The Tunnel

The Tunnel.

Based on the novel by B. Kellermann.

Documentary footage courtesy of PIEUX FRANKI Co.

- Wasn't that Lloyd? - Nope. Vanderstift, the famous banker.

Tell us, Mr. Woolf, what's the meeting about?

No idea. Ask Mr. Lloyd

I'd like a room on the top floor, facing Broadway.

Normally it's quiet up there.

But today there's a meeting on the terrace.

Just my luck.

Show the gentleman to Room 530.

Sir! You'll have to come out. The terrace is off-limits today.

But I'm a reporter!

Hello - New York Herald? I've set up a receiver on the terrace.

The meeting is about to start - listen!

You're so elusive, Woolf! I couldn't get you on the phone.

You'll support the project, won't you?

Naturally; Your father's for it and I'm his right-hand man

Mac Allan is such a strong, straightforward man.

Obviously.

So you'll help him?

For your sake.

Gentlemen, let's get started.

Ladies and gentlemen, the meeting is underway.

First, thank you all for coming.

The importance of the project we're seeking to finance...

will, I'm sure, make the trouble I've caused you worthwhile.

First of all, let me introduce Mr. Mac Allan.

The project he will outline to you...

will surpass in scope anything attempted up until now.

And the expense will too.

Naturally, Mrs. Brown.

I won't attempt to influence your decision.

But I'd like to say that if you support Mac Allan's project...

I will personally pledge 25 million for my participation in the enterprise.

Now Mac Allan, the floor is yours.

Seeing as how Mr. Lloyd has raised your curiosity...

I'm afraid of disappointing you.

The project is very simple.

Wait, hang on - it's nothing

I'll fix it.

Here's America... here's Europe.

I want to link them with a tunnel.

Trains will be able to cross the Atlantic in under 20 hours.

There you have it.

Now I'll give you a few technical details.

The figures are...

125, 126, 127, 128, 129... 130

I can't.

Yes, go on counting!

Nothing works - I can't keep calm.

Six years of work, Hobby - six years!

And it could all be wiped out in one hour

I'm scared.

Imagine what that will do to Allan.

It'll crush him.

Don't worry so much, Mary.

It takes more than that to crush a man like him

Mac Allan's wife mustn't be afraid

I'll be brave, I promise.

If it all falls through, no one will know I'm upset, not even him.

- Listen, Mary: Do you want to help him? - Yes.

- Really? - Yes, really!

Then you must believe in him no matter what.

I do believe!

But I'm scared.

You were supposed to wait downstairs.

Did you want every reporter in New York to overhear us?

Did you carry out my orders?

I've sold 9/10ths of your shipping shares.

That comes to over 10 million dollars gross.

Naturally, all the sales were in fake names.

That only leaves 50,000 in Trans-Oceanic Steamships.

Not very sharp work on your part, Gordon.

Get rid of them, at any price.

And how's it going?

Leave that to me.

Stay here - don't move.

I prefer we not be seen together

a length of 100,000 kilometers.

Work will start on the European and American sides at the same time.

My task is not one of innovation, but in carrying out a work...

one hundred - one thousand times greater than any to date.

And if my forecast is correct, the job will be done in 15 years.

If.

What do you mean, "If"?

If the forecast turns out.

You're an idiot, Mr. Vanderstift!

Against a great project that will double your investment!

Mind your own business, Mrs. Brown!

It's certainly no business of mine if you don't want to make money.

What about competition from planes?

I've thought of that, Mr. Field. I'll match their speed.

And move thousands daily between America and Europe.

Gentlemen, there are so many ways of losing money these days...

I don't care to explore new ones

I'm not interested in this Mac Allan.

Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please.

Could I ask Mr. Mac Allan to leave us alone for a moment?

Excuse us, Mac Allan. I'll call you when it's time.

- You were wonderful, Mac Allan! - Thank you.

Mr. Lloyd is investing 25 million in the tunnel

I will pledge 10 million.

Let me share a few facts I've jotted down.

Nothing you say will prop up shipping stocks.

If this succeeds, all the shipping companies will be out of business

I hold no shares in shipping companies.

Really? Since when, Woolf?

I'll have shares in the tunnel.

Mr. Vanderstift, you're involved in all the big shipping interests.

You're not very enthusiastic about the tunnel - I understand.

Do you think your opposition will stop progress?

This tunnel guarantees 15 years of work for millions.

It will produce an incredible boost to the construction industry.

Let's be honest.

It's not a question of supporting the tunnel.

It's a question of seizing the opportunity the tunnel offers us

Mac Allan has left the terrace.

This is from a reliable source:

Mac Allan has invented a method of extracting carbonic acid from the air...

using a rotary machine.

The meeting is behind closed doors. It started a half hour ago.

In addition, Mr. Maurice Detross and Mr. Woolf are there.

- Hurry up! - Get lost!

Hello, Evening Post? Banner headline:

"On the top floor of the Astoria, 15 people are meeting.

They have a combined worth of 7.5 billion dollars..."

No point pacing around; I've got a good feeling about this.

Darling, you'll see, it'll all be fine.

No, it's all down the drain. The atmosphere up there...

Usually I'm not too bad at speaking.

But I choked in front of that bunch of sharks.

But you said several were on your side.

Mrs. Brown was for you.

Mrs. Brown doesn't care about Mac Allan, the tunnel or the link with Europe.

She barely knows Europe exists.

There's only one thing she cares about: Her money.

I guess it's back to Buffalo for us.

Is that so bad? We were happy in Buffalo.

Sit down and eat something. You'll see more clearly if you're not starving.

Yes... what?

They're going ahead with the tunnel?

Allan! It's happened! They're going ahead with the tunnel!

What do you mean?

They're going ahead with the tunnel!

You're joking.

No, they're going ahead with the tunnel

Mac Allan, they want more photos.

Come on, Mary.

When I was named President of the Tunnel Syndicate, it became clear to me...

that this gigantic enterprise is not only of material and economic interest.

What attracted me is its spiritual and intellectual importance.

As a tool of social improvement.

Ladies and gentlemen, will you please make room for the world press.

Silence, please.

Would you care to say a few words on this momentous occasion?

Allan, I never doubted you.

You'll build the tunnel... I'm very happy.

It'll be a masterpiece; I'm very proud of you

I'm sure you'll build the tunnel

I've nothing to add to what my wife has said.

I can't argue with her.

The Atlantic Tunnel Syndicate is formed.

The Tunnel Syndicate presents this weekly update on the tunnel excavation.

We'll use both words and pictures to illustrate.

Mac Allan meeting with his engineers.

The tunnel's army of workers is on the march.

Preparatory work: The first blasting on Long Island.

Enormous quantities of materiel...

and thousands of kilometers of rails collect on Long Island.

Drilling of the tunnel begins.

The tunnel dives deep into the earth.

The Long Island shoreline, under which the tunnel runs.

During the first year, Mac Allan and his men have built...

a section 180 km long and up to 1200 meters deep.

The second year the work stretches 300 km long...

and 2000 meters beneath the sea.

The third year we reach 430 km.

Maximum depth: 3000 meters.

Warning - fire!

Warning - fire!

- Everything ready Harryman? - All ready, Mr. Allan.

All the workers out?

Everyone out!

The third one!

Stay back! It could go off!

What the hell is going on here?

I knew it! Why didn't he listen to me?

Harryman!

That was a narrow escape!

Are you OK?

- Are you hurt? - It's nothing.

How do you feel?

It's nothing. We got the last one.

Hello - What do you want?

To talk to the boss.

You mean Mr. Mac Allan?

I mean I want to talk to the boss.

Not write to him - I want to talk to him.

If you want to see Mac Allan you need an appointment.