Hello Down There (1969)

Directors:

Jack Arnold
Ricou Browning

Writers:

Art Arthur (story)
John McGreevey (writer)
(more)

Genre:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

A combo of scuba dupes rock up a storm in a mad pad under the surf!

Plot:

A marine scientist volunteers to have his family live in a prototype underwater home to prove it's practical.

Plot Keywords:

Underwater | Shark | Motorboat | Experimental House | Seal

Cast

Tony Randall	...	Fred Miller
Janet Leigh	...	Vivian Miller
Jim Backus	...	T.R. Hollister
Ken Berry	...	Mel Cheever
Roddy McDowall	...	Nate Ashbury
Charlotte Rae	...	Myrtle Ruth
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Harold Webster
Kay Cole	...	Lorrie Miller
Gary Tigerman	...	Tommie Miller
Lou Wagner	...	Marvin Webster
Lee Meredith	...	Dr. Wells
Bruce Gordon	...	Adm. Sheridan
Frank Schuller	...	Alan Briggs
Arnold Stang	...	Jonah
Harvey Lembeck	...	Sonarman
Merv Griffin	...	Himself
Henny Backus	...	Mrs. Webster
Pat Henning	...	Reilly
Jay Laskay	...	Philo
Bud Hoey	...	Mr. Webster
Charles Martin	...	Chief Petty Officer
Frank Logan	...	Captain
Andy Jarrell	...	Radioman
Lora Kaye	...	Secretary
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Janine King	...	Crying baby

Directed by
Jack Arnold
Ricou Browning		(underwater sequences)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Art Arthur		story
John McGreevey		writer
Frank Telford		writer
Ivan Tors		story

Produced by
George Sherman	....	producer
Ivan Tors	....	producer

Original Music by
Jeff Barry

Cinematography by
Clifford H. Poland Jr.

Film Editing by
Erwin Dumbrille

Art Direction by
Jack T. Collis

Set Decoration by
Don K. Ivey

Costume Design by
Peggy Kunkle

Makeup Department
Irene Aparicio	....	hair stylist
Guy Del Russo	....	makeup artist
Marlana May	....	makeup artist

Production Management
William P. Owens	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ricou Browning	....	director, underwater scenes
William C. Gerrity	....	first assistant director
Nat Holt Jr.	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Tom Coll	....	set dresser
Dyke Davis	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Robert Glenn	....	sound effects editor
Howard Warren	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Oscar Barber	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Lamar Boren	....	underwater cinematographer
Jordan Klein Sr.	....	camera operator
Jordan Klein Sr.	....	underwater photographer (as Jordan Klein)
James Pergola	....	camera operator: "a" camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Millie Simpkins	....	wardrober

Music Department
Albert Sendrey	....	music adaptor (uncredited)

Other crew
Joseph Gannon	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Ivan Tors Productions

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1974) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"Sub-A-Dub-Dub" - USA (reissue title)

Runtime:

88 min | 97 min (DVD)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:G

Filming Locations:

Miami, Florida, USA

Company:

Ivan Tors Productions

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Tony opens the front door of his house, it opens in the wrong direction. It should open in, not out.

Movie Connections:

References "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (1962)

Soundtrack:

Hey, Little Goldfish

Harmless and kind of fun

It's a goofy lightweight comedy. Mostly it's unremarkable, the kind of movie I'd give a 5 score out of 10. But the underwater scenes, especially the ones with the dolphins, are kind of fun; and it's also kind of fun to see Roddy McDowell, Jim Backus, and Ken Berry hamming it up.

There are several groovy 60's pop music songs, the costumes and haircuts are extremely 60's, and the 60's slang is so silly I wonder if they made up half of it. Merv Griffin appears in a cameo as himself. Tony Randall even sings one song!

You will probably enjoy seeing it once but you probably won't want to buy a copy. See it sometime when you are in the mood for a large dose of the 1960's.