UNDERWATER!
(1955)
Starring
Jane Russell, Richard Egan, Gilbert Roland, Lori Nelson, Robert
Keith, Joseph Calleia. Directed by John Sturges. (99 min)
ON
BLU-RAY FROM
Review
by Mr. Paws😼
When
I was a kid, Jane Russell was simply the Playtex bra lady on TV who
looked like my sixth grade music teacher. Then I saw The Outlaw
years later and, uh...wow. Turned out Ms. Russell didn’t
always look like my music teacher and I could suddenly appreciate
why she became the bra lady.
Ol’
Howard Hughes appreciated her, too (or at least part of her).
Russell was prominently featured and promoted in a lot of films he
produced, even if she wasn’t always essential to the plot, such as
Underwater! The actual star is Richard Egan as Johnny Gray, a diver looking for a huge treasure locked in the hull of a sunken
ship, which is precariously resting on the edge of a ravine. Along with
mercenary buddy Dominic (Gilbert Roland), they try to get the gold
off the ship while thwarting a boat of suspicious locals who appear
to want to cut-in on the action.
I
say ‘appear’ because these three fishermen seem merely curious,
not menacing, nor do they actually threaten our treasure hunters.
Still, Johnny & Dominic invite them on-board for drinks before
beating their asses and leaving them stranded on a nearly island. The
fishermen return later with guns, understandably pissed. Considering
he’s the protagonist, Johnny’s actually kind-of a dick throughout
most of the movie.
 |
| A little taste o' Howard. |
But
let’s not get hung up on such trifles as the plot (which is
wafer-thin, anyway). Underwater! was obviously intended to be
looked at, not scrutinized. As such, the film is kinda fun, with
impressive underwater photography, decent special effects and
handsome production design. Stylistically, the film could have been
an inspiration for 1977’s The Deep, another underwater action film that capitalized on the physical assets of its female star.
Speaking
of which, Russell provides plenty of window dressing as Johnny’s
wife, Theresa (co-star Lori Nelson’s no slouch, either). While
Underwater! isn’t quite as voyeuristic as The Outlaw,
director John Sturges provides ample moments featuring Jane’s fine
form in a variety of swimwear, both in and out of the water
(undoubtedly at Hughes’ insistence). Who cares if her character
only exists to be put in peril, or that high-heels are the worst
possible choice for boating shoes?
While
I’m a big fan of John Sturges, it’s obvious he’s a
director-for-hire here. Underwater! certainly isn’t a high
point in the careers of anyone else involved, either. Still, it’s
an enjoyably lightweight, undemanding adventure film with a bit more to
offer than just Jane and her two friends.
KITTY CONSENSUS:
NOT BAD. LIKE CAT CHOW.
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