Latitude Zero (film)
- Joseph Cotten Craig McKenzie
- Cesar Romero: Dr. Malic
- Akira Takarada: Dr. Ken Tashiro
- Masumi Okada: Dr. Jules Masson
- Akihiko Hirata: Dr. Sugata
- Linda Haynes: Dr. Anne Barton
- Tetsu Nakamura: Dr. Okada
- Mari Nakayama: Tsuruko Okada
- Hikaru Kuroki: Captain Kroiga
- Patricia Medina: Lucretia
- Wataru Omae: Consultant
- Susumu Kurobe: Chin
- Haruo Nakajima: Flying Lion / giant rat
U 4000 - panic among the ocean (Japanese纬度0 (ゼロ)大作 戦, Ido Zero Daisakusen, literally: " the big operation on latitude zero "; U.S. Title: Latitude Zero ) is an American- Japanese fantasy film from the 1969 Toho. Directed by Ishiro Honda, creator of the Japanese movie monster Godzilla.
Action
In researching the Cromwellstroms in the Pacific south of New Guinea, a mini - submarine leaves the research ship " Fuji" into the water. Are the science officer Dr. Ken Tashiro from Japan, the researchers Masson from France and the journalist Perry Lawton from America on board the submarine.
As an underwater volcano erupts, the crew of the submarine "Alpha" will be saved. Craig McKenzie, the captain of the "Alpha", brings the three rescued in the underwater city " Äquatoriana ". This is populated by people of different nationalities who come from different eras. Dr. McKenzie's opponents Malic and his mistress Lucretia threaten with their U- boat U 4000 the underwater city and kidnap a scientist who wants to visit the city. During their rescue mission to fight McKenzie and the " Fuji" crew against monsters created by Malic: A hybrid of lion and eagle has Malic provided with the brain of his submarine captain Kroiga.
Versions
Three different versions were released: a 89 minutes long for the Japanese, a 105 minutes long for the U.S. market and a 68 minute abridged version called Kaitei daisenso (海底 大 戦 争, " The Great War on the seabed ") that on 1974 the Toho Champion Matsuri Festival was shown. Was released in 2006 in Japan Collectors Box.
In the U.S. version, the end of the film, which tries to explain after the rescue of the scientist, in which the "Fuji " crew is for a world lacking.
Reviews
" An action- stressed future film with great animated effort, naive storybook voltage and many absurdities. "
" Utopian color film of the Japanese Honda in a strange mix of felicitous and amateurish, but from which one could distill also political. Just something for all stalwarts with very low expectations. "