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  Beneath the Twelve Mile Reef Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 12 More Information For booty for power for love  On: 2008-10-01One family Greek the other WASP compete in the sponge industry off the western cost of Florida in the 50s. They have an unwritten law as to here they can fish for sponges. The heads of each house are proud and there is more than a casual rivalry among them. Due to hard times the families cross paths resulting tin the son of the Greek family Tony Petrakis (Robert Wagner) and the WASP daughter Gwyneth Rhys (Terry Moore) falling in love their parents chagrin. To really stir thing up Arnold Dix (Peter Graves) who also has eyes for Gwyneth is unscrupulous and does nefarious acts agent the Greeks. I know you have herd the story before and probably saw Romeo and Juliet or "Westside Story". However the story and actors make it worth revisiting. The film has been remastered and looks great on large screen height definition televisions. The music of Bernard Hermann works as a subtle character its self adding to the mood and not overwhelming the story or dialog. Gilbert Roland is the proud Greek patriarch that makes a sort of John Wayne entrance at the beginning of the movie. Richard Boone, a very diverse actor plays the girls father. This is the first underwater adventure shot in CinemaScope. Wake of the Red Witch ~ John Wayne Beneath the Twelve Mile Reef  On: 2008-08-07An entertaining story starring a very young Robert Wagner, Richard Boone, and Peter Graves. Underwater scenes a little hokey, but a good depiction of the dangers of hard-hat sponge diving in the Floriday Keys. Most memorable line - Wagner to girlfriends father (Richard Boone) - Wouldnt you want your daughter to be with a beautiful young man like me or something to that effect! Good movie  On: 2006-07-14This movie has some beautiful underwater photography. If you are a Robert Wagner fan, this movie is a good one for you. The only problem I found is that it hasnt been closed captioned, and I am hearing imparied. A live experience with Roberft Wagner and Terry Moore On: 2006-06-06I watched this movie and enjoyed it verfy much. In 1953 when I was still a young man I visited Tarpon Springs Florida Docks where there were many sponge warehouses. There was a classic boat floating off the dock. Seated on the dock surrounded by a half dozen young girls was Robert Wagner signing his autograph. At the time I didnt know him but I did say "Who in the world is this guy" He stared back at me and didnt say a word. It was late in the afternoon and the sun was shining in his eyes. I still remember those piercing eyes. At that time I had a Pontiac Convertible and by chance in the back streets of Tarpon Springs came upon Terry Moore. She was driving a Jeep. I enjoyed playing with her following her in my car. It was an enjoyable experience which I will never forget. My point is that most of the underwater scenes were made off Taron Springs a fact that very few people know. A live experience with Roberft Wagner and Terry Moore On: 2006-06-05I watched this movie and enjoyed it verfy much. In 1953 when I was still a young man I visited Tarpon Springs Florida Docks where there were many sponge warehouses. There was a classic boat floating off the dock. Seated on the dock surrounded by a half dozen young girls was Robert Wagner signing his autograph. At the time I didnt know him but I did say "Who in the world is this guy" He stared back at me and didnt say a word. It was late in the afternoon and the sun was shining in his eyes. I still remember those piercing eyes. At that time I had a Pontiac Convertible and by chance in the back streets of Tarpon Springs came upon Terry Moore. She was driving a Jeep. I enjoyed playing with her following her in my car. It was an enjoyable experience which I will never forget. My point is that most of the underwater scenes were made off Taron Springs a fact that very few people know. Memorable Cinematography, Score Enliven Melodrama On: 2005-08-02Directed by Robert D. Webb and released in 1953, this saga of competing sea sponge divers was noted for its drop-dead gorgeous cinematography and a brilliant score by composer Bernard Herrmann--and these remain the great assets of the film to this day. The story is pure melodrama given an exotic twist. The Petrakis and Rhys families earn their livings by diving for sea sponges, but when the Rhys family, led by father Thomas (Richard Boone) resort to dirty tricks the Petrakis family, led by father Mike (Gilbert Roland) are forced to resort to risky dives at the dangerous Twelve Mile reef; at the same time a love affair between son Tony Petrakis (Robert Wagner) and daughter Gwyneth Rhys (Terry Moore) further complicate the rivalry. Needless to say, tragedy results. Both Wagner and Moore were considered rising stars when the film was made, and although Wagner makes for an unconvincing Greek both give enjoyable performances as the star-crossed lovers caught Romeo and Juliet fashion between battling families. Even so, the acting honors here go to Gilbert Roland and Richard Boone as the warring fathers with a special nod to Peter Graves as Arnold, an overly aggressive Rhys diver. Several notable character actors, including J. Carroll Nash, Jay Novello, and Harry Carey Jr. round out the cast. Although the cast is solid, the plot is more than a little predictable--but the chief thing is the photography and the score. REEF was among the earliest productions made in Cinemascope, and everyone concerned was determined to make it as visually attractive as possible. The result is some truly beautiful cinematography, particularly in reference to the films many underwater scenes. The score by Bernard Herrmann, who would later be best known for his work on such Hitchcock films as VERTIGO, also captures the beauty of the sea to remarkable effect. Unfortunately, REEF seems to have fallen into public domain, and there are numerous DVD and VHS releases on the market. In most cases they are abominable things: the cinemascope has been reduced to pan and scan, the colors are muddy, and the sound is poor. There are, however, at least a few available that give you some idea of what all the 1953 fuss was about. Although they are hardly renowned for the quality of their product, the Digiview Productions release is actually quite good; the Digital Gold release is also more than respectable. GFT, Amazon Reviewer Memorable Cinematography, Score Enliven Melodrama On: 2005-08-01Directed by Robert D. Webb and released in 1953, this saga of competing sea sponge divers was noted for its drop-dead gorgeous cinematography and a brilliant score by composer Bernard Herrmann--and these remain the great assets of the film to this day. The story is pure melodrama given an exotic twist. The Petrakis and Rhys families earn their livings by diving for sea sponges, but when the Rhys family, led by father Thomas (Richard Boone) resort to dirty tricks the Petrakis family, led by father Mike (Gilbert Roland) are forced to resort to risky dives at the dangerous Twelve Mile reef; at the same time a love affair between son Tony Petrakis (Robert Wagner) and daughter Gwyneth Rhys (Terry Moore) further complicate the rivalry. Needless to say, tragedy results. Both Wagner and Moore were considered rising stars when the film was made, and although Wagner makes for an unconvincing Greek both give enjoyable performances as the star-crossed lovers caught Romeo and Juliet fashion between battling families. Even so, the acting honors here go to Gilbert Roland and Richard Boone as the warring fathers with a special nod to Peter Graves as Arnold, an overly aggressive Rhys diver. Several notable character actors, including J. Carroll Nash, Jay Novello, and Harry Carey Jr. round out the cast. Although the cast is solid, the plot is more than a little predictable--but the chief thing is the photography and the score. REEF was among the earliest productions made in Cinemascope, and everyone concerned was determined to make it as visually attractive as possible. The result is some truly beautiful cinematography, particularly in reference to the films many underwater scenes. The score by Bernard Herrmann, who would later be best known for his work on such Hitchcock films as VERTIGO, also captures the beauty of the sea to remarkable effect. Unfortunately, REEF seems to have fallen into public domain, and there are numerous DVD and VHS releases on the market. In most cases they are abominable things: the cinemascope has been reduced to pan and scan, the colors are muddy, and the sound is poor. There are, however, at least a few available that give you some idea of what all the 1953 fuss was about. Although they are hardly renowned for the quality of their product, the Digiview Productions release is actually quite good; the Digital Gold release is also more than respectable. GFT, Amazon Reviewer A classic that deserves restoration. On: 2005-05-04I believe there are only two movies about sponges, and the other is a comedy, Spongebob Squarepants. Beneath the 12-Mile Reef is the best serious movie about sponges. Its an adventure with spectacle, drama, romance, and enough suspense to keep you interested. Robert Wagner, in one of his earliest starring roles, is a Greek sponge fisherman working on his fathers (Gilbert Roland) boat off the southwest coast of Florida. Peter Graves (Mission Impossible) pirates a boatload of their sponges and, to get even, Robert Wagner steals a dance with his girlfriend (Terry Moore), and thats when the action begins. Richard Boone (Hec Ramsey), as the girls father, gets involved and soon lives are at stake. J. Carrol Naish and Harry Carey Jr. are also in the supporting cast. Beneath the 12-Mile Reef got an Oscar nomination for spectacular underwater photography. The film is in Cinemascope and Technicolor, but unfortunately in this VHS version the colors are faded. This is supposed to be 100% correctible from the 3 technicolor black-and-white negatives, so hopefully the new DVDs being released will restore this classic adventure to its original splendor. Definitely a must for Robert Wagner fans, and worth a look if you like old color adventure films, oceanography (the antique diving suits are interesting), or Gilbert Roland. A classic that deserves restoration. On: 2005-05-03I believe there are only two movies about sponges, and the other is a comedy, Spongebob Squarepants. Beneath the 12-Mile Reef is the best serious movie about sponges. Its an adventure with spectacle, drama, romance, and enough suspense to keep you interested. Robert Wagner, in one of his earliest starring roles, is a Greek sponge fisherman working on his fathers (Gilbert Roland) boat off the southwest coast of Florida. Peter Graves (Mission Impossible) pirates a boatload of their sponges and, to get even, Robert Wagner steals a dance with his girlfriend (Terry Moore), and thats when the action begins. Richard Boone (Hec Ramsey), as the girls father, gets involved and soon lives are at stake. J. Carrol Naish and Harry Carey Jr. are also in the supporting cast. Beneath the 12-Mile Reef got an Oscar nomination for spectacular underwater photography. The film is in Cinemascope and Technicolor, but unfortunately in this VHS version the colors are faded. This is supposed to be 100% correctible from the 3 technicolor black-and-white negatives, so hopefully the new DVDs being released will restore this classic adventure to its original splendor. Definitely a must for Robert Wagner fans, and worth a look if you like old color adventure films, oceanography (the antique diving suits are interesting), or Gilbert Roland. Digital Gold Collection version is the one to buy On: 2005-04-16Youll notice that the online reviews tend to be for the movie ... the storyline, acting etc etc ... but without much to say about which version is best. Consequently, the same reviews appear in the listings for all DVD versions. This film seems to have fallen into the public domain and as a result there are quite a few DVDs out there from different manufacturers. Im always uncertain about buying such discs because theres no telling what sort of quality print they were taken from. I got lucky. I bought the Digital Gold Collection version by Unicorn Video and its a good, solid print. ASIN: B0000640V8. It is advertised as being digitally remastered and it shows. The print is as clean as can be expected for a non-studio release, the sound is just fine and its shown in its full Cinemascope format. My only minor complaint is that the colour has a slightly washed out appearance which is instantly fixed by turning up the colour level on the TV set a few notches. I have no idea if the others on the market are equal to this but they certainly arent likely to be much better. Get this version - you wont be disappointed. Digital Gold Collection version is the one to buy On: 2005-04-15Youll notice that the online reviews tend to be for the movie ... the storyline, acting etc etc ... but without much to say about which version is best. Consequently, the same reviews appear in the listings for all DVD versions. This film seems to have fallen into the public domain and as a result there are quite a few DVDs out there from different manufacturers. Im always uncertain about buying such discs because theres no telling what sort of quality print they were taken from. I got lucky. I bought the Digital Gold Collection version by Unicorn Video and its a good, solid print. ASIN: B0000640V8. It is advertised as being digitally remastered and it shows. The print is as clean as can be expected for a non-studio release, the sound is just fine and its shown in its full Cinemascope format. My only minor complaint is that the colour has a slightly washed out appearance which is instantly fixed by turning up the colour level on the TV set a few notches. I have no idea if the others on the market are equal to this but they certainly arent likely to be much better. Get this version - you wont be disappointed. Cuba at the time of capitalistic strife by: wuivre_eternelle On: 2003-10-11 A mushy rewriting of Romeo and Juliet in the context of the conflict between Greeks and Americans in Cuba, before Castros revolution, centered on the fishing and commerce of sponges. The Americans impose some good zones to be their own, anyone else, particularly the Greeks, being excluded, expelled evn by force if necessary. The Greeks challenge this illegal zoning and are the victims of plundering and violence. Then we get a love affair between one young American girl, promised for marriage to an American man, and a young Greek boy. The love affair causes a lot of strife but ends well. No descent to any vault, no poisoning, fake or true, and no dying. Dr Jacques COULARDEAU Beneath the 12 Mile Reef On: 2003-03-12As all of us movie buffs, I really hate it when scenes get deleted from a film. The end of the fight between Tonys Father and Arnold has been deleted (where they begin to fight "greek style", and Tonys father makes Arnold eat a cigar). It is a great character building scene, and it is a shame it is NOT on the DVD. I personally would rather they include all scenes, even if they get a little fuzzy, as part of the heart of this movie had been removed. However, there was a good side to the DVD as well. Those of us baby boomers who grew up watching and loving the film on television never knew the true ending of the movie, as we could not see it in wide screen. As I know the movie well, it was a pleasant surprise to see the entire picture when Tony brings his hook boat back into the greek harbor in Tarpin. I will not ruin it for anyone, but it was a nice touch to the end of the movie that I am glad to know. For those who have not seen the movie, it is a great one (considering when it was made), and has no bad or distasteful scenes, but portrays the life of early sponge divers. Beneath the 12 Mile Reef On: 2003-03-11As all of us movie buffs, I really hate it when scenes get deleted from a film. The end of the fight between Tonys Father and Arnold has been deleted (where they begin to fight "greek style", and Tonys father makes Arnold eat a cigar). It is a great character building scene, and it is a shame it is NOT on the DVD. I personally would rather they include all scenes, even if they get a little fuzzy, as part of the heart of this movie had been removed. However, there was a good side to the DVD as well. Those of us baby boomers who grew up watching and loving the film on television never knew the true ending of the movie, as we could not see it in wide screen. As I know the movie well, it was a pleasant surprise to see the entire picture when Tony brings his hook boat back into the greek harbor in Tarpin. I will not ruin it for anyone, but it was a nice touch to the end of the movie that I am glad to know. For those who have not seen the movie, it is a great one (considering when it was made), and has no bad or distasteful scenes, but portrays the life of early sponge divers. Beneath the 12-Mile Reef by: Anonymous On: 2000-11-21 I liked it. It is an older movie that tells a neat story. Sure its been told lots of times, but this one is a little different. underrated early CinemaScope pic On: 2000-08-22Greek sponge divers run afoul of Florida Key locals for poaching rights in this early CinemaScope picture featuring Robert Wagner and Terry Moore as the young Romero and Juliet between the warring families. Noted mainly for its brilliant underwater photography and superb Bernard Herrmann score. In Technicolor! Beneath the 12-Mile Reef On: 2000-01-26I found this movie very entertaining because of the Florida locale (Ive been to Tarpon Springs, one of the settings in this movie) and the stunning photography, especially the underwater scenes. The story is a Romeo and Julliete type, but also gives an account of an almost dead breed of divers (Spunge divers). My only critique of this video would be that it seems that it is a colorized version instead of a true Technicolor version. It just seems to me that the color is "off line" with its subjects in many scenes and is rather muddy on several occasions. This is just an observation comparing this video with other videos Ive seen of this vintage (1953). I highly reccommend this movie to everyone. It is a cheery but serious movie delving into the trials and tribulations of sponge divers of the Florida West coast. An added feature, a scene of the Greek Epithany celebration in Tarpon Springs is included in this movie. |