Underwater!
Encyclopedia
Underwater! is a 1955
adventure film
directed by John Sturges
and starring Jane Russell
and Richard Egan
.
), priest Father Cannon (Robert Keith) and Gloria (Lori Nelson
), the boat owner, go searching for sunken treasure in the Caribbean. Whilst on a dive, the party are menaced by a band of modern-day pirates who also have their eyes on treasure.
and Hawaii
, Underwater! was completed in a newly-constructed underwater tank in an RKO Radio soundstage. It was the first RKO film released in Superscope
.
For its world premiere, the film was projected on a submerged movie screen at Silver Springs
, Florida
, and the invited guests were encouraged to don aqualungs and bathing suits so that they could watch the picture while swimming.
The song "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" featured in the film became a major hit.
1955 in film
The year 1955 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* November 3 - The musical Guys and Dolls, starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra, debuts.* June 27 - The last ever Republic serial, King of the Carnival, is released....
adventure film
Adventure film
Adventure films are a genre of film.Unlike pure, low-budget action films they often use their action scenes preferably to display and explore exotic locations in an energetic way....
directed by John Sturges
John Sturges
John Eliot Sturges was an American film director. His movies include Bad Day at Black Rock , Gunfight at the O.K. Corral , The Magnificent Seven , The Great Escape and Ice Station Zebra .-Career:He started his career in Hollywood as an editor in 1932...
and starring Jane Russell
Jane Russell
Jane Russell was an American film actress and was one of Hollywood's leading sex symbols in the 1940s and 1950s....
and Richard Egan
Richard Egan (actor)
Richard Egan was an American actor. In some films he is credited as Richard Eagan.-Career:Born in San Francisco, California, Egan served in the United States Army as a judo instructor during World War II...
.
Plot synopsis
Johnny (Richard Egan) and his wife Theresa (Jane Russell), along with mercenary Dominic Quesada (Gilbert RolandGilbert Roland
Gilbert Roland was a Mexican-born American film actor.He was born Luis Antonio Dámaso de Alonso in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico and originally intended to become a bullfighter like his father. When the family moved to the United States, however, he became interested in acting when he was...
), priest Father Cannon (Robert Keith) and Gloria (Lori Nelson
Lori Nelson
Lori Nelson is an American actress born in Santa Fe, New Mexico on August 15, 1933. She began as a performer, dancing at the young age of 4, as well as winning a Little Miss America title. Many of her early auditions were unsuccessful. However, in 1952, she made it into her first role as Marjie...
), the boat owner, go searching for sunken treasure in the Caribbean. Whilst on a dive, the party are menaced by a band of modern-day pirates who also have their eyes on treasure.
Production
Partially filmed on location in MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, Underwater! was completed in a newly-constructed underwater tank in an RKO Radio soundstage. It was the first RKO film released in Superscope
Superscope
Superscope may refer to:* Superscope, an anamorphic widescreen and full screen process Also, the name of the company that developed Superscope 235: Superscope Inc., founded in 1954 by the Tushinsky Brothers....
.
For its world premiere, the film was projected on a submerged movie screen at Silver Springs
Silver Springs, Florida
Silver Springs is a U.S. populated place and spring in Marion County, Florida, just to the east of the city of Ocala. It is part of the Ocala Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, and the invited guests were encouraged to don aqualungs and bathing suits so that they could watch the picture while swimming.
The song "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" featured in the film became a major hit.
Cast
- Jane RussellJane RussellJane Russell was an American film actress and was one of Hollywood's leading sex symbols in the 1940s and 1950s....
– Theresa Gray - Richard EganRichard Egan (actor)Richard Egan was an American actor. In some films he is credited as Richard Eagan.-Career:Born in San Francisco, California, Egan served in the United States Army as a judo instructor during World War II...
– Johnny Grey - Gilbert RolandGilbert RolandGilbert Roland was a Mexican-born American film actor.He was born Luis Antonio Dámaso de Alonso in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico and originally intended to become a bullfighter like his father. When the family moved to the United States, however, he became interested in acting when he was...
– Dominic Quesada - Lori NelsonLori NelsonLori Nelson is an American actress born in Santa Fe, New Mexico on August 15, 1933. She began as a performer, dancing at the young age of 4, as well as winning a Little Miss America title. Many of her early auditions were unsuccessful. However, in 1952, she made it into her first role as Marjie...
– Gloria - Robert Keith – Father Cannon
- Joseph CalleiaJoseph CalleiaJoseph Calleia was a Maltese born American singer, composer, screenwriter and actor, both on Broadway and in film...
– Rico Herrera - Eugene Iglesias – Miguel Vega
- Ric Roman – Jesus
- Jayne MansfieldJayne MansfieldJayne Mansfield was an American actress working both in Hollywood and on the Broadway theatre...
– girl in bikini by pool (uncredited)