Untamed Women

Untamed Women
Theatrical release one sheet
Directed by	W. Merle Connel
Written by	George Wallace Sayre
Produced by	Richard Kay
Starring	Mikel Conrad Doris Merrick
Edited by	W Merle Connell
Music by	Raoul Kraushaar
Distributed by	Jewell Enterprises/United Artist
Release date	September 12, 1952 (1952-09-12)
Running time	70 Minutes
Country	USA
Language	English

Untamed Women is a 1952 United States science fiction film directed by W. Merle Connell for United Artists, written by George Wallace Sayre, and starring Mikel Conrad and Doris Merrick.^[1]

Premise[]

An American bomber pilot, Steve Holloway, is rescued after drifting at sea during World War II. After he awakens from a coma at am military hospital, he tells doctors how his copilot die while he and three of his fellow crew members, Benny, Andy and Ed, crash at sea. The survivors use a lifeboat to reach an island after drifting for days.

The island was inhabited by prehistoric dinosaurs and a tribe of Amazons, who are Druid-descended cave-women. The Amazons are being plagued by Neanderthal men intent on kidnapping them for breeding purposes. The Neanderthal had previously killed all of the men with the Amazons, and the Amazons fear the flight crew to be in league with the Neanderthals. ^[2]

Steve tries to explain the flight crews predicament, but hearing that the crew was fighting a war further convinces the tribe of the crew's ill intent. However, one member of the tribe, Sandra, frees the men from their cell.

The men follow her recommended escape route, but encounter giant bison, prehistoric creatures and flesh eating plants. Realizing their chance for survival are slim, the return to the Amazon's camp. Upon their attempted return, they are attacked by a giant armadillo (a Glyptodont), but the Amazonian tribe comes to the rescue. Tribe members Myra, Valdra, Tennus and Cleo reveal that the crews release was not a helpful act, but that Sandra had hoped the indigenous animals and plants would dispose of the men.

The Neanderthals attack killing Ed, and the remainder aircrew use their guns to drive them away. Steve recommends the Benny and Andy leave the island in the raft while he takes the tribe to their temple mountain which can be better defended. Benny and Andy refuse to leave Steve knowing the Neanderthals are preparing for another attack and little ammunition remain.

The temple mountain is actually a volcano, which erupts, killing Benny, Andy and the tribe. Steve makes barely makes it to the life raft.

Despite giving Holloway a truth serum, the military officers at the hospital find the story incredulous, but testing of a medallion Sandra gave Steve proves it to be of Druid origin.^[3]

Cast[]

• Mikel Conrad as Steve Holloway
• Doris Merrick as Sandra
• as Benny
• as Ed
• Morgan Jones as Andy
• Midge Ware as Myra
• as Valdra
• Carol Brewster as Tennus
• as Cleo (as Autumn Rice)
• Lyle Talbot as Col. Loring
• Montgomery Pittman as Prof. Warren
• as Nurse Edmunds

Production[]

Filmed in a week. Dinosaur special effects lifted from One Million BC. Volcanic eruption was stock footage.^[4]

Reception[]

In 1986, the film was featured in an episode of the Canned Film Festival.^[5] TV Guide found the film reflected its minuscule budget and short shoot time.^[6] The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction found the movie mediocre.^[4]

References[]