200,000 Leagues Under the SeaGeorge Melies (Translation by Gerry Carpenter)

Reading this short film's Synopsis / Narrative points out how loosely Melies adapted his works. It bears no relation to the characters or story of Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Nonetheless, there isn't much doubt that Melies was paying homage to Verne. The evidence:

1) Obviously, the similar names. In a bit of a hyperbole, Melies fictional journey is 10 times that of Verne's.
2) Melies adapted Verne on several other occasions.
3) As Paul Hammond, in his book Marvelous Melies points out, the sea monsters depicted in Melies' film bear a resemblance that is too close for coincidence to the original illustrations done by Edouard Riou and Alphonse de Neuville for Verne's book.

The film is still in existence but it is not on any video media. I have not seen it. Thanks to Gerry Carpenter's bilingual talents for supplying me with the next best thing. I sent him scans of the French detailed synopsis; he sent back translations a few tableaux at a time as I breathlessly waited to read what would happen next! Thank you, sir!

SPOILERS

The central character of Melies' adaptation is the fisherman Yves. Tired out by his day's work, he sleeps and dreams. The Spirit of the Ocean leads him to a docked submarine where, in his dream, he becomes the officer in charge of operation. The sub sets off and Yves' adventures begin. I would guess that many of the scenes that follow are somewhat of an excuse for Melies to show a few underwater spectacles. The tableaux (scene) titles of the film summarize this:

  1. THE HUT OF THE FISHERMAN
  2. RETURN FROM FISHING.
  3. AN AGITATED SLEEP (THE DREAM).
  4. THE SPIRIT OF THE OCEAN.
  5. THE PORT OF DEPARTURE.
  6. THE LINE OF HONOR.
  7. THE VESSEL'S LIEUTENANT.
  8. THE DEPARTURE.
  9. THE DEPARTURE OF THE SUMARINE.
  10. IN THE GREAT DEEPS.
  11. THE SEAWEED.
  12. THE SHIPWRECKS.
  13. THE FANTASTIC GROTTOS.
  14. THE GIANT SHELLS.
  15. THE SEA NYMPHS AWAKE.
  16. THE SEA MONSTERS.
  17. THE QUEEN OF THE STARFISH.
  18. THE SIRENS.
  19. THE NAIADS. (grand ballet danced by the ballet company of Chatelet, under the direction of Madame Stichel).
  20. THE WRECK OF THE SUBMARINE.
  21. GIGANTIC CRABS AND FISHES.
  22. THE UNDERWATER CAVERNS.
  23. CORAL AND SEA ANEMONES.
  24. THE HIPPOCAMPI.
  25. THE FISHES' REVENGE.
  26. THE OCTOPUS.
  27. PUT TO THE HOOK BY THE SEA GODS.
  28. THE DEADLY SPONGE.
  29. THE FISHERMAN AWAKENS.
  30. THE END OF THE NIGHTMARE.

I can't help but think that tableau 27 would be especially entertaining to see!

In the end, Yves awakens and discovers that he is battling his fishing nets in his hut instead of a giant sponge.

written: 8/6/2002

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