User Reviews

This rarely seen West German/ South African exploitation flick, originally titled 'Dooie Duikers Deel Nie' (which translates to No Gold For Dead Divers, or something like that) was actually released in early 1974, nearly a year and a half before Jaws took a bite out of cinemas. It was later reissued Stateside under the 'Deadly Jaws' moniker, despite having virtually nothing to do with sharks. The barely glimpsed sharks, and one octopus, are seemingly stock footage edited from some other movie.

This is, instead, a fairly mild tale about a sunken treasure worth billions of DM off the coast of South Africa, and the various divers, and professional treasures hunters, who set out to find this long lost gold.

Exquisite tropical photography (both above water and below) , decent enough acting and directing, but the screenplay leaves a lot to be desired, as it is hardly original.

Deadly Jaws (1974)

** (out of 4)

The title might make this sound like another Jaws rip off but it's actually another sunken treasure film. Two divers find a treasure map, which apparently points to a sunken treasure below the ocean. They hire a professional to help them get the gold but this guy turns out to have a few secrets of his own. This is a rather strange German film that is being sold in the recently released "Grindhouse Experience Vol 2" collection but those expecting anything like that are going to be disappointed because the film is certainly PG rated from start to finish. The film actually isn't too bad as we get some nice underwater photography, which certainly steals the show. We also get several close up looks at various sea creatures including an octopus and a Hammerhead shark. What doesn't work is the actual screenplay, which is rather bland and doesn't offer anything new. We get the same turning on each other aspect as well as various members of the crew having secrets. The ending when the divers are attacked by Mexican pirates is pretty over the top. Another annoying thing is that every time the director builds up some suspense it's over before it begins. In one scene one of the divers is surrounded by sharks and can't float up to the top but then the very next second he's up on the boat and we never get to see how he escaped. This film isn't bad but it's nothing special either.

It should also be noted that the DVD features a good, full screen print but there are forced Japanese subtitles.

A rather tired plot of people looking for sunken treasure decently directed and performed by a German crew-- except for the female performer who parades around in brassiere and briefs as if she spends the rest of her time wearing leather and an SS uniform. The usual betrayals occur and for the most part it is forgettable, except for the Japanese titles that parade across the bottom of the DVD. And the photography.

The cinematography by veteran DP Franz X. Lederle borders on brilliant and makes this otherwise bad movie more than worthwhile. I'm not sure where the location shooting took place, but it has an immediacy and tropical brilliance I have rarely seen in the movies; the moving shots are well calculated and the underwater photography is superb.