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Transatlantic Tunnel VHS

VHS

Richard Dix (Actor), Leslie Banks (Actor), Maurice Elvey (Director) Rated:

12 customer reviews

VHS Tape
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(Dec 01, 1997)

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Product details

Actors: Richard Dix, Leslie Banks, Madge Evans, Helen Vinson
Directors: Maurice Elvey
Format: Black & White, NTSC
Rated:
NR
Not Rated
Number of tapes: 1
Studio: Timeless Multimedia
VHS Release Date: December 1, 1997
Run Time: 71 minutes
Average Customer Review: 12 customer reviews
ASIN: B00001U0GC
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #530,327 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

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Mark Savary

Interesting futurism...

April 14, 2002

Format: VHS TapeVerified Purchase

Although a bit dry and strangely dispassionate, especially by today's standards, "Transatlantic Tunnel" is worth a viewing for sci-fi buffs.
The film starts out well enough, with some millionaires sitting around listening to a private symphony. The only real humor in the entire film happens here, where there is an exchange between one of the group and his wife: "Doesn't this song ever end?" To which she replies, "It's Beethoven... he's dead." "Good!" says the millionaire.
The group is at the home of a wheelchair-bound visionary, named Lloyd (C. Aubrey Smith), for the purpose of undertaking the greatest engineering feat of all time; the construction of an underground tunnel between Britain and America. The reasoning for building the tunnel is pretty weak, and the excuse of a tense political state between the US and England is laughable.
Regardless of common sense, construction is approved, and work begins from both the US side and the British side. As work speeds along (thanks to the invention of a "radium drill,"), the plot sinks into a mire of melodrama. The architect and hero of the story is Richard 'Mack' McAllan. His wife is jealous of the tunnel, as it keeps her obsessed husband from staying by her side. His best friend (played by Leslie Banks), who also works on the tunnel, spends more time with the wife than the husband. Any interesting plot twist that could come from this triangle (such as an adulterous affair), is glossed over and avoided. An interesting subplot, in which an arms dealer tries to take control of the corporation charged with building and running the tunnel is never resolved. There are also romantic complications with Lloyd's beautiful daughter that evaporate well before the film ends (I have Timeless Video's release, which clocks in at 71 minutes, while the original film is reportedly 94 minutes).
Along the way, there are threats of a debilitating poisoned gas which causes "tunnel sickness", and a volcanic explosion that kills hundreds of workers (including Mack's son).
This is an excellent example of Depression Era futurism. Like "Things to Come", this film shows that mankind can achieve greatness through science if we all work together towards a common goal, forsaking the dangers and tragedies that may be unleashed. The thinking of the day that the wealth and vision of the rich, combined with the genius of those in industry, will somehow save the world from itself is somewhat quaint.
The film has some good special effects, but I wouldn't say they were necessarily groundbreaking. The travel cars are interesting, as are the hospital transports and futuristic motorcars and airplanes. A precourser of the big screen in Times Square shows mass-communication via video and loudspeaker (although the announcer looks more like a scary, Orwellian authority figure than a friendly source of information). That and the early use of TV and 2-way TV communication set the film apart.
As for the print, it was pretty muddy and transferred in EP mode, but more or less watchable. I would have preferred a sharper image to better see the models of the radium drill. Also, about half-way through the Timeless Video version, there is a messy reel switch complete with countdown leader.

10 people found this helpful11 people found this helpful

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Mike

Bravo for 1935

March 19, 2016

Format: Prime VideoVerified Purchase

Good showing for an early talkie. Nothing super spectacular, just a movie. A bit long, but that's life. What was the American side doing this whole time? They didn't run into volcanos?

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JimmyBDesertSea

One Star

May 28, 2016

Format: Prime VideoVerified Purchase

Like watching glue dry.

One person found this helpful2 people found this helpful

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Debbie

BELIEVE AND IT SHALL BE DONE

August 19, 2016

Format: Prime VideoVerified Purchase

An excellent movie even by today's standards. So well done and believable that one believes a Transatlantic Tunnel could be accomplished. Tremendous sets and vehicles are way ahead of their time.

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MACSHE

Five Stars

March 17, 2016

Format: Prime VideoVerified Purchase

entertaining good print

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jaspar45

Grandfather's Future World

April 5, 2011

Format: VHS TapeVerified Purchase

Although its star is Richard Dix, once an immensely popular cowboy hero, "Transatlantic Tunnel" (1935)is most notable for three elements: its "Things to Come" futurism, the very deliberate "hands across the sea" political subtext of the lead-up to WWII, and one of the last appearances of the great British stage and screen actor, George Arliss (1867-1946). The futuristic sets are very Bauhaus, modernist and simple, and impart the feeling of a very solid world in which Britain and America would clearly guide man's destiny in a positive direction. The tunnel-drilling machine (called the "Radium Drill") exactly prefigures the machine which finally frilled "The Chunnel" between England and France, including the principle of starting from both shores and meeting in the middle. Its depiction is pretty impressive for the technology of the times. As the British Prime Minister, George Arliss embodies the spirit Anglo-American cooperation, in a three-piece suit with watch-and-chain. He is determined and sincere, and his two static speeches in the House of Commons were inspirational and optimistic, delivered when they were. "Transatlantic Tunnel" is not great film-making, or even high melodrama. It is, however, a wonderful little time capsule, and worth the price of the purchase.

One person found this helpful2 people found this helpful

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pzac

Way Ahead of its Time

February 27, 2016

Format: Prime VideoVerified Purchase

A great movie far ahead of its time.

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Amazon Customer

INTERESTING BRITISH CURIO.

November 11, 2002

Format: VHS Tape

Set in the future, this little 1935 Gaumont film is cast with four American actors: Richard Dix, Madge Evans, Walter Huston and Helen Vinson. The plot deals with an undersea tunnel being contructed beneath the Atlantic Ocean which would connect England and the United States. Despite the fact that the film was made 67 years ago, the special effects lend credibility to the effort, showing how air locks are shut down during a disaster, and how people could be trapped inside forever and other troubles faced during construction. The process is actually shown to the public via television and some of the more disasterous scenes are starkly realistic. Dix is the designer of the tunnel who keeps in contact with his family only through telephone or television: this picture was years ahead of its time, as it conveys some very real touches. Very surprising is the sight of Walter Huston playing the role of the U.S. President. Huston was in England to to another film at the time and was kept waiting while the production was delayed - he accepted this role in order to fill time. The great George Arliss is seen as the Prime Minister of England. A very interesting vintage Sci-Fi film any which way you look at it.

7 people found this helpful8 people found this helpful

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