Transatlantic Tunnel (1935)

A team of international scientists and engineers attempts to build a tunnel under the ocean.

Director:

Maurice Elvey

Writers:

Bernhard Kellermann (novel) (as B. Kellermann), Curt Siodmak (screen story) (as Kurt Siodmak)

Stars:

Richard Dix, Leslie Banks, Madge Evans

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Richard Dix	...	Richard McAllan
Leslie Banks	...	Frederick Robbins
Madge Evans	...	Ruth McAllan
Helen Vinson	...	Varlia Lloyd
C. Aubrey Smith	...	Lloyd
Basil Sydney	...	Mostyn
Henry Oscar	...	Grellier
Hilda Trevelyan	...	Mary
Cyril Raymond	...	Harriman
Jimmy Hanley	...	Geoffrey McAllan
George Arliss	...	Prime Minister of Great Britain (as Mr. George Arliss)
Walter Huston	...	President of the United States (as Mr. Walter Huston)

Storyline

Engineers Richard McAllan and Frederick Robinson manage to get financial backing for a gigantic project to build a tunnel from England to America. His biggest supporter is Varlia Lloyd, daughter of one of the backers, and she uses her influence more than once to keep the project going. Mack's wife Ruth is also supportive, although his constantly being away on the tunnel project strains their marriage, and affects his relationship with their son. After years of financial skulduggery and physical obstacles under the ocean floor, the tunnel proceeds as Mack's marriage and his friendship with Robbie deteriorate.

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Plot Keywords:

tunnel builder | drilling machine | transatlantic tunnel | troubled marriage | dead son | 

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Taglines:

The next wonder of the world is the wonder of the movie world

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

November 1935 (UK)

Also Known As:

Transatlantic Tunnel

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gaumont British Picture Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Full Range Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the movie's fictional time line, the Channel Tunnel was built in 1940. The real opening date of the "Chunnel" was 1994.

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Quotes

Varlia Lloyd: You don't like him do you?
Mostyn: One likes human beings.

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Crazy Credits

At the end of the opening credits, a card comes up with "Gaumont-British Picture Corpn. Ltd. were fortunate in securing the services of Mr. George Arliss and Mr. Walter Huston for the parts of Prime Minister of Great Britain and President of the United States."

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Connections

Version of Der Tunnel (1915)

User Reviews

early sci-fi from Great Britain

Quite similar to "Just Imagine" from 1930, where they try to give some insight into what the future will look like. Some cool inventions, like picture telephones, airplanes that can hover like the Osprey, and the "radium" tunnel drill. They even talk about the man who "built the Channel Tunnel in 1940" . Another viewer mentions that at the end, they saw cars driving into the tunnel, but I never saw that. I saw the 92 min, 40 sec version on TCM in March 2008, so it seems there's a minute or two missing from the TCM print. "Tunnel" stars Richard Dix and Leslie Banks, with various other co-stars. It combines the challenge of building a tunnel (where the shareholders keep pulling the financing) with a troubled family life. They even take a couple swipes at millionaires. George Arliss, star of the silents, appears as the British Prime Minister. The big shot shareholders take a minute to point out that the lead engineer is "just another employee, and he must remember that!" When he asked why they couldn't tell him what was wrong over the telephone, they insisted he come in person... I wondered if they were avoiding saying things over the air, but they don't indicate that (this was just prior to WW II) I also felt bad for the workers down in the tunnel -- heavy equipment is being pulled up on cable, but no-one is wearing hardhats. Fun to watch if you keep in mind that it was made in 1935. I could have done without the silly side portraits of the key characters at the last couple minutes, but someone must have felt that added something. Entertaining early science fiction.