Tunneling the Channel (1907)
*** 1/2 (out of 4)
aka Le Tunnel sous la Manche ou le cauchemar anglo-français
This fourteen-minute film is the perfect example of the saying "The Magic of Melies." The French president and the English king have a meeting and then that night they both dream about building a tunnel to connect their beloved homes. We then see how the tunnel would be built and the final outcome of such an adventure. TUNNELING THE CHANNEL is a perfect film to show someone unfamiliar with what the French master could do because it's just so entertaining and the level of imagination going on will keep a smile on your face from start to finish. I think some of the greatest moments happen when we see the tunnel once it's finished and we get to see how it's going to be used. I really enjoyed the little touches that Melies brought to the picture including the fish in the water above the tunnel. I also really liked the special effects and especially the one at the very end, which I won't mention so that I don't give the surprise away. The film starts off in B&W but turns over to the hand tint and it's quite beautiful and very effective.
*** 1/2 (out of 4)
aka Le Tunnel sous la Manche ou le cauchemar anglo-français
This fourteen-minute film is the perfect example of the saying "The Magic of Melies." The French president and the English king have a meeting and then that night they both dream about building a tunnel to connect their beloved homes. We then see how the tunnel would be built and the final outcome of such an adventure. TUNNELING THE CHANNEL is a perfect film to show someone unfamiliar with what the French master could do because it's just so entertaining and the level of imagination going on will keep a smile on your face from start to finish. I think some of the greatest moments happen when we see the tunnel once it's finished and we get to see how it's going to be used. I really enjoyed the little touches that Melies brought to the picture including the fish in the water above the tunnel. I also really liked the special effects and especially the one at the very end, which I won't mention so that I don't give the surprise away. The film starts off in B&W but turns over to the hand tint and it's quite beautiful and very effective.