Le tunnel

It's quite surprising to see Jean Gabin as an engineer directing the work of a tunnel between the USA and Europe. However, the story is well turned with many protagonists surrounding that project. We also have the pleisure to see Gustav Gründgens playing an ugly character. The project may sound a little bit irrealistic but everything is fine in that movie so why should we complain ?

No less than three versions of the same subject:two by Kurt Bernhardt,this one and the German equivalent ,a third one by Maurice Elvey ("transatlantic tunnel")in 1935 in England .

The movie should be considered a sci-fi effort for realistic it is not.How could it be?The thought of a tunnel between America (Long Island to be precise)and Europa (we do not know where they begin to dig) is certainly foolish enough :about 6,000 kilometers (3700 miles) is as realistic a task as stairs to the moon.As they begin to drive their tunnel under the ocean,we learn that the first year produced 180km (110 miles)of the thing ,and some months later ,they reach 500! Your disbelief needs to be suspended indeed.

This is a disaster movie ,the only one of that era in France with Abel Gance 's "La Fin Du Monde" ;movements in the crowd and panic are well directed .Gabin,even at this stage of his career ,had enough charisma to portray a born leader successfully.It was the first time he had teamed up with frail Madeleine Renaud -who in this man's man's story is only a decorative extra,to provide the movie with melodramatic elements.