Climb aboard the Nautilus … and into a strange undersea world of spellbinding adventure! Kirk Douglas, Paul Lukas, and Peter Lorre star as shipwrecked survivors taken captive by the mysterious Captain Nemo, brilliantly portrayed by James Mason. Wavering between genius and madness, Nemo has launched a deadly crusade across the seven seas. But can the captive crew expose his evil plan before he destroys the world? Disney’s brilliant Academy Award(R)-winning (1955, Best Art Direction and Best Special Effects) adaptation of Jules Verne’s gripping tale makes 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA a truly mesmerizing masterpiece!The swashbuckler genre bumped into science fiction in 1954 for one of Hollywood’s great entertainments. The Jules Verne story of adventure under the sea was Walt Disney’s magnificent debut into live-action films. A professor (Paul Lukas) seeks the truth about a legendary sea monster in the years just after the Civil War. When his ship is sunk, he, his aide (Peter Lorre), and a harpoon master (Kirk Douglas) survive to discover that the monster is actually a metal submarine run by Captain Nemo (James Mason). Along with the rollicking adventure, it’s fun to see the future technology that Verne dreamed up in his novel, including diving equipment and sea farming. The film’s physical prowess is anchored by the Nautilus, an impressive full-scale gothic submarine complete with red carpet and pipe organ. In the era of big sets, 20,000 Leagues set a precedent for films shot on the water and deservedly won Oscars for art direction and special effects. Lost in the inventiveness of the film and great set pieces including a giant squid attack are two great performances. Mason is the perfect Nemo, taut and private, clothed in dark fabric that counters the Technicolor dreamboat that is the beaming red-and-white-stripe-shirted Kirk Douglas as the heroic Ned Land. The film works as peerless family adventure nearly half a century later. –Doug Thomas
Buy “Disney’s 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea “ For Only $9.97
March 5, 2010
#1
Oh-No, not another widescreen CD! Old movie that would have been good if fit to the screen.
March 5, 2010
#2
I ordered this DVD a full month before Christmas. I still don’t have it. Can you reimburse me?
March 5, 2010
#3
I did not receive, I’ve asked two times and never arrived.
By the way, every time I used the cheapeast delivery option I didn’t receive my package, I just reveiced when I chose express delivery (most expensive option). I think Amazon should garantee better all delivery options with their partners.
Thanks a lot.
March 5, 2010
#4
The ship (the Nautilus) goes deep, but almost everything else about this science fiction movie is superficial. So why is it entertaining? Is it a tease, is it the fascination with past/future imaginings, the visual experience (an early version of a nuclear submarine, recognizable actors, historically accurate sets), or music designed for greatest impact? Learn from this film’s mistakes, then teach your children higher standards.
March 5, 2010
#5
I guess this was a movie by Disney to adapt stories to draw in “adult” fans. I made the mistake of thinking that is was a “Disney” original that it would be for small children, but no. It is very dark. Good actors and good effects for the time.