The Neptune Factor (1973)

When an underwater ocean lab is lost in a earthquake, an advanced submarine is sent down to find it and encounters terrible danger.

Director:

Daniel Petrie

Writer:

Jack DeWitt

Stars:

Ben Gazzara, Walter Pidgeon, Ernest Borgnine

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ben Gazzara	...	Cmdr. Adrian Blake
Walter Pidgeon	...	Dr. Samuel Andrews
Ernest Borgnine	...	Chief Diver Don MacKay
Yvette Mimieux	...	Dr. Leah Jansen
Donnelly Rhodes	...	Diver Bob Cousins
Chris Wiggins	...	Capt. Williams
Michael J. Reynolds	...	Dr. Hal Hamilton
Mark Walker	...	Diver Dave Moulton
Leslie Carlson	...	Brigs, Triton Radioman
Stuart Gillard	...	Diver Phil Bradley
Ed McGibbon	...	Dr. Norton Shepherd
David Renton	...	Warrant Officer
Joan Gregson	...	Dobson
David Yorston	...	Diver Stephens
Ken Pogue	...	Diver Thomas

Storyline

Aboard the R/V Triton, the Project Neptune team is doing oceanographic research. Director Andrews is trying to keep the research going in spite of opposition from Foundation Head Sheppard. Below on the ocean floor, in the Sealab, the team led by Hamilton is about to return to the surface when the Sealab is ripped loose from it's moorings and sent careening into a trench. Trapped too deep for divers, the only chance is rescue by a new US Navy mini-sub, piloted by the arrogant Cdr Blake USN. Blake, Chief Diver MacKay, Diver Cousins & Dr. Jansen (Hamilton's fiance) dive in the mini sub to attempt the rescue of the trapped Hamilton & crew.

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Plot Keywords:

ocean | rescue | earthquake | submarine | underwater | 

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Taglines:

The most fantastic undersea odyssey ever filmed.

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Genres:

Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 August 1973 (USA)

Also Known As:

Conquest of the Deeps

Filming Locations:

Cayman Islands

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 2,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Conquest of the Deeps Limited and Company, Quadrant Films, Bellevue Pathé (Qué) Ltée

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Actor David Yorston's characters name is spelled Stevens on his scuba gear and in the Closed Captions, but it's spelled Stephens in the end credits.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Being from Another Planet (1992)

User Reviews

Disaster Film On A Budget

The Neptune Factor deals with some scientists who live and work out of an undersea lab in the Atlantic Ocean. One fine day while their bosses, Walter Pidgeon, Yvette Mimieux, and Ernest Borgnine are up top, an earthquake occurs and the lab topples over into an underwater crevice.

Though an atomic power submarine could stay down there indefinitely the problem is that crevice is way too small for one of those big boys. A smaller type submarine able to withstand the pressures of the very deep is needed and that's where Ben Gazzara and his ship the Neptune come in.

As disaster films go The Neptune Factor is small potatoes special effects wise. It's a Canadian production and I've seen Hollywood come up with worse films spending a ton more money than was done here.

The special effects such as they are, are merely movie films of some ordinary species of marine life blown up several times their size, because these are the creatures the crew finds down at depths that man hasn't been before. It's beautiful undersea photography just like a trip to Marineland.

It's a no frills production, no subplots of any kind, no social interaction of any kind with the crew, just do the mission and go home. That's why it was given a G rating when first released.

If you love Jacques Cousteau, you'll love this film.