![20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1916) [VHS]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/2160RQ0N1DL.__AC_QL70_ML2_.jpg)
This 1916 silent movie is actually a combination of Jules Verne's "Mysterious Island" and "20,000 Leagues under the Sea". The grand scope of the books has been necessarily condensed, but the resulting tale is consistent, and important elements of the original works remain recognizable. One of the exclusively male characters in each of Verne's stories are women in the film and the combined plots are adjusted accordingly. Some of visuals and even Nemo's look are modeled after the Hildibrand engravings in the 19th century Verne editions. The underwater sequences are usually cited as an important breakthrough for cinema. The scenes showing sea life and divers walking on the sea floor are quite impressive but the Nautilus model looks very toy-like. I personally like the 1910s naivete of the film, particularly the amusing "child of nature" sequences on the island. To a modern viewer the whole film has a certain charm. It is worth viewing for its historical value and as an interpretation of Verne's work. It is a significant addition to any Jules Verne collection.
