An advanced submarine encounters all kinds of peril deep in the ocean during the course of undertaking a daring rescue operation to save three men trapped in an underwater lab in the wake of an earthquake.
Director Daniel Petrie lets the potentially exciting premise plod along at a sluggish pace and crucially fails to generate much in the way of either tension or excitement. Moreover, Jack DeWitt's bland by-the-numbers script doesn't offer much in the way of gripping drama or rousing events. While Harry Markin's sharp widescreen cinematography provides a wealth of breathtaking underwater photography and fascinating shots of a wide assortment of exotic sea creatures, the fumbling attempts to make ordinary fish, crabs, and eels come across as giant fearsome beasts proves to be pretty laughable. The game cast do their best with the mediocre material: Ben Gazzara as the gruff Commander Adrian Blake, Walter Pidgeon as the amiable Dr. Samuel Andrews, Ernest Borgnine as jolly diver Don MacKay, Yvette Mimieux as the concerned Dr. Leah Jansen, and Donnelly Rhodes as the stalwart Bob Cousins. Kudos are also in order for Lalo Schifrin's lush orchestral score. An acceptable diversion.
Director Daniel Petrie lets the potentially exciting premise plod along at a sluggish pace and crucially fails to generate much in the way of either tension or excitement. Moreover, Jack DeWitt's bland by-the-numbers script doesn't offer much in the way of gripping drama or rousing events. While Harry Markin's sharp widescreen cinematography provides a wealth of breathtaking underwater photography and fascinating shots of a wide assortment of exotic sea creatures, the fumbling attempts to make ordinary fish, crabs, and eels come across as giant fearsome beasts proves to be pretty laughable. The game cast do their best with the mediocre material: Ben Gazzara as the gruff Commander Adrian Blake, Walter Pidgeon as the amiable Dr. Samuel Andrews, Ernest Borgnine as jolly diver Don MacKay, Yvette Mimieux as the concerned Dr. Leah Jansen, and Donnelly Rhodes as the stalwart Bob Cousins. Kudos are also in order for Lalo Schifrin's lush orchestral score. An acceptable diversion.