Review for Jacques Cousteau: The Silent World

Despite having had many a dreary Sunday afternoon cheered up through the late sixties and seventies by Jacques Cousteau and his crew aboard the Calypso, I don't think I ever saw this amazing feature debut which made him so famous in the first place. Co-directed with a young Louis Malle (better known for the Hitchcock style thrillers which followed this debut), it's not only a fabulously nostalgic blast to the past, it's a fabuously engaging documentary in its own right.


Once you've finished marveling at the wonderfully saturated Technicolor film stock, and commenting on how each and every tanned sailor is rarely seen without a Citanes dangling from their lips, or the brutal treatment of some of the creatures discovered enroute (surely no one would think riding on the back of a newly discovered giant turtle was acceptable these days?), you'll settle back into being completely mesmerized by the underwater world that this film so effectively revealed.


The film won an Oscar in its year of release (1956) for best documentary, as well as picking up a prestigious Palme d'Or at Cannes. It's easy, even now, to see why.


At the time this was one of the first films to show life deep underwater. It was like revealing the workings of an alien planet and it must have been awe-inspiring on release. Even with today's jaded eye, it's deeply fascinating.

Jacques Cousteau narrates the film with a charming, almost philosophical commentary, made all the more distinctive with his French accent.

On this outing, his crew (along with underwater filming experts) head out in the Calypso as it sails the Mediterranean and Red Seas, the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean.


The ship looks small and frail (I feel sure it was bigger in the 'Undersea World Of…') as it takes on the challenges of the deep. There is more than enough wonderment, as well as lots of personal peril to keep the drama up - and even a tragedy as a baby whale gets stuck under the propellers of their boat as it tries to reach its parents, and has to be disposed of. This is not a film for the very young as all the vagaries and cruelties of nature are here alongside the beauty and wonderment. (Good God - I'm beginning to talk like Mr. Cousteau!!).


Picture quality is excellent throughout (I guess originating on 16mm?) and I was viewing it on a decidedly dodgy DVD-R (which wouldn't let me see the latter part of the film without crashing). I don't know how much better the Blu-Ray might look, but from what I saw, the DVD looked very good indeed.


Like all good road movies, it's not long before you feel like one of the gang. An early taste of reality TV perhaps as the occupants of Calypso become as familiar as the residents of the Big Brother house. Even the cute dog seems like an old friend!


Yves Baudrier's score is worth a mention too as it provides much of the atmosphere and works perfectly to help create tension and emotion as required.
The film should not be confused (as if!) with JC's best-selling book of the same name. It covers only a single expedition (1954-55) and not the expanse of that particular tome. Recommended!