The Classic Hollywood era gained its name because the grandest and most popular films of the period usually became timeless classics. However, there were exceptions to this rule: films that were immensely successful in their time but have not aged well and, consequently, have withstood little to no critical scrutiny. One such exception is the 1940 prehistoric adventure epic, One Million B.C., directed by Hal Roach and his son Hal Roach Jr.
The film begins with a framing device set in the present day, where a group of rock climbers takes shelter in a cave and stumbles upon an archaeologist studying prehistoric art. In an attempt to pass the time, the archaeologist regales the climbers with his interpretation of the ancient paintings. The plot then shifts to prehistoric times, introducing the Rock People, a tribe of meat-eating and cruel cavemen led by Akhoba (played by Lon Chaney Jr.). The protagonist, Tumak (played by Victor Mature), is Akhoba's son, who is banished after challenging his father. By chance, he finds himself on a branch in a river and is carried towards the land of the Shell People, a peaceful tribe of vegetarian cavemen who tend to his wounds and teach him their ways. Tumak, however, leaves the tribe, takes the beautiful Loana (played by Carole Landis) with him, and returns to his people, eventually becoming their chief. The story takes a dramatic turn when a volcanic eruption devastates both tribes' lives and forces them to cooperate with each other to survive.
One Million B.C. was the biggest commercial hit of 1940, although it wasn't the work of mainstream Hollywood in its strictest sense. Hal Roach, a successful and prolific producer, was better known for his short films rather than feature-length productions. Nevertheless, the Roaches initially secured the cooperation of the most respected name in Hollywood – veteran filmmaker D.W. Griffith. However, the elderly director left the project after completing only a couple of screen tests. The film, on the other hand, actually featured some good talent, particularly Roy Seawright and Elmer Raguse, special effects experts who received an Oscar nomination for their efforts in reconstructing the ancient prehistoric world and its long-extinct fauna. The duo employed a number of ingenious techniques, including men in rubber suits, modern animals dressed to resemble prehistoric beasts (an elephant made to look like a woolly mammoth), rear projection, clay animation, and even lizards shot in a way to make them appear larger than they actually were. While these effects may not seem impressive today, they were awe-inspiring for 1940s audiences. The volcanic eruption scene, in particular, still holds up surprisingly well. However, some of these techniques later sparked controversy because the animals were actually harmed during the shooting. On the other hand, the high quality of the special effects led to some scenes or deleted footage from the film being recycled in numerous other Hollywood films until the 1960s.
The music by Werner R. Heymann was also nominated for an Oscar, but it actually represents one of the weaker elements of the film, as it is too operatic and used in the wrong segments. The acting is adequate; Victor Mature is very good in one of his early roles, which puts his strong physique to good use and makes his Tarzan-like protagonist quite convincing. This role made him a star. The same thing happened with Carole Landis as the beautiful and kind-hearted Loana. Even character actor Lon Chaney Jr. made an impressive effort in the role of the prehistoric chief who ultimately sees the error of his ways.
However, time wasn't kind to One Million B.C., and the film relatively quickly sank into oblivion. The main reason was One Million Years B.C., the 1966 remake made in colour and starring Raquel Welch in the iconic role of Loana, whose bikini-like costume looked much more memorable than Landis's, burdened by strict MPAA Production Code censorship. When compared to this film, the 1940 version looked predictably inferior and is now seen mostly as a curiosity.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
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