Les Grands Fonds

Peter Yates directed this beautiful escape from reality adventure in which our protagonists Nick Nolte and Jacqueline Bissete team up with the silver screen legend Robert Shaw to find a sunken treasure off the beaches of Bermuda. Unfortunately they encounter competition who would go at great lengths to get what they want - even if it means murder - unless our protagonists' intrepid assistant (Robert Shaw) uses his valuable knowledge to keep the tables turned and remain one step ahead.

This film is a delight from start to finish. From the opening sequences of clearing clouds and Bermuda coming into focus and the astonishing underwater photograpy to the action packed adventurous finally, you simply can not take your eyes off the screen. The music from the one and only John Barry (who bought you the unforgettable themes from James Bond and Born Free) is mesmerizing and suits the picture elegantly. The cinematography is beautiful and gives you a lust for the holiday destination. Most importantly, the plot (written by the man who bought you 'JAWS') is original and riveting and high in adventure - I truly recommend this to all adventure fans.

Cast selection was genius. At the time, Nick Nolte was a new face to the silver screen and brought an unforgettable performance as an obsessed husband clearly hypnotized by the idea of Gold. Jacqueline Bissete is, well, how can I put this? - I would have liked to have been there with her on her holiday (gosh is she beautiful or what?). It was Robert Shaw I believe, who brought the most to the film. He is witty, ignorant, a know-it-all and a man who isn't afraid of anything and this is what people come to see adventure films for. I can't imagine anybody else nailing the role like he has. Pure brilliance from a great British actor.

Now how does a film with an interesting, ORIGINAL plot, great cast (including a legend), calm and mesmerizing music, golden cinematography and a great 'quotable' screenplay come to such underrated status is beyond Bermuda's Triangle. The current rating that IMDb gives to this film will never do it justice. I only hope for those who haven't seen it to overlook the score it has been given and take some time to sit back and escape to the fantastic world of "The Deep" - an experience I will be taking for many years to come. For me, a classic adventure of pure escapism!

Nick Nolte and Jacqueline Bisset star in this solid "B" movie, meant to entertain not challenge the average movie goer. Allow your mind to suspend reality for a couple of hours, and enjoy "The Deep" for what it is. Fans of Robert Shaw, Louis Gossett, Jr. and Eli Wallach will be pleased to see them on screen, but less than satisfied with their weak parts.

When first released, the scenery above and below the water in "The Deep" proved to be amazing. Jacqueline Bisset appeared draped in a wet t-shirt, causing audience members everywhere to either gasp, gulp or sigh. Accompanied by multiple tropical fish, Ms. Bisset's underwater scenes are just as satisfying.

My recollections of seeing "The Deep" for the first time in the theater, include sitting in the front row with head bent backwards, watching oversize tropical fish swimming back and forth across the screen. I get a hint of a stiff neck every time I review the movie in my head!

I do recommend you rent or buy "The Deep." Pop up some popcorn, put your feet up and just let yourself be immersed in this entertaining and gorgeous at times, movie. -- M. Nels Pearson

This film didn't quite make the splash that "Jaws" did two years earlier but remains a fine picture with tense moments and fine underwater photography. The stars, Nick Nolte and Jacqueline Bisset, a vacationing couple, find a different kind of treasure in a wreck off the Bermuda shore and soon have the island thugs around to pay them a visit. Seems as though a cache of morphine could be profitable in the drug market, which a Haitian dealer desires to exploit. The latter uses intimidation and voodoo to get his point across to the couple, who later get help from a seaman and treasure expert to keep the villains at bay. Bisset is nice to look at in her wet t-shirts and shorts but Robert Shaw and Lou Gossett supply the key moments of drama in the film more than do Nolte or Bisset. The picture does drift off course in spots but Shaw and Gossett stay on a collision course that results in an exciting undersea climax. The film never received its due as an adventure worthy of critical acclaim.

I remember seeing this film on cable long ago, and it is largely as I recall it. Pretty good action-adventure film in exotic location. (Bermuda) It seems like this was Nick Nolte's first big leading role, and he was fine. Jacqueline Bissett was rather more established at the time, and was wonderful (and beautiful) But the supporting cast really made this film. Eli Wallach didn't have a lot of screen time, but nailed the role of the old, alcoholic sailor. Louis Gossett, Jr., who was mostly in TV back then (I remember him from "The Rockford Files") was excellent as the creepy and malicious Haitian gangster. Best of all was Robert Shaw, who will be mostly remembered for "Jaws" but probably did his best work in "The Sting". I also remember his turn as a Nazi officer in "The Battle of the Bulge".

I understand that there was a longer version of this film which provided a lot more character exposition. That would have been cool to see, but you have to make choices for time when making a movie from a novel. Peter Benchley's novels were good middle-brow writing.

Anyway, this is a film worth seeing, with lots of underwater scenes

This movie has it all. I remember seeing this movie when it came out on TV.At the time I didn't know why I liked it so much, but now I know it was the ocean, the adventure, mystery, and intrigue. I just loved this movie. And I can't help it, I still do. I love the ocean scenes, and Nick Nolte's acting (not to mention Jacqueline's). I just ran across the DVD at Wally World for $5.50 and I had to buy it. I got a lot of enjoyment out of this movie and I have to give it a 10/10. I felt that all the acting was just fine including Robert Shaw's. I think that anyone who likes islands, adventure, scuba diving for gold, and beautiful woman will enjoy this movie.