are pretty dreadful and, indeed, so is the whole thing. It's isn't rubbish, though - and was a perfectly entertaining film for kids when I was 9!