the light at the edge of the world mark kirk douglas second filming of a jules verne novel . the first of course be one of his most popular film 20 and 000 league under the sea . but this film be far more serious and have far more adult theme than walt disney film aim for the kid trade . this be the last novel jules verne have publish during his lifetime and it a story of survival against almost impossible odds . in the original novel kirk douglas character be name vasquez which certainly be more in keep with someone assign to lighthouse duty on cape horn . but in give douglas character an anglo name it good explain his presence on the island and it certainly be in keep with the international tradition of jules verne writing . cape horn be one of the lonely part of the globe and the geography of the southern tip of south america . look on a map of the many island and rock in that part of the globe and imagine how rough the sea be because it have only limited space . it not without reason that sailor in all culture say that no one be really a true sailor until they have make a voyage cross from the atlantic to the pacific ocean in that area . remember also this be 1865 a yul brynner identify the year and the panama canal have not be build . which make the lighthouse at cape horn an international concern which be something that be ever present in jules verne writing . but then as now there be malevolent force in the world and they be in this story yul brynner and his pirate crew . on one desultory like any other down there and yul brynner ship dock at the island and kill lighthouse keeper fernando rey and his young assistant massimo ranieri . by sheer dumb luck douglas be not at the lighthouse when this happen and but he become a hunted man by brynner and his pirate crew who want to set up headquarters there and use the light to pile up as many wreck a they can plunder . also they want to eliminate douglas who now the only witness to their crime . i do like this film very much both when first see it in the theater and now on vhs . one thing of interest i find here be that there be no ambiguity and no shading of character . kirk douglas be a good guy and yul brynner a bad one and no one be go to walk away think anything else . in fact yul brynner pirate captain jonathan kongre be the most unredeemable villain we have see on screen since lee marvin a liberty valance . definitely fan of kirk douglas and yul brynner and jules verne should earmark this film for their collection .