The Land That Time Forgot (1974)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

There are better movies of two hours length. I loved the actress'performance.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

I saw this one as a kid about the time it came out- just took a second peek and was not disappointed. This dinosaur/lost world flick has an adult level pacing with a tension that builds to a dramatic ending. The acting, dialogue and character development is just above average, for what might otherwise be considered a Saturday afternoon film for kids. The German U boat captain is treated sympathetically, something I doubt current political correctness would allow today. We also see some refreshingly deep thoughts expressed from time to time in this tale- be sure to note the wild evolutionary theory that is presented.The special effects are adequate, and I will go out on a limb and say that if this was made today, the CGI would be bad and would ruin the film- the models were used to good effect. I know some will complain that the creatures are not exactly convincing, but they are not bad either, for what the movie is attempting to be.I also like the fact that the ending was not the typical Hollywood (happy) ending. Final note, the interior submarine scenes convey a realistic WW1 era technology and appropriate claustrophobia.if you are into 'lost world' or dinosaur films , this one is a must see. Six stars.

Released in 1974 and directed by Kevin Connor, "The Land that Time Forgot" is an adventure flick based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' book: A German sub during WWI sinks a British ship, but some survivors commandeer the U-boat whereupon there are tensions amidst the two factions. After taking a wrong turn, the sub comes to an unknown land, which they discover is Caprona, a land where dinosaurs and primitive people dwell. Can they ever get back to civilization? John McEnery plays Captain Von Schoenvorts while the English girl, Lisa, is played by cutie Susan Penhaligon, a biologist. The two have an interesting discussion over the German conduct in the Great War. Lisa observes that Von Schoenvorts is a sophisticated, respectable man, which sparks her to inquire of his brutal war actions. The Captain's Germanic contention is that Lisa is naive considering that "life is founded upon killing and destruction" and "the sea is teeming with living things that prey upon one another to survive." Say what you will about the dinosaur puppets, but this is some pretty heavy stuff for an adventure flick appealing mostly to youths. The Captain's second in command, Dietz (Anthony Ainley), more fits the stereotype that Lisa projects on Von Schoenvorts. Actually, the Captain is the wise father figure.The British are portrayed in a diplomatic, pragmatic manner (Keith Barron, amongst others). But it's the American, Bowen Tyler (Doug McClure), who's the brash, masculine hero. He's essentially boorish but Lisa can't help but be attracted to him even while she has more mental affinity with Von Schoenvorts, the suave, but maybe-too-old sophisticate.This was a British production and the dubious dinosaur effects are noticeably inferior to Hammer's stop-motion effects used in 1966's "One Million Years BC." But if you can embrace their quaintness or ignore their cheesiness, "The Land that Time Forgot" is a surprisingly decent adventure, almost in the same league as 1954's "20,000 Leagues under the Sea," at least as far as ship-going adventure and worthy mindfood go; plus it lacks the hokey Disney-isms of that movie.The film runs 90 minutes and was shot at Canary Islands and Scotland with studio work done in England.GRADE: B-/B (6.5/10)

Doug McClure stars as Bowen Tyler, who is rescued from his sunken British ship(along with a woman named Susan) by the German submarine who sunk it during World War I. Taken as prisoners, Bowen leads a revolt, but is too late to prevent the U-boat from drifting into uncharted waters. There, they find a land called Caprona, where dinosaurs and prehistoric humans still exist. Both sides forget the war in order to repair and refuel(oil is in abundance)the ship, though they suffer some losses from dinosaur attacks. A volcano also threatens to erupt, so it is a race against time if they hope to escape.Entertaining film based on an Edgar Rice Burrough's story has good direction by Kevin Connor, and a good cast(including Anthony Ainley, before he became the new Master from "Doctor Who") The F/X aren't that bad either, and film holds up reasonably well, despite the pulp elements, and familiar story.

In 1916, Germans destroy a ship off the English Channel, leaving two survivors adrift in a lifeboat. Then, dauntless Doug McClure (as Bowen Tyler) and pretty Susan Penhaligon (as Lisa Clayton) are rescued by British seamen. They go after a German submarine and take control. After additional fighting, the mixed crew is carried along the Atlantic Ocean, into uncharted waters. Finally, the lost group arrives at "The Land That Time Forgot" which they identify as the lost continent of "Caprona". There, they encounter not only prehistoric people, but also living, breathing dinosaurs! This Edgar Rice Burroughs adaptation is fondly remembered by youngsters from the 1970s. In the ensuing years, the special effects have aged poorly, and the once intriguing plot has evolved into absurdity.**** The Land That Time Forgot (8/13/75) Kevin Connor ~ Doug McClure, Susan Penhaligon, John McEnery, Keith Barron