Sixteen Fathoms Deep (1948) - Adventure Drama

Описание: Starring Lloyd Bridges, Lon McCallister, Arthur Lake, John Qualen

A post-war adventure drama that dives into the world of Greek sponge divers in Florida, blending underwater danger with a generational conflict over tradition and progress.

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📖 STORY
In the Greek-American community of Tarpon Springs,Florida, a clash erupts between young divers eager to use modern scuba gear and the old guard who uphold traditional, breath-hold diving methods. Tensions reach new depths when a legendary Spanish treasure galleon is located at sixteen fathoms. The film follows the perilous salvage operation, where family loyalties, romantic interests, and the very future of their way of life are tested against the extreme dangers of the deep sea.

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⭐ HIGHLIGHTS
•Lloyd Bridges in an early leading maritime role, foreshadowing Sea Hunt
•Authentic portrayal of a unique Greek-American fishing community
•Impressive underwater photography and diving sequences for its time
•Compelling conflict between innovation and tradition
•Compact, 55-minute runtime packed with adventure and drama
•Genuine on-location atmosphere in Tarpon Springs

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🎬 PRODUCTION DETAILS
•Genre: Adventure, Drama
•Director: I. L. Freeman
•Runtime: 55 minutes
•Cast: Lloyd Bridges, Lon McCallister, Arthur Lake, John Qualen
•Studio: Screen Guild Productions
•Country: United States

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🎪 BEHIND THE SCENES
•Shot on location in Tarpon Springs, Florida, home to a historic Greek sponge diving industry.
•The 55-minute runtime classifies it as a "featurette," often the second film in a double feature.
•Director I. L. Freeman specialized in low-budget, location-driven adventures.
•The film captures the real techniques and risks of mid-century sponge diving and salvage work.
•Showcases practical, in-camera underwater effects, a novelty for post-war B-films.

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🏛️ CULTURAL LEGACY
Sixteen Fathoms Deepis a captivating snapshot of a niche American subculture in the post-war era. It stands as an early example of the occupational adventure drama, highlighting a specific trade with authenticity. The film is also a key piece in the filmography of Lloyd Bridges, cementing his on-screen association with the sea years before his iconic role in Sea Hunt. For modern viewers, it serves as both a compact adventure and a historical document of a fading trade.

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💬 DISCUSSION
Does the shorter runtime make the adventure more effective or leave you wanting more?How does the film's depiction of a specific immigrant community add to its authenticity? Where does this rank among other occupational dramas of the 1940s and 50s?

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