5/10
First adaptation based on Jules Verne's novel rendered in a silent film
17 June 2012
First retelling based on Jules Verne's fantasy-adventure novel with unknown cast and extraordinary scenarios . Silent take on for cinema , filmed in on location in Bahamas . When Jules Verne wrote this famed novel , the startling inventions impressed the world as being the limit of imagination and impossibility . The scenes were made possible by the Williamson Brothers inventions with submarine photoplay ever filmed . The film talks about the known story from Jules Verne novel , a real masterpiece ; 1868 ,the oceans are no longer safe , many ships have been lost, the sailors have returned to New England's fishing port with tales of vicious giant whale with long horn . The naturist and biologist expert named professor Pierre Aronnax and his daughter undertake a dangerous mission . Aronnax , his daughter , along with a professional whaler and famous harpoonist named Ned Land join forces in an expedition commanded by captain Farragut that attempt to unravel the mysterious sinking ships by an unknown creature . Aboard the ship called USS Abrahan Lincoln , they go out to investigate . At sea, Professor Aronnax was aboard the ship when Nautilus rammed it and threw the Professor, his helper and Ned Land into the water . They are captured and get thoroughly involved with power-hungry captain Nemo (Allen Hollubar, being in Disney version masterfully played by James Mason) and take an extraordinary adventure underseas in an advanced submarine called Nautilus . Prisoners at first, they are now treated as guests to view the underwater world and to hunt under the waves. Nemo will also tells them about the riveting submarine of the future and the revenge that has driven him for all these years . Our heroes get stuck in the ship , undergoing numerous adventures and suffering innumerable perils .

Exciting and thrilling submarine movie dealing with the Nautilus captained by Nemo , rendition from ¨20,000 Leagues¨, but also another Verne novel, ¨Mysterious Island¨, so the result is that there are two diverse tales taking place which don't at all seem to fit together, until ultimately they come together in the strange conclusion, which makes little relation in respect to the original classic . It displays sensational adventures , drama , marvelous scenarios and is enjoyable but dated . This film became famous for its groundbreaking work in actual underwater photography by George M. Williamson and J. Ernest Williamson who alone had solved the secret under-water sea photography . The actual undersea footage was shot in the Bahamas due to the unusually clear water . When this film was remade by Walt Disney 38 years later, they came to this same spot for their undersea footage . Fascinating submarine movie blends action , disaster spectacle, hokey fun , suspense and emotional happenings . Surprise-filled entertainment and with plenty of action on grand scale with breathtaking special effects by that time and some ships and submarine by maquette or scale model and filmed in Leonia, New Jersey, Universal Studios , Universal City, California, and New Providence Island, Bahamas . The underwater scenes , sea animals , flamboyant FX to make large-size Octopus seem like horrible monster , all of them are spectacular and the film is an early Hollywood product . However , a confuse plot and overlong runtime became a little boring film . This vintage story was regularly directed by Stuart Paton , it results to be an old mute (1916) with archaeological interest . The motion picture will appeal to fantasy-adventure buffs and silent movie aficionados .

The best adaptation turns out to be the Walt Disney production (1954) , marvelously directed by Richard Fleischer , James Mason plays a serious revenger captain Nemo ; Paul Lukas plays perfectly Annorax as intelligent scientific ; and Ned Land played by Kirk Douglas as a stubborn sailor who spends most of their time devising intelligent ways for escape . Other versions from this unforgettable novel are the following : for TV (1997) directed by Rod Hardy with Michael Caine , Mia Sara and Patrick Dempsey ; and another Television film (1997) directed by Michael Anderson with Ben Cross and Richard Crenna ; furthermore a cartoon movie directed by Arthur Rankin.
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