Development The film was based on the novel
Atlantida by
Pierre Benoit, which had been previously filmed in 1921 and 1932. The latter version had been directed by
G.W. Pabst and produced by
Seymour Nebenzal in Berlin with German and French dialogue. In September 1946 it was announced Nebenzal bought the rights to film the novel and had signed Maria Montez to star. The film would be distributed through United Artists. Jay Dratler was originally signed to write the screenplay. A number of other writers also worked on it, including an uncredited
Douglas Sirk. Sirk says he was approached to direct the film by Rudi Joseph, who had been Pabst's assistant. Sirk turned it down claiming the Pabst version was a very good film that simply should have been re-released. He was also a worried producer: Didn't have the money to do the necessary fantastic sets. You know,
Atlantis depends on inspiring people's fantasies. The old Pabst picture had great sets, but you do need money to construct a hidden city and that kind of thing. It's no good trying to shoot this sort of film on a small budget, as Nebenzal wanted – and then he wanted me to use some of the long-shot material from the old Pabst and so on. Sirk did agree to do some uncredited work on the screenplay with
Rowland Leigh but said he was "fairly sure I didn't do any shooting" on the film. Dennis O'Keefe was then signed to support them. Filming was to start in December 1946 but was postponed because Montez needed to have surgery and was also required to star in another film for Universal.
Shooting The film started shooting on 17 February 1947 at a cost of $1.3 million under the direction of
Arthur Ripley. It was filmed at Samuel Goldwyn Studios. Aumont later wrote that "the decors were a fantastic mishmash, including
naugahyde doors which seemed to have come right out of the office of the frenetic producer rather than the mysterious palace of Antinea." He also said the filmmakers made him wear three-inch heels so that he was taller than Dennis O'Keefe, who was two-inches taller than Aumont. Aumont recalls that dromedaries were imported from a neighboring zoo. Camels were needed, however, so a second hump was attached to each of them using
rubber cement. A leopard, who acted in the film, was dosed with tranquilizers and sent to live with Aumont and Montez for a few days to become accustomed to them. "It is a picture of which I am very proud", said Montez. Aumont wrote that the film "for some mysterious reason, didn't fare too badly."
Morris Carnovsky's role was reduced since he was not available and his character was replaced with a new one played by
Henry Daniell. Maria Montez and Aumont returned and "violence and movement" was introduced, according to the producer. Neither Ripley nor Brahm were willing to take credit for the final version, so the editor
Gregg G. Tallas, who put together the two versions, was credited as the film's director. Choreography in the film was by
Lester Horton. ==Reception==