AllMovie

Lon Chaney Jr.-- still billed under his given name of Creighton Chaney -- was afforded one of his earliest leading roles in Monogram's 16 Fathoms Deep. Chaney is cast as Joe, a strapping young sponge fisherman who dreams of owning his own boat. Forced to borrow money from his rival Savanis (Georges Regas) to achieve his goal, Joe finds himself up to his ears in debts and usurious "interest." It's all part of a master plan concocted by Savanis to prevent Joe from marrying their mutual sweetheart Rosie (Sally O'Neil). The story is resolved by a plot device that would later be taboo when the Production Code went into effect. 16 Fathoms Deep was remade in 1948, with Lon Chaney Jr. recast as the villain.