Underwater! (1955)

Set in the Caribbean, a group of people band together in search of a 17th century sunken ship with a cargo of gold. They are a struggling couple (Jane Russell, Richard Egan) barely making a living, a mercenary (Gilbert Roland), the yacht's owner (Lori Nelson) and a priest (Robert Keith). Directed by John Sturges (BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK), this adventure film was sold on Jane Russell's physical attributes and its undersea cinematography (shot in SuperScope). And truth to tell, those are the best things about the film. Narratively speaking, it's a rather simplistic adventure yarn without much going for it except its likable cast and that gorgeous cinematography courtesy of Harry J. Wild (GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES) that includes location filming in Hawaii and Mexico. That undersea lensing was impressive for its day though it has since been rendered commonplace in the ensuing years with films like THUNDERBALL and THE DEEP. As a Jane Russell fan, I enjoyed it though others may find it on the dull side. With Joseph Calleia and Eugene Iglesias.