I just finished watching this movie on a local independent channel broadcast w/a weak signal,so the picture wasn't real clear,but it was worth the effort it took to watch.Really enjoyed seeing&watching the actors & their characters,especially Loyd Bridges,Arthur Lake,&Lon Chaney jr.in an adventurous story taken place in an innocent time against beautifull scenery,without all the over-done techno effects of today.If you liked this movie,you'd probably also enjoy"Beneath The Twelve Mile Reef"with Terry Moore,Gilbert Roland,& a very young Robert Wagner(released 1953).
11 Reviews
Is there a color print out there?
JohnHowardReid20 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Lon Chaney, Jr. (Dimitri), Arthur Lake (Pete), Lloyd Bridges (Douglas), Eric Feldary (Alex), Tanis Chandler (Simi), John Qualen (Athos), Ian MacDonald (Nick), Dickie Moore (George), Harry Cheshire (Miki), John Bleifer (Captain Briaeos), Grant Means (Joe), John Gonatos (Johnny), Allen Mathews (bus driver).
Director: IRVING ALLEN. Screenplay: Max Trell. Adapted by Forrest Judd. Based on the American Magazine story, "Sixteen Fathoms Under", by Eustace L. Adams. Photographed in Ansco Color by Jack Greenhalgh. Film editor: Charles Craft. Music director: Lud Gluskin. Art director: Dave Milton. Special effects: Ray Mercer. Music: Lucien Maroweck, Renee Garriguene. Production manager: Belmont S. Gottlieb. Assistant director: Charles S. Gould. Sound recording: Josh Westmoreland, Tom Lambert. Executive producer: Arthur Lake. Photographed in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Underwater sequences photographed at Rainbow Springs, Florida, and at Marineland Studios, St Augustine, Florida. Producers: James S. Burkett, Irving Allen. An Arthur Lake Production.
Copyright 25 July 1948 by Monogram Pictures Corp. New York opening at the Rialto: 6 October 1948. U.S. release: 25 July 1948. U.K. release through Pathé: 4 September 1950. No Australian theatrical release. 82 minutes.
NOTES: This re-make of the previous "Sixteen Fathoms Deep", with Lon Chaney switching roles from hero to villain, is historically important as the first motion picture to be photographed in Ansco Color. Needless to say, it has rarely, if ever, been shown in color on TV, but was repeatedly broadcast in black-and-white, even though a color print could easily have been obtained.
COMMENT: The movie was produced by Arthur Lake, taking time out from his domestic duties as Dagwood Bumstead.
It might well be asked, "What does an executive producer do?" Needless to say, his duties and responsibilities varies from movie to movie, but in this particular case we know what Lake did: He bankrolled the production! And he cast himself in a major role not only because he wanted to throw off the Dagwood image, but to alert Hollywood producers to the fact that he could play other roles than Dagwood Bumstead!
Although the film was shot in color, I have never seen a color print. It was broadcast on my local TV station in black-and-white!
Director: IRVING ALLEN. Screenplay: Max Trell. Adapted by Forrest Judd. Based on the American Magazine story, "Sixteen Fathoms Under", by Eustace L. Adams. Photographed in Ansco Color by Jack Greenhalgh. Film editor: Charles Craft. Music director: Lud Gluskin. Art director: Dave Milton. Special effects: Ray Mercer. Music: Lucien Maroweck, Renee Garriguene. Production manager: Belmont S. Gottlieb. Assistant director: Charles S. Gould. Sound recording: Josh Westmoreland, Tom Lambert. Executive producer: Arthur Lake. Photographed in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Underwater sequences photographed at Rainbow Springs, Florida, and at Marineland Studios, St Augustine, Florida. Producers: James S. Burkett, Irving Allen. An Arthur Lake Production.
Copyright 25 July 1948 by Monogram Pictures Corp. New York opening at the Rialto: 6 October 1948. U.S. release: 25 July 1948. U.K. release through Pathé: 4 September 1950. No Australian theatrical release. 82 minutes.
NOTES: This re-make of the previous "Sixteen Fathoms Deep", with Lon Chaney switching roles from hero to villain, is historically important as the first motion picture to be photographed in Ansco Color. Needless to say, it has rarely, if ever, been shown in color on TV, but was repeatedly broadcast in black-and-white, even though a color print could easily have been obtained.
COMMENT: The movie was produced by Arthur Lake, taking time out from his domestic duties as Dagwood Bumstead.
It might well be asked, "What does an executive producer do?" Needless to say, his duties and responsibilities varies from movie to movie, but in this particular case we know what Lake did: He bankrolled the production! And he cast himself in a major role not only because he wanted to throw off the Dagwood image, but to alert Hollywood producers to the fact that he could play other roles than Dagwood Bumstead!
Although the film was shot in color, I have never seen a color print. It was broadcast on my local TV station in black-and-white!
Of greater interest to folks in the Tampa Bay area as well as for divers.
planktonrules24 June 2012
This film would appeal more to me than the average person. First, it's set in Tarpon Springs--a small town about 45 minutes from where I live. I've visited it several times, and it's a nice place for a day trip. It's also interesting to see what the town used to be like--before it became a tourism mecca. Second, it's about sponge divers--and I love scuba diving and enjoyed seeing the underwater shots (the fish actually appeared to be Florida fish--not some fish from a Hollywood aquarium).
"16 Fathoms Deep" is an odd little film, as it's about a group of guys working in the sponge diving industry. I really wish that the Netflix copy had been in color (it was originally a color film)--it would have been great to see the underwater shots in their vivid glory. Lloyd Bridges has recently mustered out of the US Navy and is looking for a job. Since he's an experienced diver, he travels to Tarpon Springs. However, he has some trouble getting hired on by the local big-shot (Lon Chaney, Jr.). But, when a young entrepreneur buys his own boat, he needs divers and Bridges is hired. Along for the ride is an inexplicable character--a bumbling Dagwood-like fellow played by Arthur Lake (who is also the film's producer). What none of them knows is that one of the crew is evil...pure evil. Or, at least he's looking to sabotage the boat. But why?! The film is shot semi-documentary in style. This means that Bridges narrated large portions of the film. Considering much of this was during the underwater scenes, it made sense. But in addition, the film takes a lot of time explaining about sponge diving--much like a documentary. It's really odd, then, that Arthur Lake is in the movie. His bumbling comic relief is incongruous with the rest of the film and he was not particularly good in the movie. Also, the way the death was handled as well as the unraveling of the mystery was poorly handled--it all happened too quickly and too matter-of-fact (long-time character actor John Qualen was NOT good in this role--he was too emotionally constricted). It should have been slower and more deliberate and seemed rushed. Overall, it's a film with a lot of problems but one I found worth my time--perhaps you will find it that way, too.
A few observations:
In the brief scene about Epiphany you see the young men diving along the lagoon to retrieve the cross tossed in by the Patriarch. This practice STILL occurs each year and it's a really big event (bringing in thousands of spectators). The only big difference is that the water isn't nearly so clear today--the result of a HUGE building boom in the Tampa Bay area over the last 60 years.
After this film, Bridges went on to star in the "Sea Hunt" TV series. You wonder if this movie led to Bridges interest in diving and the sea.
The young man in the film is played by Dickie Moore. Moore has over a hundred credits and was one of Hal Roach's Little Rascals--and a VERY popular child actor in the 30s (because he was so darn cute and talented).
If you visit the Tampa Bay area, try going to Tarpon Springs for a day. It's full of nice shops, LOTS of Greek food and you can either take a fishing trip or watch sponge divers. Not a bad little tourist trap that your family would probably enjoy.
"16 Fathoms Deep" is an odd little film, as it's about a group of guys working in the sponge diving industry. I really wish that the Netflix copy had been in color (it was originally a color film)--it would have been great to see the underwater shots in their vivid glory. Lloyd Bridges has recently mustered out of the US Navy and is looking for a job. Since he's an experienced diver, he travels to Tarpon Springs. However, he has some trouble getting hired on by the local big-shot (Lon Chaney, Jr.). But, when a young entrepreneur buys his own boat, he needs divers and Bridges is hired. Along for the ride is an inexplicable character--a bumbling Dagwood-like fellow played by Arthur Lake (who is also the film's producer). What none of them knows is that one of the crew is evil...pure evil. Or, at least he's looking to sabotage the boat. But why?! The film is shot semi-documentary in style. This means that Bridges narrated large portions of the film. Considering much of this was during the underwater scenes, it made sense. But in addition, the film takes a lot of time explaining about sponge diving--much like a documentary. It's really odd, then, that Arthur Lake is in the movie. His bumbling comic relief is incongruous with the rest of the film and he was not particularly good in the movie. Also, the way the death was handled as well as the unraveling of the mystery was poorly handled--it all happened too quickly and too matter-of-fact (long-time character actor John Qualen was NOT good in this role--he was too emotionally constricted). It should have been slower and more deliberate and seemed rushed. Overall, it's a film with a lot of problems but one I found worth my time--perhaps you will find it that way, too.
A few observations:
In the brief scene about Epiphany you see the young men diving along the lagoon to retrieve the cross tossed in by the Patriarch. This practice STILL occurs each year and it's a really big event (bringing in thousands of spectators). The only big difference is that the water isn't nearly so clear today--the result of a HUGE building boom in the Tampa Bay area over the last 60 years.
After this film, Bridges went on to star in the "Sea Hunt" TV series. You wonder if this movie led to Bridges interest in diving and the sea.
The young man in the film is played by Dickie Moore. Moore has over a hundred credits and was one of Hal Roach's Little Rascals--and a VERY popular child actor in the 30s (because he was so darn cute and talented).
If you visit the Tampa Bay area, try going to Tarpon Springs for a day. It's full of nice shops, LOTS of Greek food and you can either take a fishing trip or watch sponge divers. Not a bad little tourist trap that your family would probably enjoy.
First Movie
dave-black-152-9424345 September 2011
I grew up in Tarpon Springs, the small sponge & fishing village on the west coast of Florida where this was filmed. At 8 years old I watched the filming of 16 Fathoms Deep from the seat of my JC Higgins bicycle. My eyes were opened to the secrets of the movies as I watched the sponge hook being artistically planted in Lon Chaney's back and the 'blood' painted on between scenes. My mom was one of the extras in the sponge auction scenes. I saw and recognized Chick Young at a local coffee shop, where he sketched an impromptu 'Dagwood' on one of the restaurant's walls. Anyway, I saw this film when it was released and have not been able to see or locate a copy since. If I could find it again, it would sure bring back memories of simpler time. There does not seem to be many Ansco Color prints remaining - guess they just didn't hold up.
Remake of 1933 original
kevinolzak18 August 2012
1948's "16 Fathoms Deep" is a remake of a 1933 title of the same name, from the same poverty row Monogram studios, but using the number 16 instead of the original spelling. Plotwise it's virtually identical, with the youthful hero (Eric Feldary) buying his first vessel on loan from the local villain (Lon Chaney), racing against time to make the annual auction to pay off the debt, unaware of the presence of a saboteur (Ian MacDonald) aboard. Among the differences are two additional characters, navy man Lloyd Bridges and comic relief cook Arthur Lake (channeling Jerry Lewis), who dives for a single sponge. The 1933 original was an exciting, fast paced 57 minutes with no unnecessary footage, while this version features 20 additional minutes of drawn out padding and little drama. The location footage of Tarpon Springs Florida is the most noteworthy aspect of this production, produced, oddly enough, by actor Arthur Lake himself (prominently advertised as being in Ansco Color, but today available only in black and white). Lon Chaney has the distinction of playing the villain here, in a much smaller role than his top billing would suggest, after playing the second billed hero in the original. Narrating from beginning to end is Lloyd Bridges, reunited with Chaney after 1945's "Strange Confession," in what appears to be a dry run for his upcoming 1950s TV series SEA HUNT. Ian MacDonald went on to play Frank Miller in Chaney's 1952 "High Noon," before appearing in Lon's final Universal feature, 1958's "Money, Women and Guns."
16 fathoms is bad enough at 40 you get smashed like a mashed potato
kapelusznik1829 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** Excellent underwater photography in the waters off Tarpon Springs Florida not in an giant fish tank or with stock footage like you would have expected in a movie like this. With the future "Sea Hunt" star Lloyd Bridges as ex-navy diver Ray Douglas doing the narrating as well as diving in the movie that makes it more then worth watching. There's also the former "Our Gang Comedy" child star Dicky Moore in what I think is his second adult role, after playing a deft mute in the movie "Out of the Past", as young 22 year old sponge diver George Athos. It's George who tragically dies when he gets his foot caught in a giant clam while trying to rescue his father Capt. Athos, John Qualen, who was trapped underwater. That's when his air hose was cut by Nick,Ian McDonald, who was under orders to do it by his boss the head of the sponge exchange Mr. Demitri, Lon Cheney Jr, in order to keep Alex's, Eric Feldary,sponge boat from making it to shore for the important sponge auction. That would have Alex pay off Mr. Demitri the money that he owes him.
It was in fact Mr. Demitri the president of the Tarpon Springs Sponge Exchange who planned to sabotage Alex's boat to both put him out of business and at the same time steal his girl Simi,Tanis Chandler, whom despite promising her the world -including all the undersea sponges that she can handle- wanted to have nothing at all to do with him. Like she told a dejected and jealous Mr. Dimitri her heart as well as soul belonged to Capt. Alex! This had Mr. Dimitri go haywire in doing everything he could in destroying Alex's life as well as sponge boat together with his entire crew to the point of sinking it with all on board to achieve his aims.
****SPOILERS**** It's after George drowned trying to save his dad that the person who was responsible for it Nick in seeing he now has nothing to lose-but his life- confessed, after being belted by Alex, to sabotaging George's father's, Capt Athos, lifeline or air hose. Thus having his entire crew sail back to shore to confront Mr.Dimitri for what he's done. That just in time to save Alex's sponge boat that if he didn't come back in time with a load of sea sponges would be taken from him by Mr.Dimitri . Seeing the writing on the wall, and facing life behind bars, Mr. Dimitri makes a run for it with Alex and his fellow sponge divers hot on his tail. In a knock down drag out fight on the docks Mr. Dimitri gets everything that's coming to him ending up with a back scratch-er stuck in his back as he soon ended up, like they say in Mafia talk, sleeping with the fishes.
It was in fact Mr. Demitri the president of the Tarpon Springs Sponge Exchange who planned to sabotage Alex's boat to both put him out of business and at the same time steal his girl Simi,Tanis Chandler, whom despite promising her the world -including all the undersea sponges that she can handle- wanted to have nothing at all to do with him. Like she told a dejected and jealous Mr. Dimitri her heart as well as soul belonged to Capt. Alex! This had Mr. Dimitri go haywire in doing everything he could in destroying Alex's life as well as sponge boat together with his entire crew to the point of sinking it with all on board to achieve his aims.
****SPOILERS**** It's after George drowned trying to save his dad that the person who was responsible for it Nick in seeing he now has nothing to lose-but his life- confessed, after being belted by Alex, to sabotaging George's father's, Capt Athos, lifeline or air hose. Thus having his entire crew sail back to shore to confront Mr.Dimitri for what he's done. That just in time to save Alex's sponge boat that if he didn't come back in time with a load of sea sponges would be taken from him by Mr.Dimitri . Seeing the writing on the wall, and facing life behind bars, Mr. Dimitri makes a run for it with Alex and his fellow sponge divers hot on his tail. In a knock down drag out fight on the docks Mr. Dimitri gets everything that's coming to him ending up with a back scratch-er stuck in his back as he soon ended up, like they say in Mafia talk, sleeping with the fishes.
Glorious Anscocolor but no Cinemascope or Stereophonic Sound
mark.waltz25 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I'm being very facicious over the presence of Anscocolor which compared to the big movie musicals or epics of the time looks very faded and shallow. In a sense, it is perfect for the blue seas where this takes place because it did remind me of the blurriness of what is below the water level when you look at it while standing in it. The film stars and is heavily narrated by Lloyd Bridges, obviously in heaven as he gets to play a deep sea diver long before he did on TV, and on the surface, appears to be an intriguing adventure.
Unfortunately, the film as a whole is as emotionally blurry as the photography is, with little going on other than potential underwater dangers. We get to see porpoises and sea turtles and sharks, and get to understand that even one of the giant turtles can cause damage to a man in one of those old-fashioned metal diving suits if it breaks the air hose. The film is about the diving for valuable sponges, and I came out knowing a bit more about sea life than I did before.
A pretty impressive supporting cast surrounds bridges, including Lon Chaney Jr. who starred in the first version of this film 14 years before, John Qualen who has lost his boat after a run-in with boss Chaney, Dickie Moore as his son eager to follow in his father's footsteps, and towards the end of his 12 years as Dagwood Bumstead, Arthur Lake, squeaky voiced and impish. Though this is pretty impressive as a rare color film for Monogram, it hasn't aged well, but if you can get past the blurriness of the poor prints, you might find something to enjoy.
Unfortunately, the film as a whole is as emotionally blurry as the photography is, with little going on other than potential underwater dangers. We get to see porpoises and sea turtles and sharks, and get to understand that even one of the giant turtles can cause damage to a man in one of those old-fashioned metal diving suits if it breaks the air hose. The film is about the diving for valuable sponges, and I came out knowing a bit more about sea life than I did before.
A pretty impressive supporting cast surrounds bridges, including Lon Chaney Jr. who starred in the first version of this film 14 years before, John Qualen who has lost his boat after a run-in with boss Chaney, Dickie Moore as his son eager to follow in his father's footsteps, and towards the end of his 12 years as Dagwood Bumstead, Arthur Lake, squeaky voiced and impish. Though this is pretty impressive as a rare color film for Monogram, it hasn't aged well, but if you can get past the blurriness of the poor prints, you might find something to enjoy.
Positive
johnbono20 October 2002
Warning: Spoilers
I saw this movie when I was a kid and just having recently visited Tarpon Springs Florida, it brought back memories of the film. I remember two things that really stand out in my memory, why I don't know, but one was Arthur Lake being in the movie and the death of Lon Chaney Jr during a fight on the docks by landing on a sponge rake. I would love to be able to see this movie again but it doesn't seem to be available anywhere. I wish it was.
16 phantoms deep. I absolutely loved this movie
kasel117 December 2014
When I was a kid, I would come home and this movie would be on. I loved every minute of it. But here's the worst thing. As life would have it, I wound up buying a house just a couple of miles from Tarpon Springs, sponge capital of the world. Yet no one mentions this movie. I was So disappointed. The scene with Lon Chaney Jr. falling on the sponge rake is forever etched in my memory. I think tomorrow, I'll go down to the sponge docks and demand they show this movie!!!! This movie remains one of my favorites. And I just don't understand why it is not mentioned more often. I've asked the people in Tarpon Springs, but they don't seem to know what I'm talking about. Come on, people, the sponge capital of the world should know and publicize this movie.
Too Much Narration, Not Enough Drama
Michael_Elliott20 July 2012
16 Fathoms Deep (1948)
** (out of 4)
Lloyd Bridges play a man who gets out of the Navy and heads to Florida to get a job on a sponge boat but he's turned down by the biggest owner (Lon Chaney, Jr.) in the business. he eventually gets a job on-board a new captain's (Arthur Lake) boat and soon they head out to sea to try to do some good fishing so that they can keep the boat. 16 FATHOMS DEEP is a remake of a 1934 film and it's clear that director Irving Allen didn't have much money because there's very little going on here. The biggest problem is that the entire film is rather flat because there's never any real adventure or drama because the majority of the film is nothing but narration. I'm not sure what Bridges was paid but I'd say he would have gotten much more for a narration credit than his actual acting credit. He really isn't given too much to do in regards to acting but he does narrate throughout the entire film and this really just adds a cheapness to the entire picture. Instead of the filmmakers trying to build up tension by telling a story, instead we just get to see cheap scenes played out while the narrator tries to give the emotion and feeling of a scene. This might work when you're reading a book out loud but there's no getting around the fact that this is a movie and the visuals are quite important and director Irving simply didn't add anything to make this feel like a real movie. If he was going to take this approach of explaining everything then perhaps he should have just made a documentary on the subject because it probably would have been better. Again, performance wise Bridges really isn't given anything to do so you can't judge him on this. His narration is pretty good through. Lake is good as the new captain but he too isn't really given enough. Chaney, Jr., who appeared in the earlier film, steals the film as the bad guy but sadly he isn't on screen enough to make a major impact. 16 FATHOMS DEEP features some nice underwater stuff but there's simply not enough going on here to make it worth viewing by anyone other than film buffs.
** (out of 4)
Lloyd Bridges play a man who gets out of the Navy and heads to Florida to get a job on a sponge boat but he's turned down by the biggest owner (Lon Chaney, Jr.) in the business. he eventually gets a job on-board a new captain's (Arthur Lake) boat and soon they head out to sea to try to do some good fishing so that they can keep the boat. 16 FATHOMS DEEP is a remake of a 1934 film and it's clear that director Irving Allen didn't have much money because there's very little going on here. The biggest problem is that the entire film is rather flat because there's never any real adventure or drama because the majority of the film is nothing but narration. I'm not sure what Bridges was paid but I'd say he would have gotten much more for a narration credit than his actual acting credit. He really isn't given too much to do in regards to acting but he does narrate throughout the entire film and this really just adds a cheapness to the entire picture. Instead of the filmmakers trying to build up tension by telling a story, instead we just get to see cheap scenes played out while the narrator tries to give the emotion and feeling of a scene. This might work when you're reading a book out loud but there's no getting around the fact that this is a movie and the visuals are quite important and director Irving simply didn't add anything to make this feel like a real movie. If he was going to take this approach of explaining everything then perhaps he should have just made a documentary on the subject because it probably would have been better. Again, performance wise Bridges really isn't given anything to do so you can't judge him on this. His narration is pretty good through. Lake is good as the new captain but he too isn't really given enough. Chaney, Jr., who appeared in the earlier film, steals the film as the bad guy but sadly he isn't on screen enough to make a major impact. 16 FATHOMS DEEP features some nice underwater stuff but there's simply not enough going on here to make it worth viewing by anyone other than film buffs.
Remake is Equal to the Original
Rainey-Dawn19 February 2016
Watching films I am actually between the two: '34 original and the '48 remake - Not sure which version I prefer. The two films are very much a like but there are differences - most notably the ending. Out of the two endings I actually prefer the '48 ending because Mr. Demitri (Lon Chaney) gets it in the end. We did not get the pleasure of watching the towns people get their revenge in the '34.
I did like the narration in this film... it was interesting to hear (captivating) but I liked the action of the '34 a lot better. I also liked the romance in the '34 between Joe Bethel and Rosita.. it played a bigger role in the '34 where as the '48 had less focus on a fictional romance.
Both films are worth watching - they are different in quite a few ways but it has the same story plot.
Also I liked the role switch for Chaney.
8.5/10
I did like the narration in this film... it was interesting to hear (captivating) but I liked the action of the '34 a lot better. I also liked the romance in the '34 between Joe Bethel and Rosita.. it played a bigger role in the '34 where as the '48 had less focus on a fictional romance.
Both films are worth watching - they are different in quite a few ways but it has the same story plot.
Also I liked the role switch for Chaney.
8.5/10
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