Introduction

Seas Beneath is a 1931 American Pre-Code action film directed by John Ford and starring George O’Brien and Marion Lessing.[1]

Outline

In the waning days of World War I, a U.S. “Mystery Ship,” sets sail for the coast of Spain towing a submarine.

Their mission is to find and sink a U-boat that has been especially effective in attacking Allied shipping.

Posing as a harmless schooner, the mystery ship is in fact fitted with a formidable gun capable of sinking a U-boat.

Stopping in the Canary Islands to refuel, the crew interacts with locals involved with Germans, and with Germans themselves, including the sister of the U-Boat commander, who is lurking offshore waiting for the coming battle.

Film Inspiration

N/A

Trivia & Goofs

• The submarine depicted as U-172 in the film is the USS Argonaut, SS-166, Ex V-4. At the time the largest submarine in the world! The real German WW II U-Boat U-172 was not launched until 31 July 1941.
• The US Navy placed at John Ford’s disposal a flotilla of destroyers, cruisers and submarines, as well as the services of naval personnel.
• The three-masted schooner used as the decoy mystery ship was the same one used in the movies The Sea Wolf (1930) and The Painted Woman (1932).
• John Loder, who played Franz Shiller, was paid an extra $1000 because he had to get a close haircut for his role.

Production & Filming Details

• Director: John Ford.
• Producer: John Ford.
• Writers: William Collier Sr, Curt Furburg, Dudley Nichols, and James Parker Jr.
• Cinematography: Joseph H. August.
• Editor: Frank E. Hull.
• Distribution: Fox Film Corporation.
• Release Date: 29 March 1931 (US).
• Running time: 90 minutes.
• Country: US
• Language: English.

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