From the Bottom of the Sea (1911) Online

This is the first two-reel Imp release. Briefly, it may be summed up as a sugar-coated educational picture dealing as it does principally with the operation and maneuvering of a United States submarine war vessel. Perhaps the principal difficulty of making a picture of this kind is the obtaining of permission from the government officials to allow a moving picture company such unlimited use of one of their vessels. In "From the Bottom of the Sea" we have one of the most interesting nautical pictures that has been produced in many a day and millions of people will marvel when it is finally released. There has been woven around these naval maneuvers a story of heart interest that will keep it from being a dry educational picture to those who prefer human interest in the pictures. The story is a simple one, dealing with the love of a young ensign for the daughter of a United States Naval Lieutenant. The young man's love is reciprocated, but her father withholds his consent, for the reason that the young man has not yet made his mark. Hovering about is an attaché of the Diplomatic Corps of a foreign power. He is a much older man than the young ensign and far more able to undertake the responsibilities of matrimony. But the lieutenant's daughter has made her choice and the lucky man is the ensign. News comes that the ensign has been detailed to command a submarine torpedo boat. The lovers are pleased with this news, for they hope that soon this first commission will give the ensign an opportunity to prove his worth. He pays a visit to the submarine lying at the wharf accompanied by the unscrupulous diplomat, whom he does not suspect of any evil design. While in the hull of the deep sea vessel the foreign attaché manages to steal the ballast tank blow valve, which is a part of the compressed air apparatus used in sinking and raising the vessel. Carefully concealing this beneath his coat the attaché leaves the vessel in company with the ensign. The ensign returns later with the father of his sweetheart who is to go with the young suitor on the first trial spin and instruct him in the ways of handling the craft. From this point forward the film becomes extremely interesting because of the maneuvers of the submarine boat. We see the perfect handling of this remarkable craft as it rises and dips beneath the waves, completely submerging itself and rising again with an exactness and certainty that leaves little doubt in the mind of any beholder as to the practicability of the modern submarine. Following the thread of the story, there is trouble below with the vessel when an attempt is made to rise. The men are shown undergoing the physical and mental hardships incident to such a perilous predicament, all of which is done in a remarkably realistic way. The acting, of course, is good, but what helps it immensely is the remarkable interior setting of the submarine vessel, which is pictured herewith. This interior setting deserves more than passing notice. The producers exerted every effort to make it an exact counterpart of the interior of the U.S.S. "Octopus," a submarine vessel stationed at Newport, R.I., where the picture was taken. A photograph was taken of the interior of the "Octopus," measurements were carefully taken down and the scene was made with these as a pattern. Several days of painstaking work resulted in this stage setting, which cannot be commended too highly. So careful were the Imp people in arranging this scene that all the machinery represented was genuine and practical mechanism. Steamfitters were employed to cut and join the pipes, the valves and gauges and other mechanical parts. The scene in itself is a lesson on the interior construction of a submarine boat. We get an idea of the working of the periscope, which is an instrument that enables the sailors to see what is going on above the water line, while they themselves are 18 feet below. We see the water-depth gauge and the workings of compressed air apparatus in discharging torpedoes, rising and lowering the craft, etc., etc. The point in the story is reached where the sailors are beginning to feel the terrible effects of their imprisonment. One of them goes out of his mind and unless something is done by some volunteer all hands will perish. This is the opportunity for the young ensign to make his name, and he is not long in realizing it. As the inspiration comes to him he volunteers to make his exit through the torpedo tube and go for help above. It is a desperate chance, but the only one. Into the torpedo tube he goes fearlessly. The heavy breech is closed and locked and he is propelled far out into the water by the great force of compressed air and is shot above the waves as by a catapult. He quickly reaches the parent ship which usually accompanies submarines on trial trips. This boat is equipped with a complete diving apparatus and other paraphernalia for the quick assistance of disabled submarines. It is not generally known, perhaps, that modern submarines are tapped on the side for a fresh air supply. A diver descends from the boat with an air tube, which he screws into a tap on the side of the submarine, and at once a fresh supply of air is pumped to the men within. By these heroic means did the young ensign rescue the vessel and all those on board, including the father of the girl he loved. The villainous naval attaché is confronted by the young ensign and accused of his murderous act which, no doubt, is the end of his official usefulness. After this the two lovers are gratefully united by the lieutenant and the young ensign honored and applauded by the seamen. - The Moving Picture World, November 4, 1911