20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA
US, 1954, 122 minutes, Colour.
Kirk Douglas, James Mason, Paul Lukas, Peter Lorre.
Directed by Richard Fleischer.
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea is considered by many as one of the classics from the Disney Studios. It was its first Cinemascope adventure and was produced with great care and directed skilfully by Richard Fleischer. The atmosphere of the 19th. century, the picturing of the submarine Nautilus and the exotic exploration of the ocean are part of its mystique. There are also some exotic sequences on a Devil's Island kind of prison and a touch of New Guinea with cannibals. The stars are excellent, especially James Mason as Captain Nemo; Kirk Douglas has a chance for plenty of action and to sing a song with a seal.
Jules Verne was very popular in the 19th. century and has always been a favourite with filmmakers, even with George Melies at the beginning of the century. There have been numerous versions of Verne's stories and of this present one. Its sequel, Mysterious Island, has been serialised as well as made a feature in 1961. After 20,000 Leagues, there were several versions of Verne's stories spectacularly done, including Around The World In Eighty Days, Journey To The Centre Of The Earth, From The Earth To The Moon. While there have been many action adventures since this film, as well as a disaster trend, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea is still very good entertainment.
1. The status of the film as a Disney classic? The quality of its production, use of wide screen, 19th. century period,, the atmosphere of submarine, underwater photography? Special effects,' especially the fight with the squid? The contribution of the stars?
2. The production values: the quality of the colour photography, sets and decor, the exterior and interior of the Nautilus, the quality of the underwater photography and action,: the special effects with the squid, with the exploration of the island and of New Guinea, the destruction of Vulcania? The blend of action and talk? Pace and editing? The song and the score?
3. Jules Verne's status as a 19th. century storyteller? His fascination with science, with fantasy? The quality of his fiction adventure? Themes of scientific exploration as well as mind and spirit? His anticipation of the 20th. century? His faith in human progress? The hesitation about the evil and exploitation? The quality of Jule's Verne's imagination?
4. Verne's themes of human liberty, the evils of exploitation, the insights of the scientist and inventor and the dilemma as to whether he should bequeath his insights to the human race? Man's readiness for progress? Captain Nemo expressing these hesitations? Nemo as a victim, a rebel, wreaking revenge, moving away from emotions, his low expectations of the human race? His deep hopes? His decision to destroy secrets? The speeches about pacifism and peace? His speeches about conservation of nature?
5. The atmosphere of San Francisco in the 19th. century, city, investigation, the Navy, brawls? The stories told about the monster? The introduction to Ned - the comic touch, the ladies' man? Professor Arronax and Conseil? The newspaper interviews? Theories about monsters? The build up to the Navy expedition and the professor and his assistant being invited on board? Ned being one of the crew?
6. The Navy sequences - the professor and his excitement, the Captain and his criticism of the theories? The exploring of the ocean? Anxiety? The arrival of the Nautilus - its eerie presence, the torpedoes, the sinking of the ship?
7. The professor and his assistant and their survival? Being joined by Ned? The impact of the sinking ship? Their curiosity about the Nautilus? Their exploring the interior and their amazement? The decor of the submarine, the technological aspects, electricity, the plush decor of Captain Nemols apartment? The continued exploration of the Nautilus throughout the film? The banquet scene, with the revelation of the type of food being eaten?
8. The introduction to Captain Nemo, his presence, appearance? The burial at sea? His attitude towards the world, the story about his imprisonment, torture of his wife and family and their deaths? His bitterness and spurning of human life? His hold over the crew? His autocratic manner? His courtesy towards the professor and his assistant? His hostility towards Ned? His philosophy of life? His cruelty - the testing of their support for one another in drowning? His decision to keep them alive?
9. Ned and his reaction, wanting to escape? Plans and violence? The discovery of the jewels - and their uselessness under the sea? His drinking and sending the bottles with messages? The pleasant interludes with his song and the seal? His participation in the work of the Nautilus?
10. The exploration of the ocean, the surface storms and the peace under the sea? The vast farm and the using of the sea bed for survival? The importance of the visit to the prison island with its horrors? The explosion and the deaths? New's heartless attitude? The visit to New Guinea - the ship aground, the exploration and Ned's attempt to escape? The pursuit by the cannibals and the hectic pace of these scenes and their repulsion by electricity from the Nautilus?
11. The tensions between the characters? The professor and his trying to accommodate to Nemo's way of life? His assistant and his greed and wanting to escape? Ned and his plans?
12. The build up to the confrontation with the giant squid? The special effects for the squid's power against the submarine? The fight and Ned's using his skills to save Nemo? Captain Nemo's desperate confrontation with the squid?
13. Sailing to Vulcania? The discovery of occupying troops? Nemo's confrontation with them? The pursuit, the fight, the destruction and death? Nemo's being wounded? His dilemma about the future? His wanting to destroy everything? The professor - the intellectual and Ned, the man of action, surviving?
14. The moralising at the end of Verne's fables? Hopes in progress, for man's future - as well as his doubts about man's future? The entertainment value of this classic adventure?