20 pointsJourney to the center of the earth Write an analysis of how the filmmakers of one of the adaptations chose to recreate the movie. Pick a scene — for example, the desperate search for water — and describe and explain how the filmmakers adapted the novel. What parts did they keep? What parts did they change? Why do you think they did that? Do you agree with those decisions? Do you think they made for a better movie? Why or why not?

Science fiction stories appropriately first appeared in the early genre of trick films, based on the processes inherent in the new medium, such as stop motion, fast or slow motion, dissolves, and multiple exposures. The first film of the novel was created by Segundo de Chomon, a pioneer director, animator, and cameraman who worked throughout Europe. His VOYAGE AU CENTRE DE LA TERRE was produced in France in December 1909 and had a length of 528 feet, lasting some 9 minutes. Released worldwide in 1910 by Pathé Freres, in England it was titled A JOURNEY TO THE MIDDLE OF THE EARTH, while in the United States it was issued as INSIDE THE EARTH. Liberally adapted, four travelers--two Englishmen and their guides--are shown emerging from the sets of grottos and caverns in a theatrical manner, miming the action. As they discover the Earth’s interior, transformations surround them; for instance, gigantic mushrooms spring up spontaneously. An appalling array of fierce creatures appears suddenly, including elephants, crocodiles and huge frogs, terrifying the explorers. Passing through streams of fire and molten lava, they return to the surface, pleased at their safe deliverance.[2]

Journey 1959

Fifty more years would pass before filmmakers again adapted Verne’s novel. Hollywood writer-producer Charles Brackett had long cherished the dream of filming it, but had been told that an expensive fantasy with a period setting could not be profitable. The enormous box-office success of Walt Disney’s 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA (1954) and Michael Todd’s AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (1956) proved the contrary, and JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH became a $4.5 million 1959 Christmas release of the highest technical quality by 20th Century-Fox.[3]

Brackett coauthored the screenplay with Walter Reisch, who had studied Verne with the intention of writing a biography. Reisch believed only the novel’s premise was successful.[4] Even before the narrative begins, the title sequence perfectly captures, in a visual metaphor, the trip the characters and the audience are about to undertake. The camera moves steadily closer to an Earth revolving in space, until finally it becomes so close it fades to black, and finally out of the darkness emerge shots of spewing lava and a red volcano.

The initial setting is moved from Germany to Edinburgh in 1880 to accommodate the stars and to eliminate the need for German heroes only 14 years after the end of World War II. Otto Lidenbrock becomes Oliver Lindenbrook, played by James Mason, who was 50 at the time, the age Verne had given his hero. While Mason had provided the authoritative movie portrayal of Captain Nemo in 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA five years earlier, his Lindenbrook is far less true to the source.[5] Instead of Verne’s eccentric, the movie substitutes a note of temper, accenting misogyny and a lack of social graces. Indeed, the professor’s elitist pretensions will be mocked when he misinterprets the noise of a duck foraging for food with a code in a foreign language. Some of the changes derive from the fact that the part had been intended for Clifton Webb, who withdrew due to illness only weeks before shooting began.

Explanation:

to convince americans of the importance of others.