Villain(s)  Sumerian albinos

Actor(s):  John Agar, Cynthia Patrick, Hugh Beaumont, Nestor Paiva

Brief Description  The Mole People is a 1956 American science-fiction horror B-movie directed by Virgil W. Vogel and produced by William Alland. It follows an archaeological expedition in Asia that discovers an isolated, subterranean civilization of Sumerian descendants and mutant, clawed humanoids beneath a mountain.

Plot:
The story follows a team of archaeologists—led by Dr. Roger Bentley (John Agar) and Dr. Jud Bellamin (Hugh Beaumont)—who are conducting excavations in Mesopotamia. After an earthquake uncovers an ancient cuneiform tablet, they discover evidence of the "Shadow Dynasty," a lost branch of the ancient Sumerian civilization. Driven by the discovery, the team climbs to the top of a remote, snow-capped mountain. While exploring, a sudden cave-in pulls one of their colleagues, Professor Lafarge (Nestor Paiva), down into a deep abyss. Bentley and Bellamin descend into the cavern via ropes to rescue him, only for a landslide to seal their exit, trapping them miles beneath the Earth's surface.

Deep underground, the surviving scientists stumble upon an unevolved, isolated subterranean kingdom ruled by a tyrannical, albino race of Sumerians who have lived in total darkness for 5,000 years. Because of their centuries under the surface, these albinos are intensely sensitive to light. The albinos are ruled by the ruthless High Priest Elinu (Alan Napier). Initially, the Sumerians view the archaeologists as a threat and intend to sacrifice them to their deity, Ishtar. However, the scientists discover a defense mechanism: their tactical flashlights. The blinding beams terrify the albinos, who mistake the flashlights for the divine, sacred "living fire" of Ishtar. Believing the archaeologists are gods or divine messengers, Elinu treats them as honored guests.

While navigating this subterranean society, Bentley and Bellamin witness the horrific treatment of the Mole People—a race of hunchbacked, clawed, bulbous-eyed mutant humanoids. The Sumerians use the Mole People as brutalized slaves to harvest mushrooms and shovel dirt. To please their new "gods," the Sumerians present Dr. Bentley with a young slave woman named Adad (Cynthia Patrick). Adad is an outcast among the albinos because she was born with normal, "tan" Caucasian skin rather than fair albino skin. Bentley treats her with kindness, and she quickly aligns with the scientists to help them escape.

The scientists' godhood is short-lived. High Priest Elinu grows suspicious and manages to capture one of their flashlights, realizing that the "divine fire" is merely a mechanical tool powered by batteries. Realizing they have been tricked, Elinu orders the execution of the humans and demands that Adad be sacrificed. However, the scientists had previously shown compassion to the mistreated Mole People. Seeing their "gods" captured, the Mole People launch a violent, massive rebellion against their Sumerian masters. Using their powerful claws, the mutants drag the Sumerian guards into the dirt. Amidst the chaos of the uprising, Bentley, Bellamin, and Adad run toward a vertical shaft leading back to the surface world. Just as they reach the top, a final earthquake strikes the mountain. Tragically, as Adad steps out into the bright open air for the first time, she is crushed by a falling column, leaving Bentley and Bellamin as the only survivors to return to civilization.