Beneath the 12-Mile Reef

Infobox Film
name = Beneath the 12-Mile Reef


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director = Robert D. Webb
producer = Robert Bassler
writer = A. I. Bezzerides
narrator =
starring = Robert Wagner
Terry Moore
Gilbert Roland
music = Bernard Herrmann
cinematography = Edward Cronjager
editing = William Reynolds
distributor = 20th Century Fox
released = December 2, 1953
runtime = 102 minutes
country = United States
language = English
budget =
gross =
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website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0045551

"Beneath the 12-Mile Reef" is a 1953 American adventure film directed by Robert D. Webb. The screenplay by A. I. Bezzerides was inspired by "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare.

Plot

Mike and Tony Petrakis are Greek American father and son sponge diving entrepreneurs who find themselves in competition with the Rhys family, WASP fishermen who are prepared to resort to violence and even murder to maintain their established fishing grounds off the Gulf Coast of Florida. Run-ins between the two clans lead to an exchange of threats and all-out brawls. Further complications ensue when Tony Petrakis meets Gwyneth Rhys, and the two fall in love.

Production

The film was shot on location in Key West and Tarpon Springs.

Cast

*Robert Wagner ..... Tony Petrakis
*Terry Moore ..... Gwyneth Rhys
*Gilbert Roland ..... Mike Petrakis
*J. Carroll Naish ..... Socrates Houlis
*Richard Boone ..... Thomas Rhys
*Angela Clarke ..... Mama Petrakis
*Peter Graves ..... Arnold Dix
*Jay Novello ..... Sinan
*Jacques Aubuchon ..... Demetrios Sofotes
*Gloria Gordon ..... Penny Petrakis
*Harry Carey, Jr. ..... Griff Rhys

Critical reception

Bosley Crowther of the "New York Times" observed, "Another and further extension of the range of CinemaScope . . . is handsomely manifested in "Beneath the 12-Mile Reef" . . . But that, when you come right down to it, is just about the only novelty provided by this third employment of the anamorphic lens. For the scenes shot above the surface, while large and imposing, are routine, and the drama developed in the screen play is hackneyed and banal. And, unfortunately, most of the picture takes place above, not below, the reef . . . There is nothing at all fascinating or edifying here." [ [http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?_r=2&res=9503E4DA173CE43ABC4F52DFB4678388649EDE&oref=slogin&oref=login "New York Times" review] ]

"Variety" said, " [T] he squeeze-lensing gives punch in the display of underwater wonders, the seascapes and the brilliant, beautiful sunrises and sunsets of the Florida Gulf coast. In handling the young cast, Robert D. Webb's direction is less effective, particularly in the case of Robert Wagner and Terry Moore. Both are likable, so the shallowness of their performances is no serious handicap to the entertainment." [ [http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117788989.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0 "Variety" review] ]

Awards and nominations

Edward Cronjager was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, and Robert D. Webb was nominated for the Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

References

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045551/ "Beneath the 12-Mile Reef" at the Internet Movie Database]