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Voyage To The Bottom
Of The Sea 
Irwin
Allen's television series, Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea, depicts the
often hazardous adventures of the crew on board the atomic-powered submarine,
Seaview. The television series is based on the 20th Century-Fox feature-film
of the same name, also produced by Irwin Allen, who spent five years undertaking
research for the original idea. The high production values on the series owe much
to the fact that the interiors of the Seaview are those used in the motion-picture.
The main interior sets used for the film, and the series are estimated to have
cost more than $400.000. The television series also utilized costumes, special
effects models, and stock footage from the 1961 film. 
The
atomic-powered submarine, Seaview Admiral
Harriman Nelson (Richard Basehart) is a retired US Navy four-star admiral,
he is also one of the world's leading scientists, and holds degrees in both Marine
Biology and Nuclear Physics. Nelson is also one of the most brilliant computer
geniuses alive. Admiral Nelson is the director of the Nelson Institute
of Marine Research, whose headquarters is in Santa Barbara, California. The
Seaview was designed by Nelson, and built under the auspices of his
institute. 
Richard
Basehart is Admiral Nelson
The
series is set in the near future; the early 1970s to the early 1980s (the series
originally aired between 1964 &1968). The Seaview undertakes many missions
and has an impressive, if somewhat eclectic passenger list, which changes from
mission-to-mission; they can be world leaders, politicians, scientists, spies,
or even castaways. The Seaview's crew also encounter a host of monsters
and aliens during the course of the missions. The
captain of the Seaview is Commander Lee Crane (David Hedison) who
is on secondment from the US Navy. Robert Dowdell plays executive officer Lt
Commander Chip Morton. The crew members include - Chief Curley Jones (Henry
Kulky from 1964 to 1965 - Terry Becker from 1965 to 1968), and Crewman
Kowalski (Del Monroe). 
David
Hedison as Captain Lee Crane In
the first episode, Eleven Days to Zero, a huge tidal wave is about to destroy
the majority of the civilized world, unless the Seaview and her crew can
prevent it from happening. Admiral Nelson plans to set off a nuclear explosion
at a propitious time and place in order to stop the the approaching wave. Unfortunately,
there are some who do not wish to see the tidal wave stopped in its tracks - as
they believe that with the ensuing upheavel, they can take over the world! 
Admiral
Nelson (left), Commander Chip Morton & Captain Lee Crane "Seaview's
job is never finished. As long as there are destructive forces in the world, as
long as there are secrets of nature to be probed, believe me, there'll be work
for us - on missions just as vital and as dangerous as this one." - Admiral
Harriman Nelson to
Captain Lee Crane. Watch
the Intro
Irwin
Allen Productions / 20th Century Fox Television - 110 x 52 minute episodesFirst
season: monochrome, seasons 2,3,4 in Colour.Originally
aired in the US on ABC Television - September 14 1964 to September 15 1968. Our
thanks to Diane Kachmar of davidhedison.net Source
of reference for some of the above: The Irwin Allen News Network
Text:
Graham J. Hayes 2006
www.cherishedtelevision.co.uk
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