Amphibian Man (Человек-амфибия)

The Leningrad Order of Lenin Film Studio "Lenfilm"

AMPHIBIAN MAN

Based on the novel by A. Belyaev

Screenplay by A. GOLBURT, A. KSENOFONTOV, A. KAPLER

Directed by A. KAZANSKY, V. CHEBOTARYOV

Director of Photography E. ROZOVSKY

Production Designers V. ULITKO, T. VASSILKOVSKAYA

Music by A. PETROV Sound by L. VALTER

Starring

V. KORENEV as Ichthyander A. VERTINSKAYA as Gutiere

M. KOZAKOV as Zurita

N. SIMONOV as Salvatore A. SMIRANIN as Balthazar

V. DAVYDOV as Olsen

The events depicted in this film

started with the appearance of a mysterious, strange creature.

It looked like a human with fish scales

and huge toad-like eyes.

The fishermen dubbed him a "sea devil".

One day his footprints were found on the beach.

The local people claim that at night he was riding a dolphin,

loudly blowing his horn.

The newspapers reported that he had drowned a fishing boat,

dragged two young nuns into the ocean

and swallowed a pearl diver.

Don Pedro! The sea devil has struck again!

Such idiotic junk!

Believe me, where there's smoke, there's fire.

Nonsense.

The devil! The devil!

The sea devil!

What's the matter, you lazy good-for-nothings?

Why did you stop working?

A curse on your worthless heads! Get back!

The devil!

- Who did you see? - The devil, Master.

Then go and get acquainted with him.

Let him cool down. He's seeing all kind of nonsense.

Balthazar! How much do I owe you?

You must be kidding. It's me who owes you lots of money.

Then explain why your daughter is acting like a princess?

I couldn't dream of a better husband for Gutiere than you.

That's why I persuaded her to be your guest on your boat.

You must show her what a nice man you are.

I've done nothing else lately!

You don't seem to notice me.

I've noticed how you kicked Christo overboard.

Wait a minute, Gutiere!

It's true that sometimes I'm rough with others. But with you...

I love you.

I can offer you both my name and my fortune.

You're not one who gives away so much for nothing.

That's how you repay me for my kindness.

Must I pay already?

- You can't get away by running! - Then I'll swim!

She's got a will of her own!

Father! Send my things ashore!

That's too much!

Come back now!

You better go get her.

There's a shark!

Gutiere!

Help! Didn't you see the shark?

We're afraid of the sea devil!

Swine!

Easy now. Poor little darling!

It's a miracle. I saw the shark myself.

- All of us saw it. - I saw it too.

I split the shark wide open.

I understand everything, father. I wish I could love him.

But I can't help it.

Listen, Gutiere... What will become of us?

You know how many debts we have.

Think of me and my old age.

I hope you're feeling better.

Yes, thank you, Don Pedro.

She wants to tell you something important.

Really?

You tell him, father.

Don't worry. You can make a public announcement.

She will marry you.

To Gutiere! To you!

And to our children!

Your daughter won't be sorry. I'm rich as I am.

But soon, I'll be fantastically rich.

You know, I have an idea.

I'm going to get rid of those bums

and employ just one pearl diver.

Guess who it will be!

The sea devil!

Come on. An hour ago, you didn't believe in his existence.

I still don't believe in any sea devil.

But this is some smart creature living under water.

I've seen him as close as you now.

- Where? - Never mind.

I've seen him.

Miss, are you all right?

I came to find out how you are.

The devil!

The sea devil is out there!

Down there, on the anchor!

Get the nets ready! Hurry!

We won't risk our necks going after the sea devil.

Move! The net!

Maybe you just imagined it?

No, I didn't, father! He talked to me.

Faster! Use some muscle! Hurry!

I'll get him! No matter what it costs me!

You coming in with me on this?

- But I got no money... - Never mind that!

I'll lend you the money. You're in the family now.

Once we've got this creature, then we'll settle up.

I see this place is still under seven locks.

Come in, Mr. Olsen.

Please, wait here.

Ah, Olsen! It's been a long time!

It wasn't easy getting in.

It wasn't intended to keep you away.

Break those secret doors. Don't bury yourself alive.

I have my reasons to be afraid of people.

Twenty years ago a band of ignorant fools destroyed my laboratory.

They even tried to shoot me.

I hope you're not accusing the entire human race

of being as unprincipled as those vandals.

You still treat patients, don't you?

I'm a scientist. That's my duty.

Dear friend, I've come here for two reasons.

First, what can Dr. Salvatore tell our newspaper

about the sea devil?

Devils don't exist, either in the sea or on land.

That's all you can print as my statement.

Couldn't it be some creature not yet known to scientists?

You must be hungry. Will you join me for breakfast?

He's been seen here several times. Dive in once more, Balthazar.

- Drop the anchor. - Good!

You look like a pirate!

With such knives my forefathers

would slice out the stomachs of anyone who go in their way.

- Well, what? - I saw...

- What? Him? - No. His burrow.

It leads somewhere over there.

- Who lives up there? - God.

Quit joking.

I'm not joking. He must be a god.

He makes lame people walk, he gives blind people their sight.

We've got a devil in the bay and some god over it...

It's the home of the great Dr. Salvatore.

We won't waste our time then.

But that tunnel, that's where we're going to catch him.

Last week the prosecutor read my article

and a fine was imposed on our newspaper.

We don't have any money, our newspaper is for poor people.

Won't you be willing to lend us ten thousand?

Otherwise, we'll be closed.

My dear Olsen! If it's for you, you have only to ask.

But I won't give anything for your newspaper.

Thank you very much, but personally, I don't need a thing.

With me it's a matter of principle, not to get involved in politics.

So let's leave everything the way it is?

Not at all! The unfortunate people should be helped.

Not by a politician, or a newspaper man, but by a scientist.

- Really? - Yes.

- And that means you? - Exactly!

I will lead the poor to a land of abundance

where no one will oppress them.

Where to? Heaven? The moon?

No.

To the ocean!

At the bottom of the ocean, there're neither poor nor wealthy.

Everyone will be free and happy there.

Will it be a republic of the drowned?

Don't laugh. I am letting you in on a great secret.

Can you imagine an ocean

populated by people capable of breathing under water like fishes?

Dear friend, that sounds like a fairy tale.

No, it's not a fairy tale.

Come with me.

lchthyander!

The sea devil!

If you don't mind.

It's my son, lchthyander.

The first citizen of the underwater republic.

Change your clothes and come back here.

All right, father.

As a young boy, he contracted an incurable lung disease.

In a desperate attempt to save him

I replaced his lungs with the gills of a shark.

This risky operation was a success.

That's when I got the idea of creating an underwater republic.

I bow before your surgeon's skill.

But your idea of the underwater republic is an utopian dream.

What's to prevent poor and rich from springing up again?

I've already read all that in your newspaper.

Suppose you plant gills in everybody who wants them.

Human nature won't change.

People will miss the land.

Let's stop this discussion.

Don't be afraid. This is my friend, Olsen.

Tell me, you...

Don't you miss people, the land?

Today you have learned more than enough.