Probably not. There might very well have been someone named Arne Saknussem who was interested in geology but most likely he was created from Jules Verne's imagination. (he may have been based on Galileo though)
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Yes even the Last name for Hans (Belker) is not Icelandic. It is very rare to have a Last name like that in Iceland if Icelanders have one it was usually created (snob). Our (I´m from Iceland and my grandfather plays Hans:)) last names are the surnames of our fathers. My father´s surname is Pétur so my last name is Pétursdóttir ( The daugther of Peter). All girls names end in -dóttir and all boys names end in -son. My grandfather changed his name when he moved to USA if you are wondering:).
shareThat's really interesting about Icelandic names. What happens when you marry - does your surname change? Does that mean that children have a different surname form both their parents?
No nothing changes, our last names are always the first names of our fathers (Our last name means the daugther/son of somebody), Stays the same even if we get married:). We don´t call it first name and last name its an old tradition, People who have last names like Jhonson or Peterson most likely were originated like that.
shareAnother thing, possibly of interest; there was an 17th century Icelandic scholar by the name of Árni Magnússon. He was the one responsible for collecting the Icelandic sagas and saving them from almost certain destruction. He MIGHT have been Vernes model for Saknussem. This is only a theory, though.
shareliljabp, the role your grandfather played in this movie was very memorable to me growing up; when ABC had the Jules Verne movies each week, I'd always look forward to Hans and his duck, Gertrude...and always felt bad for his character when he found out she was eaten.
shareI also enjoyed Hans' part in the movie very much.
Funny - when I first saw this as a little kid, I felt that the killing of the duck was complete justification for Hans' killing Saknussen.
I agree, as a pet lover myself, I'd have wanted to break the Count's neck with my bare hands too!!
Goth: He is abusing a legal technicality.
DrWho: No sir, I am claiming a legal right.
liljabp,
I just read the biographical information on your grandfather this evening, after having watched "Journey" again today, and am very sad to learn of his passing last January. There are some fine posts about him on this site, as I'm sure you've read, and I added a small one of my own as well. Please accept belated condolences to you and your family on your loss.
On a linguistic note, is it not true that Icelandic telephone directories are arranged in alphabetical order by first name? I knew something of Icelandic names even before reading your informative post, and always wondered about the name "Belker", which doesn't sound at all Icelandic -- more Dutch, perhaps?
Thank you!