<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>This Irwin Allen series originally started life as a feature film in 1961,before being developed into a highly successful TV series that was to run for 110episodes, between 1964 \u2013 1968. Both the film and the series were based around the 400 ft. long atomic submarine Seaview, commanded by Admiral Harriman Nelson (Director of the Nelson Institute for Marine research). <\/span><\/p>\n In the 20<\/span>th<\/sup><\/span> Century Fox produced film, Admiral Nelson was played by veteran actor Walter Pidgeon, while Richard Basehart replaced him in the TV series. His second in command, Captain Lee Crane, was played by Robert Sterling (in the film), and then later David Hedison (in the series), who was also to play Felix Leiter in at least two of the Bond movies. <\/span><\/p>\n The film is a race against time story as the world faces global disaster. A ring of radiation around the earth has been set ablaze, and unless extinguished the earth\u2019s temperature will rise, causing the destruction of the Earth. \u201cVoyage to the Bottom of the Sea\u201d was the runaway box office success of 1961, and Allen, eager to move into the lucrative world of television, suggested to American network, ABC TV, that it would be possible to develop the idea into a series. It would be possible to reuse many of the existing sets and models created for the film, enabling costs to be kept down. <\/span><\/p>\n The show\u2019s first season was produced in black and white, lasting for 32\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>episodes before converting to colour in its second season. As with all Allen\u2019s TV\u00a0 <\/span>series, this was set in the near future, with episodes giving dates between 1978 \u2013 1980. The Seaview\u2019s primary mission was to be marine research, though first season episodes extensively concern it\u2019s use to defend the free world against saboteurs and enemy agents.<\/span><\/p>\n Later seasons tended to become slightly silly with the Seaview being invaded by Spacemen, \/ robots, \/ a werewolf and many other equally unlikely situations and predicaments. One other introduction to the TV series was that of the Flying Sub. This was a high-tech combination aircraft \/ midget submarine, that was housed in a docking bay at the front of the Seaview.<\/span><\/p>\n