At the Earth's Core is a 1976 British-American fantasy-science fiction film produced by Britain's Amicus Productions. The film was directed by Kevin Connor and stars Doug McClure, Peter Cushing and Caroline Munro. It was filmed in Technicolor, and is based on the 1914 fantasy novel At the Earth's Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the first book of his Pellucidar series, in token of which the film is also known as Edgar Rice Burroughs' At the Earth's Core. The original music score was composed by Mike Vickers. Plot Dr. Abner Perry (Peter Cushing), a British Victorian scientist, and his US financier David Innes (Doug McClure) make a test run of their Iron Mole drilling machine in a Welsh mountain, but end up in a strange underground labyrinth ruled by a species of giant telepathic flying reptiles, the Mahars (Pterodactyls with parrot-like beaks), and full of prehistoric beasts and cavemen. They are captured by the Mahars, who keep primitive humans as their slaves through mind control. David falls for the beautiful slave girl Princess Dia (Caroline Munro) but when she is chosen as a sacrificial victim in the Mahar city, David and Perry must rally the surviving human slaves to rebel and not only save her but also win their freedom. Cast Doug McClure as David Innes Peter Cushing as Dr. Abner Perry Caroline Munro as Princess Dia Cy Grant as Ra Godfrey James as Ghak the Hairy One Sean Lynch as Hoojah Keith Barron as Dowsett Helen Gill as Maisie Anthony Verner as Gadsby Robert Gillespie as Photographer Michael Crane as Jubal Bobby Parr as Sagoth Chief Andee Cromarty as Girl Slave Production The film was made following the success of The Land That Time Forgot. Kevin Connor later recalled, "we tried to get the beasts bigger so as to interact better with the actors – more one on one. We had a somewhat bigger budget thanks to the success of ‘Land.’ The beasts were specially designed so that small stunt guys could work inside the suits in a crouched position and on all-fours. Needless to say it was very cramped and the stunt guys had to take frequent breathers. Some worked better than others – but we were experimenting and trying something different." Release The film premiered at the Marble Arch Odeon in London on 15 July 1976. Reception The film was popular, becoming the 18th most profitable British film