The Phantom Empire (1935)

In the captivating saga of "The Phantom Empire" (1935), cowboy crooner Gene Autry stumbles upon a clandestine subterranean civilization, Murania, concealed 25,000 feet beneath his bustling Radio Ranch. Once a part of the ancient continent of Mu which tragically vanished beneath the ocean, the inhabitants of Murania have managed to survive, constructing a high-tech society armed with advanced weaponry and television. In the opening act, Professor Beetson and his team arrive at Radio Ranch, their eyes set upon the hidden city and its abundant radium reserves. With the allure of fortune, they coax Gene into aiding their search for the secret entrance to Murania. However, their excavation does not go unnoticed. The vigilant Muranian Queen, feeling threatened, dispatches her soldiers to eliminate Gene. As the narrative unfolds, Gene finds himself wrongfully accused of murder by Beetson, who desires the ranch deserted for his private investigation. Simultaneously, beneath the surface, a revolution brews in Murania as Lord Argo plots to overthrow the Queen. To make matters worse, Gene is caught in a cat-and-mouse chase with the Sheriff, while struggling to maintain his radio contract and the ranch. In a series of thrilling adventures, Gene navigates the perilous depths of Murania, faces death sentences, prevents radium bombs from wreaking havoc on the surface, and even attempts to thwart a revolution. All the while, he's trying to uphold his commitment to his regular radio show. When Gene's friends, Frankie and Betsy, are captured and brought to Murania, they manage to escape and reveal the secret entrance to the surface, only to face potential electrocution. Amidst the chaos, Gene exposes Argo's treachery to the Queen, sparking a fierce rebellion that leads to the Queen's capture and the imminent collapse of Murania. In the climactic finale, Gene races against time to rescue the Queen, subdue the rebellion, and escape the doomed city, all while facing a murder charge back on the surface. "The Phantom Empire" weaves a tale of ancient civilizations, advanced technology, and cowboy adventures with an underlying theme of greed, power, and survival.

The Phantom Empire is an action movie featuring Gene Autry and directed by B. Reeves Eason.

The Phantom Empire is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Public Domain Movies and Tubi TV and it's also available on Classix.

It is also possible to buy The Phantom Empire on Vudu.