Atlantida
There've been many stories written and films made about the Atlantis legend.
My next "book report" is on one of the best known novels on the theme by Pierre Benoit.
Although this is a well-known tale, I'll give a MILD SPOILERS alert anyway.
Atlantis is discovered in the Sahara desert by a couple of legionnaires. The story centers about Antinea who is now the queen of this lost kingdom. Falling in love for here is a fatal proposition and yet none of here 50-odd previous suitors have been able to avoid it.
The two legionnaires subsequently find out just how difficult it is to resist her.
There are probably 30 or 40 films on the IMDB with Atlantis in the title. Reading the novel helped me appreciate one of my favorites: the 1920 version directed by Jacques Feyder (especially since my copy has Italian subtitles!). This film works very well visually for me.
However, although I prefer the 1920 film, the definitive Antinea for me will always be Brigette Helm. She made three versions of the film in the early 1930's. Actually it was the same film done three times: once in the English language, once in French and once in her native German. (I have seen the first two and suspect that the German version may be lost since the French version I have was from German T.V. subtitled into German).
I have to say that I didn't care for the George Pal film very much (sorry George, I love you but...).
Someday when I get over this Atlantis overdose, I would like to see the 1961 Edgar Ulmer film "Journey Beneath the Desert". And, I have to believe there are others worth a look too.
In any event, reading this enjoyable novel should enhance watching or re-watching any or all of these.
written: 11/4/2001
