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Amphibian Man

Amphibian Man (Russian: Человек-амфибия, translit. Chelovek-amfibiya) is a 1962 Soviet science fiction romance film starring Vladimir Korenev and Directed by Vladimir Chebotaryov and Gennadi Kazansky.
It is an almost fable-like story based upon the eponymous novel by Alexander Beliaev. It focuses on a boy named Ichtyandr who was surgically altered to survive under the sea. Unlike traditional science fiction movies of the time the film focuses much more on the concept of love won and lost. It was given the name of Tarzan des Mers before the estate of Edgar Rice Burroughs took exception.[1]
The film was the leader of Soviet distribution in 1962 (65.5 million viewers). It is little-known in the West, but has become a cult classic.
Plot

The story is set in a seaside port, largely among a community of pearl fishers. The protagonist is the son of a doctor/scientist who was sometime in the past forced to save his son's life by implanting him with gills. Thus he is able to live under water, but must keep his secret from the world. The conflict arises from his falling in love with a pearl-fisher's beautiful daughter. His secret is discovered and the girl's stern father attempts to exploit Ichtyandr for his ability. Due to being kept caged under water, he loses the ability to live in the open air, and must now permanently live in the sea. Although set free, the lovers are permanently parted from each other.
Although ostensibly a lost-love-tragedy like Romeo and Juliet, the film has a significant focus on greed and commercial exploitation (of the pearl-greedy fishermen), possibly under the influence of Socialist Realism.
Directed by Vladimir Chebotaryov
Gennadi Kazansky
Written by Alexander Beliaev (novel)
Akiba Golburt
Aleksei Kapler
Aleksandr Ksenofontov

cast:
Starring Vladimir Korenev
Anastasiya Vertinskaya

Music by Andrei Petrov
Cinematography Eduard Rozovsky
Studio Lenfilm
Distributed by BijouFlix Releasing
National Telefilm Associates (NTA) Inc.
Release date(s) December 19, 1962
Running time 82 min.
Country Soviet Union
Language Russian

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THIS FILM WAS SCREENED AT THE BALAR ARANGAM (Later remodelled and christened as Kalaivanar Arangam, now demolished) at Chennai, as a children's film and ticket rate was 6 paise for children and 12 paise for adults. I was fortunate to see the movie at 6 paise since I was a school boy and after almost 50 years I am now seeing this film as a clip along with you.