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November 1993

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Subject:
From:
BRIAN TAVES <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Film and TV Studies Discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 23 Nov 1993 14:18:14 GMT
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          Regarding the  query  on scientists on screen, and  to  a  lesser
          extent  those  on  an  sf  course  and  filmic utopias,  I  would
          suggest--being  a  Jules  Verne enthusiast--that  the  archetypes
          developed  in   his  books  and   the  screen  adaptations  might
          demonstrate some  of these forms  in useful ways. Most obviously,
          there  is  the inventor and  lone avenger, Captain Nemo,  in  the
          myriad versions, including silents, of  20,000 LEAGUES UNDER  THE
          SEA  and MYSTERIOUS ISLAND. CAPTAIN NEMO AND  THE UNDERWATER CITY
          also  offers  an interesting cinematic variation in  an  original
          story for  the screen, portraying, generally positively, a  cross
          between Shangri-La and Great Society, with Nemo  in  the style of
          an undersea LBJ. A  very similar character to  the more classical
          Nemo,  but  one  who  is  less withdrawn and  is simultaneously a
          militant pacifist, appears  in  MASTER  OF  THE  WORLD (1961).  A
          wholly  different portrayal, scientist  as  explorer, appears  in
          JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH, and although there have again
          been  many versions, the  1959 movie offers the  most  from  this
          angle. FROM THE EARTH TO  THE MOON (1958) offers only bizarre and
          inconsistent characters widely divergent from  the  novels.  More
          can  be found in  my chapter on  Verne movies in  The Jules Verne
          Encyclopedia, to be published Scarecrow early next year.
          Brian Taves
          Motion Picture Division, Library of Congress
                                 Tavesmail.loc.gov

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