Watch this only for curiosity value.
It's a hybrid, between a few poorly performed "talkie" sequences and sound grafted to a basically "silent" film, just when the transition to sound was making it necessary to doctor many a release and give it some talking scenes.
Ironically, the weakest, or worst part of the whole film comes during the first fifteen minutes of expository dialog between two distinguished actors--LIONEL BARRYMORE and MONTAGU LOVE.
Barrymore is the complete ham actor, mopping his brow and running his hand through his hair and avoiding eye contract with Montagu Love, presumably so that he can view the cue cards for all of his dialog. Love at least appears to be paying attention to Barrymore, but you have to wonder what he was thinking. Probably: "Boy, is he overacting all over the place!!" Things don't get much better when the plot about fish people beneath the sea and submarines devised to go below surface--this is Jules Verne remember--well, you have it. It's all comic book stuff ruined by the use of fake miniatures and primitive B&W photography. The only performer who seems to be playing his role with any sense of normalcy is LLOYD HUGHES as the romantic lead.
Summing up: A poor attempt to give this Jules Verne tale a proper transition to the screen--but unable to do so with a crazy blend of "silent" and "talkie" techniques that serve only to destroy all the possibilities of entertainment value. Definitely not a suitable project for anyone to undertake in 1929.
It's a hybrid, between a few poorly performed "talkie" sequences and sound grafted to a basically "silent" film, just when the transition to sound was making it necessary to doctor many a release and give it some talking scenes.
Ironically, the weakest, or worst part of the whole film comes during the first fifteen minutes of expository dialog between two distinguished actors--LIONEL BARRYMORE and MONTAGU LOVE.
Barrymore is the complete ham actor, mopping his brow and running his hand through his hair and avoiding eye contract with Montagu Love, presumably so that he can view the cue cards for all of his dialog. Love at least appears to be paying attention to Barrymore, but you have to wonder what he was thinking. Probably: "Boy, is he overacting all over the place!!" Things don't get much better when the plot about fish people beneath the sea and submarines devised to go below surface--this is Jules Verne remember--well, you have it. It's all comic book stuff ruined by the use of fake miniatures and primitive B&W photography. The only performer who seems to be playing his role with any sense of normalcy is LLOYD HUGHES as the romantic lead.
Summing up: A poor attempt to give this Jules Verne tale a proper transition to the screen--but unable to do so with a crazy blend of "silent" and "talkie" techniques that serve only to destroy all the possibilities of entertainment value. Definitely not a suitable project for anyone to undertake in 1929.