16 Fathoms Deep

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."

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).

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.

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.

Lloyd Bridges gets out of the Navy diving program and heads down to Florida to become a sponge diver in this remake of the 1934 movie.

It has a good cast, including Lon Chaney Jr., John Qualen, Arthur Lake, and Dickie Moore. As e first movie shot in Anscocolor, i has some undersea photography that would be pretty god f it weren't muddled in the print, and location shooting likewise. Although it doesn't cover the Greek culture of e sponge divers as interestingly as the older movie, Bridges covers aspects of it in his voice-over narration.

Lake also served as producer for the first and last time in his career. Hence, no doubt, the ambitious color location shooting.