Main Cast: Jane Russell, Gilbert Roland, Richard Egan, Lori Nelson, Robert Keith
Release Year: 1955
Country: US
Run Time: 99 minutes
Plot
Both Jane Russell and her uncredited stunt double look great in skimpy swimwear throughout the Technicolor and SuperScope romantic adventure Underwater. Ms. Russell is cast as the wife of fortune-chasing Richard Egan, who takes her along to the Caribbean on a treasure hunt. The couple is accompanied by mercenary Gilbert Roland, priest Robert Keith, and Egan's blonde-doxy secretary Lori Nelson. While exploring the depths in search of untold riches, the little party is menaced by a band of modern-day pirates, led by Joseph Calleila. Partially filmed on location in Mexico, Underwater was completed in a newly-constructed underwater tank in an RKO Radio soundstage. For its world premiere, Underwater was projected on a submerged movie screen at Silver Springs Florida, and the invited guests were encouraged to don aqualungs and bathing uits so that they could watch the picture while swimming! A similar publicity ploy was utilized nine years later at Marineland of the Pacific for the premiere of The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1955). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Joseph Calleia - Rico; Eugene Iglesias - Miguel; Ric Roman - Jesus; Dan Bernaducci - Waiter; Jayne Mansfield; Robert Polo - Deck Hand; James Russell - Cab Driver; Max Wagner - Bartender
Johnny (Richard Egan) and his wife Theresa (Jane Russell), along with mercenary Dominic Quesada (Gilbert Roland), 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.
Production
Partially filmed on location in Mexico 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.[1]
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.
