"Tunneling the English Channel" is a slightly amusing fantasy-adventure film from Georges Méliès. In it, England's King Edward VII and France's President Armand Fallières share a dream (literally) of creating a tunnel through the English Channel, or, as the French call it, "La Manche". Although the tunnel wouldn't become a reality until nearer the end of the 20th Century, this wasn't really science fiction back in 1907, as there had been proposals and plans for it for some time even by then, but which were largely held up for political and national security concerns. Nevertheless, it served Méliès well for lampooning. One scene has the two leaders in giant form on their respective sides of the waters stretching their arms like rubber in an attempt to shake hands. There's also a split-screen view of the politicians' adjoining rooms that's actually a double-chamber set, a good crosscut of two cutaway scenes of both sides making their way to completing the undersea connection, plenty of flag waving and some mild knockabout humor.
(Note: The print is in bad shape for the first half of the film--being dark and contrasty-but the second half is of decent quality and is hand colored.)
(Note: The print is in bad shape for the first half of the film--being dark and contrasty-but the second half is of decent quality and is hand colored.)