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:

Take a Dive with the Miller Family!

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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

The house is supposed to be 90 feet underwater. When Fred is gathering samples (around 31:00), the surface and the bottom can clearly be seen together in the same scene.

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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 Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)

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Soundtracks

Hey, Little Goldfish
Lyrics and Music by Jeff Barry
Performed by Harold and the Hang-Ups

User Reviews

This movie is sublimely ridiculous. Watch and enjoy.

The cast of this 1969 movie alone is enough to recommend it. A pre Odd Couple Tony Randall. A post Psycho Janet Leigh as his wife . Jim Backus being Jim Backus. Roddy McDowell somewhere between Flicka and Planet of the Apes. Richard Dreyfus facing his FIRST shark encounter (sharks were old hat to him by the time Jaws came around) Ken Barry actually playing a bad guy! And Charlotte Rae who apparently had other charges in her care prior to Willis, Arnold, Blair, Jo, Natalie and Tootie.

If that doesn't give you an idea of the delightful absurdity of this movie add in a couple of dolphins that have seen 1 too many Lassie movies. Sprinkle it with sonar jamming rock music and Harvey Lemboeck. I defy anyone with an ounce of humor in their soul not to laugh at the silliness of this movie.

So what's the movie about? Okay if you MUST know, Tony Randall has invented an underwater home and to prove to his boss (Jim Backus) that living under water isn't a crazy idea Tony talks his family into moving into his invention for a month. Tony and Janet have 2 teenagers that are part of a rock band that's about to go big time thanks to record company owner and boy-genius Roddy McDowell, so naturally the entire band goes along for the ride including a lead guitarist played by Richard Dreyfus. You'll find Janet's "futuristic" kitchen quite amusing...as well as the idea that when the kids practice their rock music it jams Navy sonar! Oh, did I mention that Ken Barry is a conniving coworker of Tony's and who's trying to sabotage Tony's work and take his job??