Acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Akira Iriyie’s 1927 silent movie, "Across the Pacific" is a cinematic masterpiece that rests within the genre of science fiction, and is based on a short story by Japan’s first science fiction writer, “Tachibana Tomonori”. The film was also the first Japanese movie to be released in the United States.
The story follows the adventures of three university students and their professor, who are investigating the mysterious disappearance of several ships in the Pacific Ocean. While looking for clues in a submersible, they discover an enormous whale-like creature. It is soon revealed that the creature is really a submarine created by the professor’s brother, a brilliant scientist and inventor.
Inside the professor’s brother’s submarine, the students and professor discover a new world. They find that the area is ruled by a group of scientists who have developed a form of living energy which they use to control their subjects. The professor and his students are quickly captured by the scientists, and they soon realize that they must escape if they ever hope to return home.
The professor and his companions eventually manage to escape and they travel back to Japan. Along their journey, they meet various creatures, some of them friendly and some of them hostile. They soon learn that the scientists’ plan was to use the energy to conquer the world, and the professor’s brother stands in their way.
Having seen enough, the professor and his companions team up with a forest dweller and his robot to fight the scientists. With the help of the robot, they manage to make quick work of their enemies and save the day. Back home, the professor discovers that his brother, who had been presumed dead, is in fact still alive and has been leading the resistance against the scientists.
Across the Pacific is a film which is just as powerful today as it was when it first came out. It combines the thrills of a classic sci-fi movie with the thought-provoking themes of a mature drama. It is a must-see film for any fan of classic cinema, and one which will be remembered for generations to come.
