The Deep (1977)

In Bermuda, two amateur treasure-hunting divers have a run-in with local criminals when they inadvertently discover the secret cargo of a World War II shipwreck.

Director:

Peter Yates

Writers:

Peter Benchley (novel), Peter Benchley (screenplay)

Stars:

Jacqueline Bisset, Nick Nolte, Dick Anthony Williams

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jacqueline Bisset	...	Gail Berke
Nick Nolte	...	David Sanders
Dick Anthony Williams	...	Slake
Robert Shaw	...	Romer Treece
Earl Maynard	...	Ronald
Bob Minor	...	Wiley
Louis Gossett Jr.	...	Henri Cloche (as Louis Gossett)
Eli Wallach	...	Adam Coffin
Lee McClain	...	Johnson
Robert Tessier	...	Kevin
Teddy Tucker	...	The Harbor Master

Storyline

A pair of young vacationers are involved in a dangerous conflict with treasure hunters when they discover a way into a deadly wreck in Bermuda waters. Featuring extended underwater sequences and a look into the affairs of treasure hunting. Based on the novel by Peter "Jaws" Benchley.

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Plot Keywords:

see through clothes | nipples visible through clothing | female in swimsuit | moray eel | scuba diving | 

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Taglines:

He hired the best criminals for the heist of the decade!

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Genres:

Adventure | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

17 June 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Deep

Filming Locations:

Australia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Casablanca Filmworks, EMI Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min 176 min (special edition) (TV)

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie has been credited as making big stars out of its two leads, Nick Nolte and Jacqueline Bisset.

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Goofs

In the scene right after Gail had the voodoo encounter in her hotel room, we see Sanders (Nick Nolte) sitting and talking with Treece. He is toying with a cigar in his fingers. The cigar is wrapped in its protective plastic/cellophane wrapper. The view goes to a closeup of Sanders running the cigar under his nose to smell it, and we see the cigar is clearly bare - no longer wrapped in its plastic wrapper. Then the camera angle goes back to the long shot, and Sanders is once again toying with the cigar, only now it's in the cellophane wrapper.

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Quotes

David Sanders: Well, look! I feel things, so I do 'em. That's just the way I am!

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Alternate Versions

The video version issued in 1993 by Columbia Pictures Home Video features some alternate/extended shots. This version runs 125 minutes and is rated R. Some differences are:

• When the film opens, instead of simply fading in, the aerial shot opens up, like a curtain being pulled. After this, the title "Bermuda" where the film takes place, has been removed. To add to this, aerial shots of Bermuda are from an entirely different angle.
• Right before Gail is attacked, she screams. In the theatrical version we don't see what she screams at; In this version we do, one of the Haitians has entered her room.
• After the Moray eel scare, the eel pokes its head out of the hole from whence it came.
• After Treece lowers Kevin's body, he cradles it.

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Connections

Referenced in Swap Meet (1979)

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Soundtracks

Theme from 'The Deep' (Down, Deep Inside)
Sung by Donna Summer
Written by John Barry and Donna Summer

User Reviews

Linear Adventure in Wonderful Locations

In Bermudas, while diving for pleasure, David Sanders (Nick Nolte) and Gail Berke (Jacqueline Bisset) find a submerged vessel, and they bring a couple of objects withdrawn from the ship. They look for the advice of Romer Treece (Robert Shaw), an expert in treasures and old ships, and they realize that indeed there were two vessels in the same location: a French one, from the Eighteenth Century, with a treasure in jewels, and another one, from the war, with a load of morphine. David and Gail associate to Treece, trying to recover part of the underwater wealth. Meanwhile, the powerful Haitian drug dealer Henri Cloche (as Louis Gossett Jr.) menaces the group, trying to get the drugs. "The Deep" is a very linear adventure, without any plot point or surprises. The wonderful locations, the magnificent photography, the good cast and the amazing beauty of Jacqueline Bisset support this movie, which is recommended for killing time only. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "O Fundo do Mar" ("The Bottom of the Sea")