Review of the Classic Disney Film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

A giant squid, a mad captain bent on revenge, cannibals, and a killer submarine. They are all part of the "whale of a tale" that is "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," the classic Disney movie based on the Jules Verne novel.

"20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" was chosen by Walt Disney to be the first, full-length live action film from the Disney Studios without animation. It features a superb cast, led by James Mason as the villainous Captain Nemo, with Kirk Douglas as the heroic Ned Land, Paul Lukas as Professor Arronax, and legendary character actor Peter Lorre as Conseil.

The story, of course, involves a professor (Lukas) and his assistant (Lorre) who set out to investigate mysterious attacks on ships that have been blamed on a sea monster. After the "monster" sinks their ship, the pair, along with a carefree sailor (Douglas), find themselves taken aboard Nemo's (Mason) incredible submarine, the Nautilus, which is responsible for the attacks. The trio soon discover that Nemo is not only a brilliant genius, but also quite mad. Set on a path of revenge from a past tragedy, Nemo and his crew are determined to bring destruction and fear to the sea.

Although it was made in 1954, "20,000 Leagues" holds up incredibly well for today's audiences. Kids may consider "old Disney movies" from years past to be boring and dated, but parents should insist their kids give "20,000 Leagues" a try. Because the film was made for the big screen, it should be viewed as a "theater experience:" try viewing it on a big screen TV in a dark room with the sound turned up.

Spoiler Alert: Plot details ahead!
Although it can be talky at times, the film is strong on every level. The performances are pitch perfect: Douglas is the ultimate movie star, and the film crackles with fun whenever he is on screen. James Mason plays a complicated villain - the well-spoken undersea explorer in him makes him a likable person, but when his anger boils to the surface, you believe it. Instead of overplaying the character and chewing up scenery, Mason gives a layered, tortured, mesmerizing performance. When he meets his fate at the end of the film, you are sorry to see him go. Amazingly, his performance did not get an Oscar nomination, probably because acting nods that year were dominated by "On the Waterfront."

The epic story is brilliantly presented, with first-rate set decoration bringing the Nautilus to life. The undersea scenes are balanced with the bright and colorful land scenes. Mix in the incredible "Giant Squid Battle" on the deck of the Nautilus during a raging hurricane, and all the elements come together to make this a classic Disney film that has yet to be equaled. Even though the film clocks in at just over two hours, the riveting storyline and state-of-the-art special effects (which still hold up today) make the movie fly by.

"20,000 Leagues" was released in a special edition DVD in 2004, and is a must-own for any classic Disney film library or your basic film buff's DVD shelf. The DVD includes extensive behind-the-scenes material that most will find fascinating. Of particular note is an alternate version of the "Giant Squid Battle" that was originally shot during a calm, sunset setting. The filmmakers felt the squid looked too fake, so it was decided a nighttime storm would make the creature look more realistic. The choice worked, but the alternate version is still a treat to see. Rarely seen promotional materials featuring Walt Disney are also included.

The special edition DVD is available from Amazon.com, Buy.com, and Frys.com.

Source: Internet Movie Database