Hello Down There (1969) User Reviews

Harmless and kind of fun

[steveha · 7/10 · 6 May 2005]

It's a goofy lightweight comedy. Mostly it's unremarkable, the kind of movie I'd give a 5 score out of 10. But the underwater scenes, especially the ones with the dolphins, are kind of fun; and it's also kind of fun to see Roddy McDowell, Jim Backus, and Ken Berry hamming it up.

There are several groovy 60's pop music songs, the costumes and haircuts are extremely 60's, and the 60's slang is so silly I wonder if they made up half of it. Merv Griffin appears in a cameo as himself. Tony Randall even sings one song!

You will probably enjoy seeing it once but you probably won't want to buy a copy. See it sometime when you are in the mood for a large dose of the 1960's.

A bit corny by todays standards, but I found it to be great fun

[headhunter46 · 7/10 · 29 June 2008]

In this movie from the late 1960's you will see several young people who went on to be stars. I never saw this till today, don't know how I missed it. There are some likable songs, some funny moments and even some a bit scary. Overall it had some good laughs and was entertaining.

SPOILER FOLLOWS!

I was amazed at the scenes with the diver swimming so close to sharks, (at least they looked real) and the way the dolphins interacted. That alone made the movie special and I didn't even know it was in there. I can't imagine how they managed to film this in 1969 without getting somebody chewed up. I think most families could watch this together but little ones might need to be forewarned about the shark scenes. I know it is just a movie but the thought of being surrounded by sharks gives me the creeps.

Overall it was good fun.

ENJOY!!

A relic of the sixties

[sunsplash62 · 7/10 · 8 September 2013]

This movie strives to be a family comedy, but there isn't a laugh in it. The cast tries mightily by acting frantic and running around, but to no avail. Nonetheless, that doesn't mean this is not a fun film to watch, if you're in to Baby Boomer culture as I am. The cast is interesting and the cinematography features striking color. There is much underwater footage, as the film was made in cooperation with Miami's SeaQuarium, and the opening and closing credits cry out 1960s. The movie has a Disney quality about it and incorporates the emerging James Bond/computer/electronic gadget era. There are also some catchy bubblegum songs. Of the cast, Harvey Lembeck is wasted and Roddy McDowall is prissily annoying. The movie was filmed in 1968 and released in June 1969, but in style seems as if it was made two or three years earlier. Again, fun to watch, for the wrong reasons.

future tech fun

[omerie · 24 May 2001]

We loved this movie when we saw it at the theatre during its original release; I still have fond memories of the pet dolphins cavorting in the living room pool, and of the space-age push-button underwater conveniences (such as that neat pop-up refrigerator). I can even remember the lyrics to "Hey Little Goldfish" and "Glub, Glub"!! As kids we sang those songs for years. I can't wait to rent this one and rock out again with Dreyfuss and the gang! I hope he doesn't mind too much, 'cause I think this movie is a great sixties artifact, with a fun cast and very creative sets.

So bad it's... No, wait, it's just bad. SPOILERS!

[donrogers42 · 2/10 · 4 May 2007]

This 60s family comedy has a couple of things going for it -- a solid cast of game, familiar faces; and a memorably colorful home set, somewhat reminiscent of "The Jetsons".

More than offsetting these strengths are some truly mind-boggling debit items. Here are a few, taken at random.

* The soundtrack, which underlines the never-funny gags in VERY broad strokes. Something allegedly amusing happens; then, like a "comedy alert" signal, the squawk goes out: "Kwaah-KWAAH!"

* The songs, which are not only very terrible -- they are also very catchy. And they remain catchy when they are replayed. And replayed! With immortal, un-killable lyrics like, "G;ub, glub, glub! / I'm floating on a sea of love!" and "Hey, little goldfish, we could have a whale of a time. / So put your fin in mine."

* Perhaps the most insipid overuse of "groovy" slang ever committed to celluloid. Listen closely to hear Richard Dreyfuss ejaculate, "It's the berries!"

* The wide range of communication techniques with the underwater house. At one end of the convenience scale is Jim Backus's one-button microphone, which is piped, on a two-way hookup, directly into Tony Randall's bedroom. At the other is the plucky, tippling housekeeper (Charlotte Rae), who must take a solo motorboat to somewhere well offshore, and then hope for the arrival of some homing dolphins to carry her handwritten message.

* The washing machine, which apparently has an ejector cycle that repeatedly and violently regurgitates sopping-wet clothing, mainly in the direction of (ha, ha) people's backsides!

There are at least four plots, none of which make any sense. First, there is Janet Leigh's reaction to living underwater. One minute she is adamant she will never ever do it; the next, she's a purring bundle of sexy-compliant middle-aged domestic bliss. Then something goes wrong, and she's out of there! No, wait, she'll stay -- but NO SEX! Or as she memorably puts it, "No glub glub glub!" (I could make a joke -- but let's not go down there.) Quick, if the four teens can just pin her down for just a second, maybe Tony could inject the lithium!

Second, there is the plot of the rival undersea project, headed by the scheming... Ken Berry?? It aims to dredge the sea floor for the vast quantities of "gold, uranium, and magnesium" that must surely lie there. (Did he really say 'magnesium'?) This is all just a setup for some very weak gags, and one of the most unconvincing "special effects" this side of an Ed Wood film -- a torrent of water and sand cascading down, and sometimes diagonally, onto poor Ken Berry. We have been shown this machine in action -- a well controlled conveyor belt, carrying maybe two inches worth of sand at something near waist level. So how is it that all this sand is suddenly streaming down from overhead? And sometimes diagonally? Tony manages to heroically save Ken's life, and nobody ever asks about what became of Ken's little nebbishy sidekick.

Third, there is the underwater-Archies rock-and-roll band plot, about which the less said, the better. This leads inexorably to the fourth plot: The Navy's sonar keeps picking up the sound of the kids as they jam. Then, suddenly, inexplicably -- the noise stops! As the news of this marvel -- machines that make sound, that can be turned off! -- spreads up the Naval chain of command, the same "joke" scene is repeated, maybe six or seven times. "We don't have anything like this in OUR arsenal!" Finally the Navy gets so exercised about this phenomenon that it launches a full-scale invasion fleet, complete with battleships, aircraft carriers, and a handful of paratroopers (huh?) jumping into the water. With what result? Who can say? For here the film ends, or rather stops. Mercifully, the screenwriters chose to omit the final confrontation: the American Armada vs. the tag-team of Merv Griffin and Roddy McDowell (as Nate Ashbury, which rhymes with Haight-Ashbury -- get it?).

I left out the seal tricks, and the shark attack, and the song-hit-picking computer, and the sex-bomb who interprets its output by reading the receipt, but you get the idea. Sure, much of this was no doubt intended as some over-the-top self-parody of bad mid-60s sitcom humor. But, for goodness sakes, Gilligan's Island looks like Noel Coward next to this film. It may have some accidental value as an intelligence test for five-year-olds.

Ah, 1969... I guess you had to be there. Films like this made the "G" Rating box-office poison for at least a generation. If you watch it, you won't enjoy yourself, unless you have a Kobayashi-sized appetite for bad comedy. You will remember it, though. You've been warned.

Life Under The Sea, I Can't Wait. A Delight. 1-2-Watch.

[P3n-E-W1s3 · 7/10 · 2 October 2022]

Greetings And Salutations, and welcome to my review of Hello Down There; here's the breakdown of my ratings:

Story: 1.50 Direction: 1.50 Pace: 1.25 Acting: 1.25 Enjoyment: 1.50

TOTAL: 7.00 out of 10.00.

Boy, am I glad that I'm trolling through some old science fiction flicks (which IMDb has this listed as), or else this morning's breakfast wouldn't have been so entertaining. Not having heard of the movie but noting the star cast, even an early Richard Dreyfuss appearance, I made to find a copy. And I wasn't disappointed.

The story Art Arthur, John McGreevey, and Frank Telford gave me had enough content to keep me entertained for the hour-and-a-half runtime. The story is that of lowly and much-abashed architect Fred Miller. Miller has designed and built the prototype house of the future, but his boss believes it to be a complete waste of money as there are no military applications: And that's where the big bucks are. So he gives Fred an ultimatum; he and his family need to spend thirty days inside the property, and he'll keep his job, and the abode will stay. He readily agrees without consulting his kin. But it's not all plain sailing because the house is ninety feet below the sea, and his wife is aquaphobic. He later finds out his two kids aren't too happy about the arrangement either. They've just joined Harold and His Hang-Ups, a pop-rock-swing band. If they disappear for a month, Harrold'll hire two other Hang-Ups in their place. Fred opts for option B and invites the driving force of the band and The Sound, Harold and Marvin Webster, along for the dive. What could go wrong? Well, there's plenty, and you'll have to watch the movie to find out. But one of the best elements of the narrative are the characterisations and the relationships. Everyone has their own persona, which is excellent because it makes them individual. And that individuality aids magnificently in the development of an engaging story. For example, Fred's wife, Vivian, is a writer, and she is definitely the chalk to his cheese. It's a strange relationship but the writers, with help from the performers, make it work. Better yet, it feels proper, even credible. And the story is packed with similar bonds, like the big bad boss, T R Hollister, and everyone that works for him. He loves nothing better than to lord it over everyone, and if he can make them feel inferior, all the better. This boss-employee connection also makes for some humourous scenes, especially when Hollister is in the wrong, which is most of the time. And this is where most comedic elements stem from - the people, their personalities, and their relations to everyone else. I loved Myrtle Ruth, the housekeeper. She's the type who tries to stay keyed-in with the youth, so she's hip with all their sayings, slang, and sounds. She loves the music that Marvin's group plays. Yet when she's around Fred Miller, she changes to accommodate him but stays the same joyful person she is. I wish there were more Myrtles in the world today.

Director Jack Arnold must have realised how good the story and its characters were because he simply films them, and films them simply. There's nothing too daring in Arnold's cinematographic style. On the whole, he's happy to compose his shots well and then let the actors do the rest. It works superbly. This style allowed the narrative and the performers to create a heartwarming and lighthearted atmosphere, making the movie an easy and enjoyable pleasure to watch. There are only a couple of special effects - a listing underwater house and dolphins pulling a submarine. The first one comes off well enough, but the second doesn't fair too good. It's not too difficult to see that the model sub the porpoise pull is smaller than the one the cast occupies. But it gets worse because when Fred rescues them from the sea floor, he literally grabs the submarine through the front windscreen - shouldn't that be water-screen or sea-screen(?) - and yanks the empty and holey fake sub around so the dolphins can Santa's Sleigh them to safety. But that is pretty much the only fail in the film. Even the stock footage they use to show the Navy on manoeuvres is close to the film stock used in the picture and isn't too distracting, as with quite a few other films.

The movie also possesses some of the best underwater segments ever filmed, especially from the 60s. These are thanks to director Ricou Browning. He even brings to the audience a more credible and realistic shark attack. You see Frank swimming amongst the great whites, which he has to fend off using his feet and fists. Luckily, he also has help from the dolphins, who swim head-first into the sharks, nudging them out of the way and taking their attention off Frank. These underwater sequences guided this film into that unique section of my heart reserved for wonder.

The cast is excellent. No, they're perfect. The casting director made the ideal choices for this flick. Everyone makes their character their own. You don't see Tony Randall or Janet Leigh; you see Fred and Vivian Miller. The only one who does quite make this transposition is Roddy McDowell as record mogul Nate Ashbury. He comes across as Roddy McDowell having a hell of a great time. The strange thing is this is better because his on-screen attitude is as contagious as the delightful light-heartedness that permeates the film. But I doff my hat to The Duke and Dutchess and Helga. If these dolphins and seal don't win and warm your heart, you need serious time on a couch with a psychiatrist near to you.

Hello Down There is a terrific oldie to chill out to on a Sunday afternoon after stuffing yourself with the roast dinner. It's enjoyable and entertaining enough for the whole family. So I would happily suggest you search it out for a look-see. I'll keep this one on standby for those depression days - it should be enough to buoy me out of the dark funk.

Glub, Glub-Glub, Glub, Glub-Glub - Glub! Yeah, that's right; go and check out my IMDb lists - The Final Frontier and Just For Laughs, to see where I ranked Hello Down There.

Take Care & Stay Well.

Oh dear God...

[g-hbe · 2/10 · 20 June 2016]

Oh crikey. Stumped for something to watch while we knocked back our wine, we saw this on Amazon for £2.49 instant rental. Sounded promising - made in the 60's, Tony Randall stars, director Jack Arnold. So we clicked the button. If only we hadn't. Randall and Leigh are a typical married couple with teenage kids who (needless to say) play in a band with a mate or two. Oh dear, there's going to be music. Anyhow, Randall works for a company that is looking for new ideas and he comes up with an underwater home. It's already built and just needs testing with a real family....and of course the boss (who thinks it's an awful idea) insists that Randall and family should be the ones who live there for 30 days. After a few not-too-bad underwater model shots of mini-subs etc, we get to the house. Inside, it looks like the set of The Banana Splits has crashed into The Partridge Family via The Monkees, and the plot and acting are of a similar standard. Some bits reminded me very much of the Disney films of the mid 60's. Others made me think it may have been cobbled together from a TV sitcom, all it needed was a laugh track. By the one hour mark this film had well out-stayed its welcome, but we ploughed on. A very messy final 40 minutes had the action switching between the US Navy, the underwater house, Randall's boss and his housekeeper who is passing messages to dolphins, not to mention the pop group (headed by a very young Richard Dreyfus), who had only two songs and we got to hear them every ten minutes. Aargh! We were more than relieved when the film suddenly ended (OK everyone, just finish it now will you) and we could put it behind us. What a pity to see one of my favourite actors Tony Randall in such a disappointing effort as this, and I wonder what director Jack Arnold was playing at. Perhaps everyone just needed a payday.

Got this on DVD

[StarTrekker1964 · 5/10 · 26 February 2005]

This is one of those films that you get more for the nostalgia than any great quality. It is representative of the those 60's pop culture films that were made just to pass an afternoon. The real joy of it now is watching Tony Randall, Jim Backus, Janet Leigh, a (very young) Richard Drefuss, Roddy McDowell and the rest in a "family friendly" vehicle, peppered by harmless "Boyce and Hart"-like Rock and Roll. Made by Jack Arnold, The Creature director, backed up by the producer of Flipper, it's a nice romp. I saw it when I was younger and could not help but get the DVD, which has a nice crisp transfer. I was amused upon re-watching it as an adult to see that Leigh and Randall seem to be acting in different movies; he's applying just the right light, frothy touch while she is dead-on serious as if this were some deep drama instead of just a piece of light entertainment. It makes her character almost too intense at times.

Just want to see this again!

[tdkamb · 5/10 · 25 October 2005]

I too, saw this movie as a kid, and will never forget Tony Randall warding off sharks with those balloons. I do, from time to time, still have the "Little Goldfish" song running through my head. All I remember is the refrain, but would love to hear it again. So, any word of a DVD of this movie? I really can't believe that there isn't one of this movie. I have seen so many rotten movies in the discount bargain bin at Wal-Mart, that "Hello Down There" should be released. Just the name recognition of the stars in this movie should be enough for some company to release it. As my peer said in the other comment, Richard Dreyfuss is a draw, so is Tony Randall. Lets get with it people, there should be a release of this classic film showing how culture in the late 60's looked those off us NOT on acid! We need this movie!

This movie is sublimely ridiculous. Watch and enjoy.

[vonnablady · 9/10 · 17 April 2008]

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??

The Green Onion

[richardchatten · 1/10 · 10 May 2020]

I well remember the malaise the words 'An Ivan Tors Production' used to instil in me as a kid; and he, I'm sure - rather than director Jack Arnold - was the defining creative force behind this excruciating misfire.

It has two enormously attractive leads, of whom Janet Leigh was never more charming. (Had she ever worn a wetsuit in this tripe it might have earned it an extra star, but she didn't so it doesn't.) And that music!! It even boasts a song called 'Hey Little Goldfish', which they sing again and again!!!

I CONCUR - WANT IT ON DVD!

[eosten · 8 October 2004]

Hello Down There is one of my favorite childhood movies, I can't believe it didn't make it to DVD yet! I still sing Little Goldfish at the oddest times because it harbors sentimental value I guess. It's kind of soothing...my bunnies like it. And I'll never forget calling that home under the sea "the Green Onion." Richard Dryfeuss is classic as the hippie boyfriend every dad had nightmares about. Tony Randall and Janet Leigh play comedically well off each other, especially as Janet Leigh tries to come to terms with being under the ocean. Just at great all around movie.

Although some people might feel it is cheesy, I think it's hilarious. There's something to be said for wholesome fun family movies. So, get it on DVD!

Richard Dreyfuss and sharks underwater before "Jaws"

[Bernie4444 · 5/10 · 5 December 2023]

Research Scientist Fred Miller (Tony Randall) invents the underwater house of the future. His boss T. R. Hollister (Jim Backus) thinks it was a waste of money. So, to save his job and commit to secrecy Fred convinces his "typical" family to live there for 30 days. And we know what happens when a typical family gets stuck together for 30 days anywhere.

The film is a tad dated and you must slog through hokey parts. We hear sixties bubblegum. There is an exceptional amount of slapstick fillers. However, it is fun to see actors before they were fully formed and those actors that are not with us anymore.

A partial list of actors: Tony Randall Janet Leigh Jim Backus Ken Berry Charlotte Rae Richard Dreyfuss Arnold Stang Harvey Lembeck - Beach Party (1963) - Eric Von Zipper

One day we may see a revival of Fluffy (1965) with Tony Randall and Shirley Jones. I was lucky enough to get a copy from the net.

Twee family adventure

[Leofwine_draca · 4/10 · 8 July 2020]

HELLO DOWN THERE is a twee and annoying Disney-style family adventure film about an ordinary American family who relocate to an undersea home in order to try life out. The inspiration is undoubtedly VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA mixed with LOST IN SPACE in the depiction of a suburban family in fish-out-of-water situations (no pun intended). Directed by a couple of underwater experts who add a little undersea photography for interest, this is generally a very middling and dated type of production that's far too wholesome for its own good. Tony Randall is the eccentric professor husband with the annoying character, while Janet Leigh does the best she can with the frustrated housewife role. Roddy McDowall and a boyish Richard Dreyfuss also appear. The appearance of some trained dolphins and a seal add to the fun a little, but otherwise this is forgettable fare with cheesy scripting and hackneyed plotting.

Wonderful Family Movie

[ldshome5 · 8/10 · 21 May 2006]

I was at the local Borders Books and saw this DVD. I was so excited! It was one of my favorite movies when I was a kid. Why? I loved the cute songs and the whole idea of living under the water. Plus, I was really into Flipper and loved the sea creatures in the film. I remember dreaming about living underwater and playing pretend ( I was probably 7-8 when I saw it the first time). My husband and I have 3 kids at home 16, 14 and 11. My husband had never seen but he knew all the actors and wanted to see them. Everyone in the family watched it and liked it very much. Lots of smiles and laughs! The kids are watching it for the second time today. We love all kinds of movies but love family type movies the best. Like all the great family movies and TV shows of that time, you will have a warm, happy feeling when it is over! I am so glad this is on DVD to be cherished and shared for generations. We don't have TV (would have it if the shows were like the late 60's early 70's)so my kids would never have been able to see it with out it being on Video or DVD. Thank you Technology for giving us choices!

I think It Has Aged Remarkably Well

[richard.fuller1 · 10/10 · 16 July 2005]

We watched Hello Down There one evening (surely it was a Friday, so there was no school the next day), all huddled on the bunk beds in the back bedroom, a water cooler set on the dresser beside the TV.

This was an incredible fantasy of a family living underwater.

As others have pointed out, it was virtually an all star cast.

Among them, Lou Wagner as Richard Dreyfuss' brother. Wagner would go on to be the little scientist on CHiPs in the white overcoat.

And Hennie Backus, Jim Backus' widow, as their mother. She appeared on Gilligan's Island as a native woman, mother to the obese native girl who loved Gilligan.

Here, she marches in and terrorizes poor Charlotte Rae.

The Green Onion was designed like it would be ideal for a TV series. Had this movie came out in the early sixties instead of '69, you can bet there would have been episodes and seasons available on DVD as well.

Plotwise, everything just flowed. From the visit of she who would be Gladys, the de-pressurizing of the leg, the sensational shark attack, the harmless songs (and yes, we too sang the Goldfish song for years and still do).

Just too much fun.

Rare moment to see Ken Berry as a villain as well! For some reason, the movie bogged in the sneaking out to get the song to Roddy McDowell. It just loses its feel of underwater existence. Perhaps had it gone in reverse and McDowell and Backus and Charlotte been trying to get to the Green Onion and Randall, Leigh and Dreyfuss had to rescue them instead, thereby keeping the Onion at centerstage where it belonged and had been for all of the previous movie, this thing would have been even more of a classic.

As it is, it is a big fave.

We watched it years ago, well into our twenties, my sibs and I, and found it puzzling.

Now, I got a copy of my own and just watched it. Terribly loved it.

My sister still sings the goldfish song to her teen aged children.

hello down there a bubbling good time!!!

[cjpete · 10/10 · 3 May 2001]

anyone who likes the jetsons or flipper will like this combination of both this is a movie for the entire family it compares to disney movies in a time when people are looking for some good clean fun you cant pass this one up if you ever come across this sea gem, watch it!!! the cast of star fish include tony randall his wife played by janet leigh his boss jim backus and thats only the beginning!!! its my all time favorite movie!!! see if its yours after you watch it!!!

Must See TV with the Kids

[vjsavannah · 9/10 · 9 February 2005]

This movie was released the year I was born. I was privilege to it some years later as a weekend movie. I have long since tried to find it on VHS. I've even put my wife, (who was 13 at release) on the hunt for the movie. The movie had so many realistic(now) properties in it. Then, it was truly unconceivable of a family living under the sea. I can still hear the song in my head after all these years. Hopefully I'll find this movie to add to my collection. Its definitely a must see with the kids. Can anyone at that time actually believe that we could live under water. I can only say its like the Jetsons leave their high rise and take the plunge into the ocean. The creators had a great for-sight into the future. Who knows, even now; someone may bring up the idea again for a sitcom. Hmmmmmmmm.

There'd Be More Room In The Sub If Roddy's Hair Weren't So Long

[cutterccbaxter · 10/10 · 27 April 2005]

There's an optimism in the visual style of this film -- along with hundreds of other Sixties comedies -- that will never be seen again. The colors are bright and heavily saturated. There isn't much narrative, but does it really matter when you've got dolphins, seals, sharks and Tony Randall swimming around under the sea? And seeing Richard Dreyfuss lip- syncing to groovy aquatic themed tunes in purple pants is really far out. It's nice to see (and hear) Janet Leigh scream without worrying about her getting hacked to bits like in "Psycho" or be tormented by hoodlums like in "Touch Of Evil." I always enjoy Jim Backus too.

Fun Campy Adventure

[tviet · 20 March 2004]

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.

Want to see this movie aired again!

[kheld-1 · 10/10 · 15 June 2004]

A favorite movie from childhood. Good clean fun, for the whole family. Packed with a cast of stars, this movie invites you to come along and tour the cool house under the sea. The kids have a rock band, it's hard to get the glug song out of your head. There are many good family films offered in today's times, but older films like Hello Down There out to be part of what's offered to kids and families today. Some may say that Hello Down There is 'behind the times' and the movies out today are so much more advanced with special effects and computer generated images. I think that's part of why it should still be aired, to remind us of simplicity and how movies are still excellent without having all the added special effects. I have searched high and low to purchase a copy of this movie for my video library, but it is not available. I would love to see this movie aired again so all of us can re-live it's charm and hilarity!

Funny & Entertaining

[mcc-5 · 20 February 1999]

It amazes me how many future "stars" are in this movie. In this day and age it might seem rather silly but I remember the movie well. My siblings also remember it with fondness.

Enjoyable if soggy kids' fare

[TVholic · 8/10 · 28 March 2019]

This movie is typical 1960s family fare, which isn't really a bad thing. It was brought to the screen by producer Ivan Tors, who had somewhat of an obsession with the underwater world. He famously created and produced the Flipper movies and TV show, so the similarity is quite understandable. (He also brought Sea Hunt, starring Lloyd Bridges, to the screen and the underwater scenes of the sunken bomber for the James Bond film Thunderball were filmed in his studios.) He was also a vocal advocate for family-friendly programming, which he believed at the time (and many believe now) was in short supply, casting himself in the mold of Walt Disney.

I first saw this as a youngster on a Saturday night movie, probably on ABC or possibly NBC. Only a few years after its theatrical release, it hadn't yet dated badly, even though we had already entered in the cynical post-Woodstock, post-Vietnam era. We kids could still look back at the '60s as a very bright, fun, mod and groovy decade, and this movie brought that all back. This is very much a snapshot of the era, complete with ecological awareness of the oceans. It fit in well in the era of not just Flipper, but also Sealab 2020. Overall, I give it eight stars not really because of the quality of the movie, but mostly for nostalgic value.

The cast was not exactly brimming with movie stars, but they were nevertheless household names, bringing their familiar personas from the little screen to the silver screen. Tony Randall plays the uptight, meticulous father role that likely got him cast as Felix Unger a year later, essentially the same character as Fred Miller with a few neuroses thrown in. Ken Berry plays the clumsy wimp a la Captain Parmenter, with a touch of underhandedness from the evil twin roles he liked to play on occasion. Jim Backus was all money-grubbing blustery blowhard, like Thurston Howell. Berry and Backus also worked together in Wake Me When the War Is Over, a TV movie broadcast only months after this was released. It does drive home just how long ago this movie was that all of the older cast members have left us. It's been 50 years now, and Randall, Janet Leigh, Berry, Backus, Roddy McDowell, Charlotte Rae, Merv Griffin and Harvey Lembeck are all gone, and the younger members of the cast are well into retirement age.

The script was fairly simplistic and repetitive at times, befitting a movie that wouldn't strain the attention span of its younger viewers.

The underwater "action" scenes will be very familiar if you've ever seen Flipper. Exciting for children, but reasonable adults won't get much of a rise out of them. The sharks are Caribbean reef sharks, which almost never attack humans and have never killed one in recent record. In fact, tourists pay good money to swim with Caribbean reef sharks. No sharks were harmed in the filming of the movie. The ones that the dolphins rammed with their noses were fiberglass, not real, and the "blood" gushing from the gills of live ones after the rammings were just food coloring squirted into their mouths.

I'd love to see this movie again... how can I?

[P. Smith · 28 September 1999]

I remember seeing this movie at the Theater back in '69 '70. I'd love to see it again. I saw Richard Dreyfus on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Jay played a small clip from the movie. Dreyfus seemed embarrassed and muttered something to the effect that he was trying to quash all copies of this movie. I don't think it has been released to video.

This Movie Has Everything

[Guitar-8 · 9/10 · 2 February 2008]

A piece of adventure, a hip rock band and future stars, make up this recipe for Hello Down There.

I was surprised that Richard Dreyfuss played a band member. He would go on to do many movies (including my personal favorite, Let It Ride). Charlotte Rae as Myrtle Ruth, fits her cup of tea, went on to Facts of Life. Let's not forget talk show host (and the man behind Jeopardy! when this movie aired), Merv Griffin. It's also one of the few movies that feature Jim and Henny Backus.

I highly recommend this classic, but campy movie to anyone reading this comment.