Honestly, I think "Fathom" represents one of many wasted opportunities to utilize Raquel Welch at her full potential. To me, the Raquel of "One Million Years BC" always suggested someone who had the capability to be totally independent and resourceful and sexy all in one package, and to me "Fathom" squanders things by making her too gullible and too easily manipulated. I would have much preferred to see Raquel show a lot more intelligence and not have to be bailed out by Tony Franciosa (why does this doofus get top billing??) at so many junctures. Raquel has always exuded a presence that would make her believable if she'd been a little more kick-ass independent (and in "Kansas City Bomber" she got to show that) and not afraid in a tight spot, but it always seems like filmmakers were afraid to use her that way.
Raquel's bikini scene is the best part of the film, but not just beacuse she spends 20 minutes in a bikini, but because she comes off as being in command so easily. The moment where she charms Clive Revill and then deftly tosses away her earring with the explosive down the vent is the best moment in the film and if all her scenes had exuded that confident aura of command, this would have been a much better film.
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