The Tunnel (1935)

Best movie of this year hands down!

Fantastic!

Absolutely amazing

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Producer: Michael Balcon. A Gaumont-British picture. Copyright 11 November 1935 by Gaumont British Picture Corp. of America. New York opening at the Roxy: 27 October 1935. U.K. release through Gaumont-British Picture Corporation, Ltd: January 1936. Australian release through 20th Century-Fox: 17 June 1936. 10 reels. 94 minutes. U.K. release title: The TUNNEL. SYNOPSIS: In the mid-1940s, work begins on an underocean tunnel to link the United States and Great Britain. Twenty years later, after many vicissitudes, the project is completed. NOTES: A re-make of a 1933 German film Der Tunnel directed by Curtis Bernhardt, starring Paul Hartman and Ferdinand Marian.COMMENT: Although cursed with an impossibly dime-novel domestic plot, this is still an impressive piece of science fiction with some great models and special effects. No expense has been spared with sets and extras. Elvey has directed the action and mob scenes with assurance and flair. He's also managed to prevent the old-fashioned plot from swamping the more interesting construction work by handling it at a rapid pace. The four leads do what they can with their bits of romantic nonsense, with vampish Vinson coming off best. The support players, led by Smith, Sydney and Oscar, with guest cameos by Arliss and Huston, are as usual more interesting than the top-billed stars. A lot of money has been spent on this film. And it's all up there on the screen. OTHER VIEWS: Although the premise of an underocean tunnel may not seem all that promising, this science fiction classic is still a pretty stunning visual experience even in this day. No doubt many of the impressive sets were salvaged for use as stock shots from the German film. All the same, there are no visible joins.

An interesting futuristic film on the premise of building a tunnel under the Atlantic ocean to link Britian and the USA. Richard Dix is his usual stalwart presence as McAllan, an engineer who has in this scenario already created a tunnel under the English Channel, uniting France and England as of 1940, five years in the future from when the film was released.There are the usual disasters, delays and money problems. The crux of the film though rises from the tragic flaw of hubris (pride), which causes tragedy within the family of McAllan due to his dogged determination to put his job/his vision above all else.A slight problem results from casting both leading women (Madge Evans and Helen Vinson) since they resemble each other so closely, one has trouble following who is on screen. The best moment is the meeting of the two late in the film and the touching and illuminating scene that results.Leslie Banks is excellent as the best friend. Henry Oscar is a marvelous villain, self-assured and wickedly serene. Arliss and Huston have two back to back scenes, beginning at 43 minutes in and one hour and fifteen minutes in. They are quite short and constitute cameos.The real star here is the art direction of the tunnel itself.It is kept vague as to exactly how the USA and the UK are going to benefit from this tunnel, however. Seems more problematic than somewhat as opposed to sea or air travel.It's quite gripping and quite enjoyable. Recommended.

A grimly realistic story, set in the future (as visualized in 1935), about the building of an undersea tunnel between England and America. The opening scene (a meeting of millionaires and engineers discussing the project) is reminiscent of a similar scene in `Destination Moon', though it lacks the patriotic enthusiasm.The movie's basic message is also similar to `Destination Moon': determined men doing a big job despite colossal odds. The special effects are remarkable, the `futuristic' production designs are gorgeous, and the music is effective. There are some truly gripping moments in this fine motion picture. Especially memorable is the huge mechanism that drills the tunnel beneath the ocean.Modern day tunneling machines are amazingly similar to the one portrayed in this 67-year-old movie. Watch the Discovery Channel's `Extreme Machines' episode about tunneling machines if you'd like to compare for yourself.The final scene, showing cars entering the English entrance to the completed tunnel, is impressive when compared to the `chunnel' which now bridges England and Europe. `Transatlantic Tunnel' makes a great second feature for `Things to Come'.

Finally saw this movie after many years of eager anticipation only to find myself bored. I have to agree with Maltin's summary of the two-dimensional characterization of the players in this movie. The characters in this movie do nothing more than bicker and argue.The movie was released in Britain in 1935. A darkening time for Europe was on the horizon with Adolph Hitler's rise to power in Germany. The characters in the movie hint at using the tunnel for uniting the "English" speaking people of the world; not to mention the transportation of armaments to Britain should war break out! Perhaps this movie was supposed to quell the fears of the British by offering an avenue of escapism in the promise of new and revolutionary technology (ie. the Radium Drill!) to avert war.Never the less the movie does utilize futuristic sets and models that were ahead of their time and still hold their own today. Transportation historians will find this movie interesting. 6.5 out 10.