The O'Connells, not knowing that son Alex had quit college, felt estranged from him, remarking: "We can't let Alex become some stranger in pictures on our mantle."Alfred provided background on mercenary Bane: "Him and his men were behind a coup in West Africa that secured mining operations for our friend John Daggett.What remains of the film was directed by the ambitious, extravagant, stubborn and independent-minded Erich Von Stroheim - he spent nine months shooting the film and a total of fifteen months writing and editing it (from 1923-1924).[Jones later reported to Capt.Mancuso that the "phantom submarine" was headed for the Iceland coast and an underwater canyon landmark called Thor's Twins, and they took a pursuit course after it.