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

Stuck in a fishbowl.

The mystery, the excitement, the danger… ah the boredom of getting wet. The Canadian production "The Neptune Factor" is a typical underwater disaster adventure that rarely gets going and when it does it's quite an unremarkable and unimaginative foray… in a cheaply presented magnified fish tank. The problem is like a lot of other reviewers mentioned, is that nothing much happens. A lot of peering and ponderous talking… with little interest to it all. A group of American scientists are conducting an experiment involving underwater living until an earthquake occurs causing a research facility to fall into the abyss. They only have so many hours before they're out of oxygen, so a crew in a mini submarine are sent down to find them despite the risks of more aftershocks. Really the taut situation that unfolds should sell it in a threatening, pressure-induced manner, but instead we get a padded out story with a very limp rhythm. No urgency left it with any sustained suspense lingering only on stolid dramas of a threadbare narrative and static direction. There's a few dazzling glimpses when the crew is exploring the murky abyss, but the model sub and the overblown sea life didn't create any sort of thrills and when it tried it was quite laughable in its execution. The performances don't fair any better, despite the best efforts of Ernest Borgnine and Walter Pidgeon. As for Ben Gazzera and Yvette Mimieux, they come across very bland. Composer Lalo Schifran contributes the score. Established, but too plain to be fun.