20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA(1954)
A very good adaption of Jules Verne's book! Considering
the age, it stands up very well ovet time! I enjoyed it alot! B
A review from Amazon
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