This version also reduces the role of Diane Webber. This DVD promotes the nude version of the film, where many shots of topless girls (not even wearing mermaid tails!) are inserted into the story. Finally, the full color version has been released on a DVD called PSYCHOTRONICA VOL 3, paired with another film. Until recently, it has only been available as a bad black and white dub. I remember seeing "Tiburon" when it first was released and loving the wonderful COLOR photography. There are a number of shots showing her interacting with the fauna of the area, including a particularly remarkable shot of her with a large puffer fish, and another showing her feeding an absolute swarm of small fish. Her Queen Mermaid character doesn't have much development, but her performance has a lot of simple charm. In most, if not all of the underwater scenes it was actually her. Diane Webber was pretty impressive, however. Of course the infamous Tim Carey as the bad guy doesn't hurt, but considering his wonderfully characteristic voice, he could have used more dialog. And although it was low budget, the choice of location and clever imagery give it a bit more polish. It was directed and photographed by John Lamb, who clearly knew how to shoot underwater scenes. What distinguishes "Mermaids of Tiburon" is that it takes place mostly in the ocean, and often underwater. More recently "Aquamarine" successfully reinvented the myth for a younger female audience, and it's probably the most successful mermaid story other than "Peabody." I even prefer it to "Splash." What all these movies have in common, however, is that they find ways to keep the story on dry land. "Night Tide" (with Dennis Hopper) is a more nightmarish take on the idea, and "Splash" with Darryl Hannah and Tom Hanks is a more humorous take. It's a bit dated, but still quite appealing. William Powell plays a man going through an old age crisis who catches mermaid Ann Blythe on a fishing trip. The best of the older American bunch, however, is "Mr. The black and white "Miranda" and its color sequel "Mad About Men," British films starring Glynnis Johns, are recommended, but only recently have become available on DVD or streaming. There have only been a handful of good live action movies with a mermaid as a central character. Clocking in at a mere 77 minutes, it's always watchable. This has an agreeable midnight movie feel to it at all times, and it's sure to appeal to lovers of obscure B pictures. The physical charms of the mermaid performers are impossible to resist, with Playboy Playmate Diane Webber (who would again play a mermaid on an episode of the series 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea') and Gaby Martone placed front and centre. He does a decent job, and Carey is great malevolent fun as one could expect. Rowe never speaks on camera instead his dialogue is entirely expressed in voice over narration. Not a lot may happen in "Mermaids of Tiburon", yet it just pulls a viewer right in with its ambiance, enhanced by a beautiful music score courtesy of Richard LaSalle. The real world also intrudes harshly, as a greedy fellow pearl hunter, Milo Sangster (played by the legendary screen psycho Timothy Carey) shows up using unscrupulous methods in the search for treasure. Well, George finds something else entirely: a grouping of exquisite mermaids who fascinate him. George Rowe, in his only acting gig, plays Samuel Jamison, a marine biologist with Marineland who accepts a gig offered to him by elderly gentleman Ernst Steinhauer (John Mylong of "Robot Monster"): travel to the waters around Tiburon, an island off the coast of Mexico, in search of pearls. It may take a viewer out of the story to some degree seeing that not all of the mermaids have fins, but the film remains a interesting and erotic experience. The underwater scenes in this thing are just gorgeous - and, naturally, the women are all gorgeous too. Given Lambs' background, it's not surprising that the visuals are so strong. It has a sedate pace, not much of a story, and not a whole lot of action, so it won't be for all tastes, but cult movie lovers who love the surreal are sure to find it quite engaging. "Mermaids of Tiburon" has a wonderful, otherworldly quality about it, thanks to the efforts of writer / director John Lamb, who's best known as a top notch underwater photographer.
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