The Secret of the Loch (1934 - Public Domain)

Edited by David Lean -- The Secret of the Loch is a 1934 British film about the Loch Ness Monster. It is the first film made about the monster.

I've tried to restore it to a reasonable standard. I took the hiss, pops, crackle and noise out of the audio, enhanced the dialogue, and gave it a little stereo spread, and I gently de-noised, sharpened and upscaled the video (but Rumble lowers the resolution back to DVD quality?).

Charles Bennett said the film was based on his original idea. He later admitted it was "terrible... but amusing".

Plot:
Professor Heggie is determined to prove to a sceptical scientific community the existence of a dinosaur in Loch Ness. Young London reporter Jimmy Anderson believes him and offers to help. He also falls in love with Angela, the professor's granddaughter. Jimmy finally plucks up the courage to enter the Loch himself, and comes face to face with the monster.

Cast:
Seymour Hicks Professor Heggie
Nancy O'Neil Angela Heggie
Gibson Gowland Angus
Frederick Peisley Jimmy Anderson
Eric Hales Jack Campbell, the Diver
Rosamund John Maggie Fraser, the Barmaid
Ben Field Piermaster
Robert Wilton Reporter
Hubert Harben Professor Blenkinsop Fothergill
Fewlass Llewellyn Scientist at Meeting
Stafford Hilliard Macdonald
D. J. Williams Judge
Clive Morton Reporter/Photographer in Pub
Cyril McLaglen Mate

Production :
Charles Bennett and Billie Bristow visited Loch Ness in December 1933 to research the film. The film was also known as Sinister Deeps. The film was shot over four weeks. In the film, the "monster" in actually a live iguana.

Critical reception:
TV Guide called the film "a trite programmer which doesn't make one believe in the humans' actions, much less the sea serpent's"; while Allmovie called it a "fairly amusing British monster movie...obscure but entertaining oddity"; and Britmovie noted an "enjoyable comic romp."