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IMDbPro

Beneath the 12-Mile Reef

  • 19531953
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
Robert Wagner and Terry Moore in Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953)
Home Video Trailer from 20th Century Fox
Play trailer1:58
1 Video
13 Photos
  • Adventure
  • Drama
Fierce competition among sponge fishermen forces a Greek-American family to fish in the dangerous 12-mile reef area off the western coast of Florida.Fierce competition among sponge fishermen forces a Greek-American family to fish in the dangerous 12-mile reef area off the western coast of Florida.Fierce competition among sponge fishermen forces a Greek-American family to fish in the dangerous 12-mile reef area off the western coast of Florida.
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Robert D. Webb
  • Writer
    • A.I. Bezzerides
  • Stars
    • Robert Wagner
    • Terry Moore
    • Gilbert Roland
Top credits
  • Director
    • Robert D. Webb
  • Writer
    • A.I. Bezzerides
  • Stars
    • Robert Wagner
    • Terry Moore
    • Gilbert Roland
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 35User reviews
    • 22Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Beneath the 12-Mile Reef
    Trailer 1:58
    Beneath the 12-Mile Reef

    Photos13

    Robert Wagner and Gilbert Roland in Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953)
    Robert Wagner in Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953)
    Robert Wagner and Terry Moore in Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953)
    Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953)
    Robert Wagner and Terry Moore in Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953)
    Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953)
    Robert Wagner and Gilbert Roland in Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953)
    Robert Wagner in Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953)
    Robert Wagner, Peter Graves, Terry Moore, and Robert D. Webb in Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953)
    Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953)
    Robert Wagner and Terry Moore in Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953)
    Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Wagner
    Robert Wagner
    • Tony Petrakisas Tony Petrakis
    Terry Moore
    Terry Moore
    • Gwyneth Rhysas Gwyneth Rhys
    Gilbert Roland
    Gilbert Roland
    • Mike Petrakisas Mike Petrakis
    J. Carrol Naish
    J. Carrol Naish
    • Socrates 'Soc' Houlisas Socrates 'Soc' Houlis
    Richard Boone
    Richard Boone
    • Thomas Rhysas Thomas Rhys
    Angela Clarke
    Angela Clarke
    • Mama Petrakisas Mama Petrakis
    Peter Graves
    Peter Graves
    • Arnold Dixas Arnold Dix
    Jay Novello
    Jay Novello
    • Sinanas Sinan
    Jacques Aubuchon
    Jacques Aubuchon
    • Demetrios Sofotesas Demetrios Sofotes
    Gloria Gordon
    Gloria Gordon
    • Penny Petrakisas Penny Petrakis
    Harry Carey Jr.
    Harry Carey Jr.
    • Griff Rhysas Griff Rhys
    Jack Burke
    • Conchas Conch
    • (uncredited)
    Guy Carleton
    • Jamisonas Jamison
    • (uncredited)
    John Conatos
    • Jemmyas Jemmy
    • (uncredited)
    Jack English
    • Doctoras Doctor
    • (uncredited)
    John George Gladakis
    • Auctioneeras Auctioneer
    • (uncredited)
    Eugene Halpin
    • Long Armas Long Arm
    • (uncredited)
    James Harakas
    • Cardas Card
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Robert D. Webb
    • Writer
      • A.I. Bezzerides
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      For many years it was widely believed that the failure of the original copyright holder to renew the film's copyright had resulted in it falling into public domain, meaning that virtually anyone could duplicate and sell a VHS/DVD copy of the film. Therefore, many of the versions of this film available on the market were either severely (and usually badly) edited and/or of extremely poor quality, having been duped from second- or third-generation (or more) 16mm pan/scan television copies of the film purchased on the underground market. The legal status of the film was eventually resolved by 20th Century-Fox, and the movie was rescued from public domain so that a quality DVD could be released through Fox Cinema Archives. Fans are now able to enjoy the movie with stereo sound and a quality picture--complete with the "lost" scene in which Gilbert Roland stuffs a cigar into Peter Graves' mouth after beating him in a fistfight.
    • Goofs
      Sponges are harvested (at least in Florida) on the protected West Coast (as in Tarpon Springs) where this movie was shot.
    • Quotes

      Tony Petrakis: [to Gwyneth Rhys] Hey, you want to know what my real name is? Adonis. My mother named me after a Greek god. I'm a beautiful young man.

    • Alternate versions
      The Platinum DVD release removes the scene of Mike (Gilbert Roland) forcing Arnold (Peter Graves) to eat a cigar.
    • Connections
      Featured in A Century of Cinema (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      It Had to Be You
      (uncredited)

      Music by Isham Jones

      Played on the juke box when Tony and Gwyneth dance

    User reviews35

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    No masterpiece but entertaining
    There are some films that can't be labeled as classics, but they have a good story and are generally entertaining. I would say this one falls into that category. Don't look for great acting. If you can imagine Robert Wagner as an ebullient young Greek, then you'll know what I mean. The story centers on some fishing families in coastal Florida and competition to get a good harvest of sponges. Most areas have been over-harvested and to get a good haul, father and son Mike and Tony Petrakis (Roland and Wagner) are forced to go to the 12-mile reef, a dangerous place where divers might slip off the reef and get the bends when they come back up. In the meantime, Tony falls for the non-Greek daughter (Moore) of a rival fishing family who stole their sponges from them. The cinematography, in Cinemascope, is attractive as is the music score, a treat for both eyes and ears. When the divers are in the water, composer Bernard Herrmann really whips it up, with harps and everything. While no masterpiece, "Reef" is, for me, satisfying.
    helpful•19
    4
    • matchettja
    • Jun 24, 2006

    FAQ1

    • Is this available on DVD?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 2, 1953 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Greek
    • Also known as
      • 12-Mile Reef
    • Filming locations
      • Tarpon Springs, Florida, USA
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,560,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 42 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.66 : 1

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