Original subtitles

(jaunty music)

- [Voiceover] Since the earliest days of cinema,

Jules Verne has been one of the most prominent authors,

whose works have been adapted for the screen.

It was the great Georges Méliès

who produced the first of these.

(jaunty music)

In 1907 the Spaniard Segundo de Chomón

directed the first version of

Journey to the Center of the Earth.

The film which you are about to see is a tribute

to these pioneers of the film world of science fiction.

(drum music)

(gentle music)

(lighthearted orchestral music)

(moves to dramatic orchestral music)

(organ music)

- Mom!

(organ music)

- If you've come to sell, you're in the wrong shop.

We've enough stock on hand, up to our necks.

- But these are bargains indeed.

Wisdom bound, a distraction for the most jaded intellect.

All for only three Groschens the lot.

Sir.

- Hm, no no.

They're only fit to light fires with.

Look at those dog-eared pages and rotten bindings.

Don Quixote by the Spaniard who's name

is practically impossible to pronounce.

- Cervantes man, Cervantes.

And you're the only person I know who can't pronounce it.

- Just look at this Professor Lindenbrock.

A penny dreadful called

The Fantastic Journey of Arne Saknussemm.

- Two grochens, that's hardly a loaf of bread

and a flask of wine in these difficult times.

- Stick to your price man, three's fair.

Three it shall be.

- A transaction sir, you will long remember.

And never forget.

- Or an act of pure charity.

That's what I should call it.

- Charity is it's own reward,

for those who can read the writing on the wall.

- And what on earth do you suppose he meant by that?

- What a strange story.

By a man who claims to have made

a journey to the center of the earth.

- Humbug.

- I agree, we are scientists, not adventurers.

The most fruitful theories about the structure of the earth,

have come from sitting in a quiet room,

using one's brain.

Not from poking about inside

some damp and evil smelling cavern.

- You are quite right.

- Such as your own idiotic theory,

that the core of the earth is composed

of an incandescent ball of liquid fire?

- Now, it has more validity than your inane notion,

that the earth's center is a solid rock

all covered with layers of lava like the skin of an onion.

(laughter)

- The fact is you're both wrong.

All recent studies indicate that the core of the earth

can only be gaseous.

- Gentlemen, the truth is that all our theories

are just that, theories.

None of us has the least idea of

how the earth was really formed.

Because the distance between the earth's crust and it's core

is over 6,500 kilometers.

And no man has ever descended to a depth

of more than three miles.

So it's obvious, we'll never have a glimmer

of true knowledge until we are able to reach a depth

of at least 100 leagues.

- What is your opinion Professor Lindenbrock?

- Well gentlemen, on one point at least I agree

with Professor Kristoff.

The materials of the geologist are not

charts, chalk and chatter,

but the earth itself.

Now this little book I'm reading

describes a decent through the mouth of a volcano,

into the very bowels of the earth.

But with an imagination that puts all our theories to shame.

It's only a work of fiction of course

but it's very existence buttresses Kristoff's argument

that we shall never know the truth

until we are able to make

that journey and see for ourselves.

- Only six more to go.

- Why am I the one who has to crawl around

after those wretched little rocks,

when you're the one that spilled them.

- They are not little rocks.

This is the collection of Otto Lindenbrock

and the long and the short of it is

I know how to classify them and you don't.

- I had some good news today

they're going to let us cadets participate

in the summer maneuvers between Prussia and Austria

in the Bavarian forest.

- How thrilling.

- It occurred to me that if you're still

going to Salzberg on that

ridiculous cave crawling expedition with your uncle,

perhaps we could all meet later and take a trip

down the Danube.

- That depends on when your ridiculous maneuvers are over.

- Maneuvers are not ridiculous.

They are an essential part of military training.

And as Bismarck said,

a nation's army is a nation's backbone.

- Little boys who never grew up,

playing silly little war games so they can

sleep outdoors in tents.

And hide behind trees.

- [Axel] Well it's not as silly as climbing

in and out of caves and collecting worthless rocks.

- You'd better get the soup ready Marta, he's coming.

- Oh dear, oh dear, he's at least 10 minutes early today.

- Well what does that matter?

- You know what a fanatic uncle Otto is

about having lunch on the table

the moment he gets in the door.

And give me the last one,

before he sees that we spilled them, quick.

- Stupid stones.

Professor, I was just--

- Yes, yes Axel, I understand.

If it's alright with my niece

then it's perfectly alright with me, congratulations.

- Did you hear that,

he accepted my proposal even before I made it.

- Yes, but I haven't.

After all, why should I want to marry a soldier.

- And why not?

- Tell your uncle the soup is served miss Glauben.

- Because if there's a war you might get killed.

And if there's no war you'll never be promoted.

All in all, I call that a silly profession.

- That's a treasonous remark!

(giggling)

- Lunch is ready uncle Otto.

- Ah, splendid, I've a very good appetite today.

Good heavens, what's this?

- It's in old English.

And what looks to be a map.

- It is a map, of Iceland.

- You can examine it after lunch,

the soup is getting cold.

- Yes yes darling, you run along.

I'll be right there.

- We'll go ahead and start Marta.

No no.

(bells chime)

- I don't see what he can find so interesting

in an old map.

- It's not the map, it's some kind of

coded text printed below it.

- A coded text?

- [Glauben] Yes, he's going crazy trying to decipher it.

- Then why didn't you tell me that in the first place?

I could have done them for him,

and saved him from missing lunch.

- What do you know about unraveling codes?

- [Axel] Only slightly more than Champollion.

- Who is he?

- The Frenchman who solved the mystery

of the Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Do you think the only thing they teach us

in the military academy is how to hide behind trees?

- Oh dear dear, dear me.

Seven hours and all we've managed to decipher

is the signature.

- If only we could establish what language

this message is written in.

- Well since the book is written in old English,

I feel sure the code must be in English also.

- It could take us weeks to go through

every possible combination of these letters.

- Not weeks, months the way you're going about it.

Champollion, look over here.

- Why didn't we think of that before?

- This doesn't work either.

- Now wait Glauben.

Go back to the series you had before.

Ah.

- Now it looks like Russian.

- Yes, yes, I'm afraid it's a hopeless task.

(dramatic music)

Well I'll be.

In the words of my distinguished colleague Darwin,

I'll be a monkey's uncle.

Look at this!

(gentle music)

- It even rhymes!

- Well I'll be dashed.

- Mount Sneffels you will see

provides the master key

and Scartis indicates

the entrance to the gates

for the tale I told is true

the rest I leave to you.

(gentle music)

- The writing on the wall.

That strange old man was right.

- What does it all mean?

- It means Axel that you and I

are in the privileged position of having made

one of the most important discoveries

in the entire history of science.

But we can't do anything about it until next year.

- Uncle Otto, you're being obscure again.

- Oh Glauben my dear child can't you understand.

This account of Saknussemm's journey

into the center of the earth is all true!

He actually did it, he found a way in!

- That's fantastic.

- And this coded message contains the only information

he concealed in the whole book,

Managed in the end to reach the earth's inner crust

which is Sneffels we now know and the peak,

which by a shadow cast on a certain day of the year

indicated the actual mouth of the cave

through which we have to descend.

- Scartis peak atop mount Sneffels.

They really do exist.

But why wait another year before following

in Saknussemm's footsteps?

- Follow in his footsteps?

The very thought of it is absurd.

- Ah, unfortunately according to the book

the only day of the year on which the sun

casts a meaningful shadow on Scartis peak

is June the 19th at 11:29am.

- Oh, and today is June the 20th.

- [Otto] Exactly.

- What a pity.

I can't bear to wait another whole year.

- Haven't you forgotten?

This book was written at the time of the Julian calendar.

- What do you mean?

- But of course!

And now we're using the Gregorian calendar

which differs from the Julian by 10 days.

- Which means it's really June the 10th.

- And we can still make it!

But only if we catch that morning train from (mumbles).

Marta, come at once!

- I can't believe all this.

- Now let's start collecting everything we may need.

- You wanted to see me Professor?

- Ah Marta, please pack our bags immediately,

we shall be leaving first thing in the morning.

- Is the journey short or is it long?

I mean how shall I know what to pack?

- Marta, we are going on a journey.

A journey to the center of the earth.

- In that case, I won't need to pack your umbrella.

- I should bought new boots.

- I forbid it Glauben, I absolutely forbid you

to go with your uncle on this foolhardy trip.

The bowels of the earth is not a fit place for a woman.

- I'm afraid Axel is right my dear.

A journey like this could prove far too hazardous,

even for a girl as brave as you.

- But you can't go alone uncle Otto,

who would look after you if you fell and broke a leg

or something of the sort.

- I shall of course, even though it means

I shall miss the war maneuvers.

- Oh Axel, that's so noble of you.

Very well, if I must stay at home,

I just have to make the best of it.

- That's a most sensible attitude Glauben.

Thank you.

- Poor Glauben,

she looked so forlorn waving goodbye to us

there at the station, I miss her already.

- Yes, I know exactly how you feel my dear boy.

But you're perfectly right in forbidding her to come along.

After all, what possible use could a woman be

on an arduous trip like this.

- Tickets, tickets please.

- Give him the tickets Axel.

- But I don't have the tickets, you must have them.

- What, Glauben always looks after things like that,

didn't she give them to you?

- But I, mister, I don't think we bought any.

- Good heavens, I think I've forgotten

to bring the money as well.

- Never mind, I have enough for.

Well I'll be dashed,

I left my wallet in the pocket of my uniform.

- Oh dear, this is indeed a complicated situation.

- No, there's nothing complicated about it.

You either pay me now, or you get off at the next station.

- We can't do that man,

we'll miss the boat to Reykjavik.

Glauben!

- Glauben!

- You two would forget your own two heads

if they weren't screwed on.

- Oh my child.

(graceful music)

- What do you call this.

- It's a (mumbles), to measure the density of certain gases.

- Do you know how to use it?

- Nobody is as familiar with the instruments as I am.

You Axel, a more important task.

You are going to keep a diary of our daily events.

- You can rely on me for that professor.

- The first problem is where to find a porter.

We don't know anybody in Iceland.

- Oh yes we do, my old friend Fredrikson.

We studied together 30 years ago.

I haven't seen him since, but I'm quite sure he'll help us.

- But where on earth are we going to find him

after all these years?

- Oh that's easy, he haunts museums

the was ghosts haunt houses.

Unless he's changed his ways he'll be

at the Museum of Natural History.

(piano music)

- [Axel] While the two colleagues were recalling old times

and discussing subjects of mutual interest,

Glauben and I passed a very instructive morning

going through the exhibits.

(gentle piano music)

- Is anything wrong, sir?

- He's lost his monocle, could you please help us?

- But of course, that's what I'm here for.

- Display cases are magnificently mounted.

Everything is.

- My God, what's he doing on the floor?

- He lost his monocle.

- Ah monocle?

And here you see the crown jewel of our collection.

- Trilophodon (mumbles).

A delight to the eye my dear Frederikson.

- But surely you haven't come all the way from Germany,

just to inspect our museum.

- No, actually we've come to explore Mount Sneffels.

There's no better example of a dormant volcano

in the northern hemisphere.

- A capital idea.

If it weren't for this blasted count,

I'd make the climb with you.

- Now friend, I must ask a favor.

The address of a good store

that can outfit us for climbing and the like,

and the name of a good porter

who can guide us up the mountain.

- The first is easy enough,

but the second is next to impossible I'm afraid.

- Impossible?

- It's herring season you know.

And every able bodied man in Iceland is either

out in the boat or home mending the net.

Can't you wait for a couple of weeks?

- No, it must be without fail no later than tomorrow.

- Oh.

(giggling)

- [Otto] Well we've no use for tents any way

so it doesn't matter.

- Where do you want it?

- Over there. - Over here.

- Make up your minds, this weighs a ton.

- Here.

- Now let me see, we shall want

some cases for our instruments.

- Boo!

- Glauben, please.

- What's that?

- A gas mask, you can breathe through it

under almost any circumstances.

- I see, it might very well come in handy,

we'll take four.

What can you show me in the way of lamps?

The more portable the better.

- I have just the thing.

Now where'd I put it?

Ah yes, Hans, would you move that barrel away.

If it's lamps you're after if was sheer good luck

that brought you into the only shop in town

with a complete line of high quality

imported merchandise and the finest native--

- [Woman] Just shut up and show him the lamps.

- Here, this is the Blumdorf lantern.

- Blum Ka.

- Ah yes, yes, that shall do very well.

We'll take four of those also, Axel.

That man over there, does he work for you?

- Hans?

Oh no, he's my cousin.

He comes down here once a month to help me out.

But he refuses to take a steady job in town

or on the boats.

- And once a month isn't much.

- He's a mountaineer, a shepherd.

And they are very proud.

- Then why isn't he out tending his flock?

- Now that's a sad thing sir.

Last winter his entire flock was struck by lightning

in a thunderstorm, and he's been sitting around ever since.

Doing little else but whittle and play his mouth organ.

- Hans, my friends and I are making an expedition

to Mount Sneffels, if I pay you a fair price,

are you prepared to come along and help us?

- I don't use money.

- What's a sheep worth in this country?

- Three rigsdalers.

- Supposing I pay you one sheep per week,

with a bonus of two rams on our safe return?

- When do we leave?

- At dawn, as soon as we pack our equipment.

- Isn't that wonderful,

we finally found work for Hans.

- Imbecile.

(dramatic orchestral music)

(moves to joyful orchestral music)

(moves to dramatic orchestral music)

- My word, Mount Sneffels, look at that view.

- It's a lovely sight.

This view alone makes our journey worth while.

- See those white vapors

rising from the floor of the crater?

If an eruption were imminent, they'd be twice that size.

- How long, professor, do we stay down there?

(fluttering music)

- Hans I was going to tell you this later.

Fact is we're going much deeper

than the floor of the crater.

We're going to descend into the very bowels of the earth.

Now you can come with us, or you can go home.

But I must warn you,

we may be down there some considerable time.

- Days or weeks?

- More like weeks.

- Weeks means sheep, I'll come.

- Thank you.

(dramatic orchestral music)

Down you go.

- It's deeper than I thought.

- Then don't look down.

- [Axel] As soon as we located Scartis peak

in the bottom of the crater,

Hans began the descent,

followed by the professor and Glauben.

I brought up the rear, in case anyone might need assistance.

- Here it is.

Hans, bring the baggage!

The line of the shadow, perfect.

(dramatic music) - Look, A S

Arne Saknussemm, this proves he's telling the truth.

- Hm, I never had the slightest doubt dear boy.

Never the slightest doubt.

Hans, the ladder here just here fine.

(dramatic music)

Check your lamp Axel, check it.

Slowly Hans, slowly.

Right Axel, you descend first Hans.

(dramatic music)

- [Axel] For the first time, I'm beginning to think

that Arne Saknussemm's story could be true.

And that what had seemed to be in principal

only a routine excursion

has now turned into an exciting adventure.

Although a bit risky, especially for those who have not

had the good fortune to receive adequate

physical and mental preparation.

(dramatic music)

- Alright Professor!

(dramatic music)

- It's deeper than it looks.

When your turn comes you must be very careful Glauben.

(dramatic music)

Right, stand by darling, right, come on down.

(dramatic music)

Easy does it now, easy.

(dramatic music)

Your turn Axel!

- Professor!

Are you absolutely certain that there's

no possibility of Sneffels erupting

in the near future?

- Stupid question!

(dramatic music)

- [Axel] Well, once more unto the breach dear friends.

(dramatic music)

Thanks to the careful selection and packing

of the most essential equipment,

we had been able to reduce our load to the minimum necessary

we have on hand, instruments, tools, weapons,

ropes, provisions for 60 days and drinking water for 10.

The quantity of water seems to me insufficient,

although according to the professor,

we will find what we need once we have gone down

deep enough into the earth.

(screaming)

(dramatic music)

- Hans, you lead the way.

(dramatic music)

- Professor, there are three possibilities here.

How do we know which one to take?

- All of them look endless.

- Nothing could be simpler.

We'll let Saknussemm be our guide there.

Once again.

(orchestral music)

This is where he mentions it.

Cave descending to the left.

Now lead on Hans.

Come.

(dramatic music)

(screaming) - Careful!

Now we've lost the water!

- That's bad luck.

Still, I'd rather it be the water than the instruments.

I feel sure we'll find some good water later on.

Right my dear?

- Yes uncle.

- Good girl.

Come on then, Hans lead on.

(dramatic music)

- How much do we have left in our canteens?

- Only enough for the rest of the day.

I was going to fill them this evening.

I should think it must be sundown by now.

- No wonder I'm so tired.

- [Axel] No wonder I'm so hungry.

- It's bad.

- Ah, well, don't be too downhearted.

We'll find good water soon I feel sure of it.

Now then Glauben, some readings please.

Temperature, barometric pressure.

- Humidity, 95%.

The thermometer reading, seven degrees centigrade.

- No wonder I feel chilly.

- What does the compass indicate Axel?

Saknussemm says here we should be heading

in a westerly direction.

- Dead west.

- Good old Saknussemm.

- Right, let's lead on.

Hans, come.

- If only he'd tell us when we're going to find

some drinkable water.

(dramatic music)

(wind howling)

If this keeps up we'll never get through!

- Saknussemm has a word to say about this.

Let me see.

(wind howling)

Oh, we've lost the book!

(wind howling)

Get your masks on.

(wind howling)

(muffled shouting) (wind howling)

(screaming)

(muffled shouting) (wind howling)

(wind howling)

- Are you alright?

- I will be when I can get my hair washed.

You look as though you might have been struck by lightning.

(wind howling)

- I know what you're thinking Axel.

We're out of water, we've lost our guide book.

The only sensible thing would be to turn back

while we can still find a way out.

- I must admit the thought had crossed my mind professor.

- You'd be a fool if it hadn't.

Bear in mind that just ahead of us lie

millions of years of unrecorded history.

Are we going to ignore that and turn back,

or do we go on?

- I propose that we take a vote.

- Alright Glauben, you start.

Do we go forward, like civilized creatures,

or do we turn back like cowards?

- You know I wouldn't ruin your picnic uncle Otto!

I say forwards.

- Thank you, Axel?

- A man who wears the uniform of Imperial Prussia

can have but one answer, unfortunately.

I say forward too.

- Hans?

- Forward means sheep, backwards means nothing.

I say sheep.

- That settles it then, thank you.

We go on, lead the way Hans.

- Uncle Otto, suppose the votes had gone against you?

- I should have ignored them my dear.

What possible progress could there be

if science were a slave to democracy, come on.

(wondering orchestral music)

- How lovely, uncle Otto, is that you?

(dramatic music)

Who's there?

(dramatic music)

Who's there?

(dramatic music)

Uncle Otto?

Axel?

Hans?

(dramatic music)

Who is that?

Who's there?

Axel?

(screaming)

Axel!

Help!

- Professor, what's that? (screaming)

- Glauben! (screaming)

(dramatic music)

- Glauben where are you?

Glauben!

- Here I am, in here!

- What happened to you?

- I lagged behind to look at those icicles,

and then stumbled into this muck.

- That much I can see.

- Then the most incredible thing happened.

Just as I was about to go under,

someone appeared and pulled me out.

- That's absurd, there's nobody here but us.

- [Glauben] I tell you, I felt a human hand

pull me out of there.

- Fantasy my dear child, some sort of tactile illusion.

You saved yourself by clinging to that rock,

which has the rough shape of a human hand.

- And the figure I saw hiding behind a rock,

I suppose you'll tell me that was an illusion also.

- Undoubtedly.

With the disorientation, the lack of water,

all of us are under considerable strain.

- Uncle Otto, I tell you I saw someone.

- A common illusion, known to geologists the world over.

From now on, you must stick close to us.

(anxious orchestral music)

- [Axel] I told you not to come on this trip,

didn't I, didn't I?

- [Glauben] Oh do shut up.

Which way now?

- We're confronted with another choice.

- Yes, now what?

- Frankly my dear Glauben at this point,

your guess is as good as mine.

- Frankly I'm getting sleepy.

- That's partly because it's been growing warmer

in the past couple of hours.

- The trouble is, if we stop to rest now,

before we find water,

when we wake we may be to weak to continue.

How do you feel about Axel.

- I could go on for miles.

- [Hans] Professor.

- What is it Hans?

- Letters, like the other ones.

- Ah, old Saknussemm coming to our aid once again.

Come on all you cheer up.

He must have had the same problem with water as we have.

- Maybe he didn't spill his.

(chattering)

- Listen, did you hear that?

(chattering)

- It sounds like voices, human voices.

- What could it be?

- I've no idea.

- It must be voices.

- Nonsense.

- Isn't it at least possible that somebody else

might have found a path into the earth the way we did?

- It's a possibility of course, but an extremely remote one.

- I suppose that's known to geologists the world over

as an acoustical illusion.

- Perhaps they're animals of some sort.

They could even be dangerous.

- Quiet, all of you.

Try not to make any noise, Hans, you lead.

Glauben, here, shh.

(chattering)

- Quiet, you hear anything now?

(voice echoes)

- So it wasn't animals after all, it was us.

(voice echoes)

- We must be squarely in the center

of an acoustical field.

(voice echoes)

- [Glauben] Alright, that'll do do do do.

(voice echoes)

Let's get out of here.

- No wait, Glauben.

(voices echo)

(screaming)

- Alright, alright.

We should be safe enough here.

- I'm thirstier than ever,

and I can't go on another step uncle Otto.

- Well, there's nothing else for it.

We shall have to rest here, try to get some sleep.

Alright, alright, alright.

- I still say I saw a real face back there,

not an illusion.

- Shh little one, try to get some sleep.

(tapping)

(tapping)

- Hans, where are you?

(tapping)

Hans, what are you doing?

- Listen, water.

- Water?

- Shh.

- I'll get the others.

Wake up, we found water!

- What?

- Water!

- Where?

- Just ahead, Hans has discovered an underground stream.

- Thank God.

Come on Axel, let's go and see about.

- Here, right here.

- Yes, no doubt about it, there's water.

Right here I think.

- No, over here.

- No no no, this is where I can here the noise best Hans.

Give me the pick.

- Professor, I know mountains and I know caves.

Here is a good place, that is a bad place.

- Hans, as a professor of geology,

I also know about caves and mountains,

and how to break through them when necessary to find water.

Stand back.

- [Axel] Careful professor.

(screaming)

- Have you lost your mind?

Another inch to your right this entire cavern

would have collapsed on our heads.

This simple mountain man has more common sense

than you with all your diplomas professor Lindenbrock.

- Who are you?

- How do you know my uncle's name?

- Because I have read his books,

and also because I've had to listen to your

incessant chatter during the last 10 miles

of this tedious decent.

- You followed us into the earth?

- Hardly, since I began my descent two months ago.

- Through Sneffels?

- I prefer to find my own way in,

just as I expect to find my own way out again.

- Why, you've burned your hand.

- A mere trifle young lady.

Quench your thirst.

- You're doing scientific research mister?

- Olsen, simply call me Olsen.

Like any civilized man, I include the natural sciences

among my hobbies.

But naturally I refuse to let their so called laws

limit my outlook.

- Well now that our paths have crossed

it would be sensible to travel together.

- You are welcome to the benefit of my experience.

- I think it should be made perfectly clear,

that this expedition is led by professor Otto Lindenbrock

and none other.

- My dear boy, my own interest lies in

the acquisition of knowledge itself.

And not the accumulation of dusty academic honors.

- Did you ever hear such insolence?

How I'd love to have him for just one day

in my (mumbles) platoon.

- Don't be pompous Axel.

Now at least we have something to drink at last.

- Why don't you wait until it gets cool?

(laughing)

- [Axel] Apart from the fact of calling himself Olsen,

and that he obviously belongs to the human race,

we have learnt very little else concerning

this particular individual.

All that we have determined that his only equipment

consists of a mysterious metal box.

This strange and startling materialization

was largely forgotten however,

in the general delight resulting from the

discovery of water, which from this moment on,

we encountered in great quantity.

(anxious music)

Glauben appears to be the one most affected

by the annoying presence of this Olsen.

I'm afraid we've taken a wrong turn and lost the others.

- How tedious.

- At least we're alone for a change.

- If you're referring to the absence of Mr Olsen,

I must say I find that no great comfort.

- Well I think he's boring conceited and rude.

- Yes but who cares anyway.

Who cares what he's like when he has such interesting eyes.

- Well, if that's all you can say.

(screaming)

- Axel! (screaming)

- What happened?

- It's alright my dear boy.

The worst is over.

- Glauben?

- Not a scratch on her.

In fact she's out there having a swim, come on.

- I must be having hallucinations.

- My boy.

- It looks like an ocean!

- One of nature's apologies my dear boy.

And ocean below the surface of the sea.

Fresh water, too.

- I can hardly believe my eyes.

- The enclosure you see above us is nearly a mile high.

(orchestral music)

Steady now, steady.

Never in my whole life, not even above the earth,

have I seen a mineral formation that could

retain and project so much light.

It's incredible.

- It's breathtaking.

- Axel, come on in!

Axel, come on, the water's beautiful.

- Go on in the water, go on, it'll do you good.

Do you know you've been unconscious for nearly two days.

Mind your head.

- No wonder I feel groggy.

- How's the raft coming along Hans?

- Soon be finished.

- I hope that fossilized wood floats alright.

- It'll float.

- Well if it doesn't, I scarcely know what course to take.

(joyful orchestral music)

- Here I come!

- You do look silly, come in Axel!

(joyful orchestral music)

- Coming to get you!

- It's cold in here.

- It's not that cold come on,

I'm gonna get you.

Look out now, here I come, here I come.

(joyful orchestral music)

(dramatic music)

- May I have my clothes back?

- Sorry.

- Olsen, who are you really?

Where do you come from?

Your hand!

- What about my hand?

- Why, it's completely healed.

How is that possible in so short a time?

- But it is possible you see.

- It was your hand that pulled me out of there,

wasn't it.

- I don't know what you're talking about Glauben.

- Do you really think it's going to be

safe enough to sail in?

- Hans assures me that it will float.

I simply can't get over this strange light.

It's uncanny, fantastic.

- Yes, but no more so than the Aurora Borealis

and caused by the same sort of simple ionization.

- Look what I found, what a pretty shell.

- Oh my dear child, treat that very gently.

- Oh, it turned to sand.

- All these things you see are fossils,

not shells Glauben.

- Does that mean there are still living creatures out there?

- I should be very surprised to learn the contrary Axel.

- Where are you going Hans?

- I need a rudder.

- Well you carry on working,

we'll go and look for something.

- [Glauben] Good heavens.

- They look just like giant mushrooms.

(dramatic music)

They look like wooden mushrooms.

- They are mushrooms.

Millions of years ago they flourished

above the earth as well.

Now you stay here while I investigate.

These could be dangerous.

- Extraordinary.

(electronic noise)

- [Glauben] As perfectly preserved as in a greenhouse.

- [Axel] I wonder how many of these you get to the pound.

Where could your uncle have got to?

- Uncle Otto?

- Professor!

(dramatic music)

- Uncle Otto!

- Alright Axel, Glauben, you can join me now.

But take great care, I'll explain presently.

Come on.

(dramatic music)

Walk gently.

- Why?

It looks innocuous enough.

- Innocuous it is not.

That pollen can be fatal.

If it falls on you it can cause histoplasmosis.

You see that red dust on the top of them?

- It's dangerous?

- Ha, as I've already said, it can be fatal.

Now we must get away from here in case a breeze springs up

and loosens it, now whatever you do,

don't touch the mushrooms, ready?

Run for your lives!

- Hurry!

(dramatic music)

- What was that?

- Explosion.

- A second earlier,

we'd have been underneath that poison dust,

- Olsen, come on.

Good lord.

Are you out of your mind man?

You of all people who criticized me

for knocking a small whole in the cave wall!

The vibrations you're causing

you'll bring this whole structure down on our heads!

- I have my experiments to perform

just as you have yours professor.

- Your so-called experiments are

putting all our lives in jeopardy.

- Our lives?

Do you really think the sort of work you're doing

is going to make and difference to any ones life

on this planet?

- There there uncle Otto,

none of this is worth arguing about.

- Who does he think he is?

Putting all our lives in danger with his ridiculous games.

- Let's go and see how the raft is coming along.

Hello Hans.

- I found a rudder.

- Well done Hans, how soon do you think

you'll be ready to launch her?

- Soon enough.

- Splendid, you work very well.

- I'll get our gear together.

- I'll go with you.

How do you feel?

- Much better now.

- What are you doing?

It's incredible.

- What?

- Yesterday you had a deep gash on your forehead.

Wounds apparently heal much faster here.

- Then what a fine battleground it would make.

- Idiot!

(laughing)

(wondering music)

- [Axel] From the moment of it's launching,

the raft had proved that it could sail beautifully.

To the great satisfaction of everyone.

(wondering music)

We are maintaining a steady south easterly course

of one four five degrees.

And according to the calculations of the professor,

we should be sailing directly underneath the British Isles.

The only noticeable inconvenience

has been the discomfort produced in those persons

not trained to rise above every type of difficulty.

(wondering music)

Today we received a welcome surprise.

I think its alight?

- I got it, I got it.

- Axel!

- [Axel] Give it to me, give it to me!

- Good girl.

- It's a shark, watch it doesn't bite you.

What a strange looking fish.

- Do you think it's edible?

- I don't see why not.

- We'll cook it.

- [Glauben] I'm so hungry.

- [Axel] Come on Hans, come on.

- Be careful it's hot.

- What about Olsen?

- If he wants some, let him come here and get it.

- How does it taste Glauben?

- Like a dream.

- Thank you Hans.

- I'd say more like sturgeon.

- [Glauben] Delicious, I still think we should invite Olsen.

- [Axel] He gets more nourishment from his books.

- Be quiet, he'll hear you.

It's growing warmer here.

- 32 degrees.

- Well, that's not excessive considering

we're 100 miles beneath the surface.

- It's excessive enough for me.

I'm going for a swim, don't anybody look.

- You'll get indigestion!

(dramatic music)

- Axel, the water's wonderful.

- Glauben, don't get too far from the raft.

- Stone cold, Axel, come on in it's wonderful.

- I've work to do!

- Take down this sounding Axel.

Oh!

- Quick, grab him!

- Axel, Hans, help me.

- Teeth marks.

- Good heavens, steel bitten right through.

- Look!

(roaring)

- Monster.

(roaring)

Glauben, come back!

(roaring)

(gunshot)

- [Otto] Glauben!

- Come in Glauben!

- Come on Glauben!

(screaming) (roaring)

Another one Hans!

- Glauben, grab on!

- Glauben, hurry, hurry!

- [Otto] Try and get the rope Glauben!

(roaring) Come on, swim girl.

(roaring)

Take my hand.

- Alright?

- I think so.

(roaring)

- Just look at them, two mythical enemies face to face.

They existed on earth over a million years ago,

and here we are seeing them.

(roaring)

- I'll bet you two gold mounts on the one on the left.

- You'd lose Axel.

It'll end in a draw, with both of them dead.

(roaring)

Give me the rifle Hans.

We've gotta get out of here before the blood

attracts other monsters.

Pull the sail down, quickly. (roaring)

Put the oars out, hurry. (roaring)

Come on! (roaring)

Get the oars out!

(dramatic orchestral music)

Professor, look over there!

Looks like a giant whale!

(dramatic orchestral music)

- Looks like an island of some sort.

- Shall we go and visit it?

- Indeed, perhaps we could find some

significant fossils there,

Hans, steer towards it.

(orchestral music)

- Axel, pass that object to someone.

(orchestral music)

- Axel, help me.

- Coming (mumbles).

- Somebody must stay with the raft, you Hans.

- Look at that smoke rising out of the ground.

- Thermal heat escaping, no doubt.

- And over there, looks lifeless.

Olsen seems to take most interest

in what seems least interesting.

- I think he's quite a fascinating man.

- And I think he doesn't know half as much

as he thinks he does.

- Neither do we.

- I still haven't decided whether he's

a man of method or madness.

- Whatever his secret is, he keeps it in that metal box.

- What I can't figure out is how he caused those explosions.

- That's been puzzling me as well.

Must keep a closer eye on him in the future.

(electronic noises)

- What strange rocks!

- Look over here professor!

A battalion of giant tortoises.

- What an incredible sight.

Fossils of a giant tortoise.

They must have been here for centuries, amazing.

- What a pity they're all dead.

- It's better they are, could be dangerous.

(strange noise)

- What's that noise?

You know I've never seen a dangerous turtle.

- They must have been man eating, but they died of hunger.

They were too slow to catch their prey.

- Can you imagine what would happen if they surrounded us

to attack us?

- [Axel] Coward, after (mumbles).

(strange noise)

Huh, it moved, I swear it did!

- Why, it seems to be alive!

- (mumbles) They're not fossils, they are alive!

They must sense a natural catastrophe.

Back to the others, quickly, come on Glauben, quickly!

(strange noise)

Fast, come on!

Quick as you can, come on!

(anxious orchestral music)

Get aboard Olsen!

(anxious orchestral music)

Get the oars out.

(anxious orchestral music)

Keep her steady now.

(anxious orchestral music)

(orchestral music)

- [Axel] The weather has changed completely.

The wind is blowing harder than ever,

but the while atmosphere is saturated with electricity.

I feel that some catastrophe is approaching.

(orchestral music)

Careful with the mast!

Try and keep (mumbles).

- Axel!

Hold on to my arm!

- Careful! (shouting)

(screaming) Hold on, hold on!

(wind howls)

- You on those lines, shore those lines.

(howling wind drowns out speech)

- Hide your eyes.

(howling wind drowns out speech)

Get down!

(howling wind drowns out speech)

- Look out!

(howling wind drowns out speech)

- What's that?

- A giant wave, here it comes.

(screaming)

Hans?

Glauben, my dear child.

Are you alright?

- Axel, how is Axel?

- We'll soon see.

How do you feel lad?

- Glauben, where's Glauben?

- If the first thing you think about is each other,

you must be alright.

- Where are we?

- Yes, where are we?

- A rough calculation would put us somewhere

beneath the surface of the Mediterranean Sea.

Axel, if any of our instruments have survived intact,

we'll soon know for sure, so we'd better start looking.

- What about Olsen?

- Yes, I forgot all about him.

Have any of you seen him, anywhere?

- Nowhere, but I found these.

- Look at this, smashed!

- What's the matter uncle Otto?

- Look at this mess.

Raft all smashed to pieces,

my precious instruments broken,

we don't even know where we are!

It's enough to make any man despair.

- It's not your fault uncle Otto,

under the earth you have to expect the unexpected.

- Yes you're right my dear child,

as always, you're perfectly right.

Nothing is going to prevent me

making this appointment with history.

- That's more like your old self uncle Otto.

- Look professor.

Olsen's books about the storm.

- That's peculiar, it's in Attic Greek.

All about time and space.

- Never mind the book, let's go look for it's owner.

- Well for heaven's sake don't get lost, be careful.

(grunting)

(anxious music)

- How strange, there's nothing but bones all around us.

- We've discovered a prehistoric cemetery for animals

apparently, what's that?

- The femur of some kind of primate I should think.

- Prehistoric graveyard or not,

how do we know that some of these animals

might not have a few living descendants around here?

- Look over there, dinosaur's teeth.

We must take samples back for uncle Otto.

- It's a molar, with a cavity.

(orchestral music)

Glauben, look, what a strange forest.

(orchestral music)

- Everything we encounter now is strange.

And the further on we go,

the stranger it will get.

(orchestral music)

- Like a dream.

- Yes.

- I think we've come far enough.

- I just knew you were going to say that.

- Now look, we've come deeper,

and stayed longer than anyone else in history.

We've more than paid our dues to science.

- Axel, what do you want?

- I want to convince your uncle

that we should look for a way out of here.

- But why, it's unlikely we'll come back you see.

- Because I want to marry you, that's why.

- Oh Axel.

- And a prehistoric bone yard is no fit place

to bring up babies.

- Babies?

Oh Axel.

(roaring)

- Monkey!

(roaring) - It's our only chance!

(roaring) (dramatic music)

- Axel!

(roaring)

(screaming) (roaring)

- Put us back on the roots!

(screaming) (roaring)

Now, get out.

(anxious music) (roaring)

- Axel, Glauben, over here!

(roaring)

Into the cave!

(roaring)

That way.

(roaring)

Back through here.

- Where are we going?

- Just follow me.

(roaring)

(anxious music)

- What in the world is that?

- Why Olsen, all those--

- Better not to ask Glauben.

Certain concepts are not yet within the range

of human comprehension.

- I simply can't believe it.

- Just a moment,

now look, you must say a promise not to say a single word

to your uncle, about what we've seen here.

Because then he'd never want to leave.

- I promise, I promise.

- Alright.

- Come along.

(anxious music)

(roaring) (screaming)

- Out!

(roaring)

Dinosaurs!

- I can't believe my eyes!

(roaring)

We'll have to return the way we came.

(roaring)

(roaring)

Professor!

- Uncle Otto we've got Olsen!

- Come on!

Olsen, hurry!

Come on!

- [Axel] And thus we continued our adventure,

on the subterranean sea.

The professor does not wish to leave one single stone

unturned in his quest for knowledge

of this strange universe.

However, I perceived a subtle change in him,

from the moment he began to real Olsen's book.

- Olsen!

- Yes sir?

- This book of yours that was washed ashore with us.

It claims that time is relative, not absolute.

- The claim unfortunately is true.

I've tested the theory myself, somewhat to my regret.

I learned that under certain circumstances,

one can indeed move through time,

as easily as one can through space.

- A year ago I might not have believed you

but after the mysteries and experiences of this voyage.

- Even in your normal world on the surface,

there are mysteries you've never dreamed of.

- One thing still puzzles me.

We're living in the year '98 are we not?

- Indeed you are.

- Yet the publication of this book is 1914.

That's nearly 20 years ahead in the future.

How do you account for that.

- Why, proof of the pudding professor.

Or could it be a misprint?

- I only know I'd give my soul to own a device like that,

with all it's secrets.

- It's the only one in existence my dear Lindenbrock.

And you've no idea of it's capabilities.

It could even transport one to the moon.

- Professor, the sea has ended.

- What is it?

Look, we can't go any further!

- Let's go.

- Looks like some sort of grotto.

- Keep us straight Hans.

- There's no way out.

Look how dark it is.

We'll never find our way out of here.

- Then we'll have to turn back.

- Turn back, never.

Try and secure it to that rock Hans.

Take the lamp thank you Glauben.

These rocks are very slippery.

- Professor, look at this.

- Saknussemm, once again showing us the way forward.

Now we must try and force our way through this wall of rock.

- But suppose there's nothing behind it,

but another endless sea.

- Then it's our duty to find out.

We must get ahead as far as possible.

- It's useless professor.

You're not even making a dent in it.

- Then I'll try even harder.

We must get ahead.

- Be reasonable uncle Otto.

The task is impossible.

- In the search for truth my dear child,

(mumbles) nothing is impossible.

Now please stand back.

- Uncle Otto, uncle Otto.

Can't you stop him.

- What can I do?

- Olsen, only you can get us out of this plight.

Do something.

- If you wish.

Professor, professor.

Your dedication is admirable,

but this is a task that I alone can accomplish.

Get back on the raft.

- What are you going to do?

- Keep the raft as far back as you can from this point.

This will only take a few moments.

- Olsen, what about you?

- I told you long ago.

I found my own way in,

I'll find my own way out again.

(melancholy music)

Godspeed, never forget.

(melancholy music)

- I'll remember you Olsen.

(melancholy music)

(dramatic music)

- I don't see anything strange happening.

(shouting) (water roaring)

- [Glauben] We're rising up above!

(water roaring)

(coughing)

- Glauben, what's the matter?

- I'm choking.

- So am I, so let's build fast.

- Get the gas masks, sulfur fumes!

(wind howling)

- Hurry, that's an earthquake warning

if ever I heard one!

(wind howling)

- That way professor!

(wind howling)

- Professor!

Like a sheep.

- Shoo, shoo.

- Hey little boy.

Where are we, he doesn't understand.

Where are we, tell us!

- Try other languages.

(speaks foreign language)

- Listen, listen little boy, where are we?

Answer me!

Answer!

(speaking foreign language)

(speaking foreign language)

(speaking foreign language)

- Somebody, somebody, somebody!

- Hans, we've lost Hans!

Hans!

Come on Hans, we're (mumbles) Glauben.

(shouting)

Boy!

- Hurry!

(screaming)

(melancholy music)

- [Axel] And thus ended our fantastic voyage.

Hans went back to Iceland,

where his flock now numbers more than 100 head.

(orchestral music)

He is a respected man, and is often visited

by his loving cousins.

(orchestral music)

Glauben and I have undertaken a new adventure.

That of matrimony.

(orchestral music)

A woman cannot do without the support of an experienced man,

a man with foresight.

(orchestral music)

As for the professor, he continues to

visit the old book shop.

With who knows what remote expectations in mind.

- Morning.

- Good day professor.

Somebody left this parcel for you.

- Me, when?

I mean who would do?

- Strange name, sounded like Naksesum.

- (orchestral music)

- Well I'll be.

(orchestral music)