Hello Down There (1969)

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

Directors:

Jack Arnold, Ricou Browning

Writers:

Art Arthur (story), John McGreevey (screenplay)

Stars:

Tony Randall, Janet Leigh, Roddy McDowall

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tony Randall	...	Fred Miller
Janet Leigh	...	Vivian Miller
Roddy McDowall	...	Nate Ashbury
Jim Backus	...	T.R. Hollister
Ken Berry	...	Mel Cheever
Charlotte Rae	...	Myrtle Ruth
Kay Cole	...	Lorrie Miller
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Harold Webster
Lou Wagner	...	Marvin Webster
Gary Tigerman	...	Tommie Miller
Arnold Stang	...	Jonah
Harvey Lembeck	...	Sonarman
Merv Griffin	...	Himself
Lee Meredith	...	Dr. Wells
Bruce Gordon	...	Adm. Sheridan

Storyline

Marine scientist Fred Miller designs the world's first underwater home, but when the business magnate funding his work threatens to end the project, Miller volunteers to live in it with his own family to prove it's practical. The underwater clan includes his water-phobic wife and his daughter and son, who are part of a rock and roll band. They bring along the lead singer and drummer. Along the way, they have to contend with a competing engineer who promises to mine the ocean floor for the businessman. A record producer likes their music and books them on TV, leading the kids to try to escape to the surface.

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Plot Keywords:

underwater | band | seal the animal | family relationships | u boat | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 June 1969 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sub-A-Dub-Dub

Filming Locations:

Ivan Tors Studio, Miami, Florida, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ivan Tors Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min 97 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Reissued for Saturday children's matinées under the title "Sub-A-Dub-Dub"

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Goofs

When taking the band's demo tape from the undersea house to Myrtle's boat on the surface, Tommie puts the reel into a plastic bag and folds it over to keep the tape dry. But when he dives into the water, the bag is clearly unfolded (open), which would allow water to enter.

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Quotes

Fred Miller: [they are in a mini-submarine] We maintain normal atmospheric pressure in here by a special mixture of Oxygen and Helium.
T.R. Hollister: Never mind the scientific lecture, Miller. Just what is this crazy project you dragged me down here to see?
Fred Miller: Mr. Hollister, this project meets the most important challenge of the future.
T.R. Hollister: Never mind the future, just give me the past. And oysters.
T.R. Hollister: There she is!
T.R. Hollister: Where?
Fred Miller: Right there. Dead ahead.
T.R. Hollister: Well, I see where is it, but what is it? It looks like a large onion.
Fred Miller: That's what we ...
[...]

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Connections

References The Merv Griffin Show (1962)

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Soundtracks

Glub
Lyrics by Sam Coslow
Music by Arthur Johnston
Performed by Harold and the Hang-Ups

User Reviews

Fun Campy Adventure

Hello Down There' was a fun, campy adventure. The movie was a cross between `Lost in Space' and the `Partridge Family' but with lots of water, a predecessor of `Sea Quest DSV'. The plot was about a family who lived at the bottom of the ocean and the adventures and friends they made, both human and aquatic, specifically a dolphin. The songs were lively and fun for kids to sing. No `R' rating here. Several well known stars participated in the movie, such as Ken Berry, Richard Dreyfuss, Merv Griffin, Janet Leigh, Roddy McDowall, Lee Meredith, Charlotte Rae, and Tony Randall. I find `Hello Down There' to be a fond, fun memory from my childhood, and would love to see it released on DVD as a family classic film.