Below the Surface
About Below the Surface
Martin Flint and his son Paul, deep-sea divers, are called heroes after they save twenty men in a sunken submarine. The confidence man James Arnold asks them to front a fake plan to raise treasure from a wreck. Martin refuses. Paul accepts, drawn by Arnold's partner Edna Gordon, and is tricked into marrying her. The dive gives him the bends. He comes home and finds she has left. The doctor tells Martin that another shock could kill Paul, so Martin says he will bring Edna back.
Cast & crew
More about Below the Surface
Irvin Willat directed. Luther Reed wrote the story and E. Magnus Ingleton the scenario. Thomas H. Ince produced it. J. O. Taylor photographed it. Paramount released it in June 1920. Wikipedia gives 60 minutes, six reels, 6,220 feet. Hobart Bosworth and Grace Darmond star. A print and outtakes are at the Library of Congress, and the film has been issued on DVD.
Themes
Making
Willat shot the diving story for Ince, and the Library of Congress kept outtakes as well as the print.
Look
J. O. Taylor photographed the submarine rescue and the later treasure dive.
Preservation
A print and outtakes are at the Library of Congress. Issued on DVD.
Notes
- The reputation that attracts Arnold is the submarine rescue.
- Paul takes the job his father turned down.
- The bends come from the treasure dive, and the wife is already gone when he gets home.
- A circulating copy runs 1 hour and 24 minutes.
Scenes
- They bring twenty men up from the submarine.
- Martin promises the sick son that Edna is coming back.
