20000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)

Director:

Richard Fleischer

Writer:

Earl Felton (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

23 December 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Walt Disney's Mighty, Magnificent, Memorable 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea!

Plot:

A ship sent to investigate a wave of mysterious sinkings encounters the advanced submarine, the Nautilus, commanded by Captain Nemo.

Plot Keywords:

Whale | Submarine | Captain Nemo | Captain | Professor

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Kirk Douglas	...	Ned Land
James Mason	...	Captain Nemo
Paul Lukas	...	Prof. Pierre Aronnax
Peter Lorre	...	Conseil
Robert J. Wilke	...	First Mate of the Nautilus
Ted de Corsia	...	Capt. Farragut
Carleton Young	...	John Howard
J.M. Kerrigan	...	Old Billy
Percy Helton	...	Coach Driver
Ted Cooper	...	Mate on 'Lincoln'
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Daheim	...	Nautilus Seaman (uncredited)
Jack Gargan	...	Reporter from The Post (uncredited)
Harper Goff	...	Minister in San Francisco Steam Packet office (uncredited)
Fred Graham	...	Casey Moore (uncredited)
Harry Harvey	...	Ticket Agent (uncredited)
Ray Linn Jr.	...	Bass-singing sailor (uncredited)
Dayton Lummis	...	Reporter from The Bulletin (uncredited)
Eddie Marr	...	Shipping Agent (uncredited)
Laurie Mitchell	...	One of Ned's Girlfriends (uncredited)
T. Monaghan	...	Crewman (uncredited)
Ron Nyman	...	Sailor (uncredited)
Gloria Pall	...	Blonde Girlfriend (uncredited)
Jack Pennick	...	Cannon Mate Carson (uncredited)
Jack Stoney	...	Police Detective (uncredited)
S. Tarnell	...	Crewman (uncredited)
Herb Vigran	...	Reporter for the Globe (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Fleischer

Writing credits
Jules Verne		(novel) uncredited
Earl Felton		(screenplay)

Produced by
Walt Disney	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Paul J. Smith		(as Paul Smith)

Cinematography by
Franz Planer		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
Elmo Williams

Production Design by
Harper Goff		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
John Meehan
Harper Goff		(uncredited)

Set Decoration by
Emile Kuri

Makeup Department
Louis Hippe	....	hairdresser (as Lou Hippe)
Louis Hippe	....	makeup (as Lou Hippe)
Emmy Eckhardt	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Dan Greenway	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)
Gustaf Norin	....	makeup supervisor (uncredited)
Lillian Rader	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Fred Leahy	....	production manager
Frederic Leahy	....	production supervisor (uncredited)
Ed Ralph	....	assistant production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tom Connors Jr.	....	assistant director
James Curtis Havens	....	second unit director (as James Havens)
Russ Haverick	....	assistant director
J. Matane	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Bruce Bushman	....	sketch artist
Adam John Backauskas	....	property maker (uncredited)
Art Cole	....	property master: second unit (uncredited)
Arden Cripe	....	property master (uncredited)
J.C. Delaney	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Juan Esquinta	....	painter (uncredited)
Sandy Grace	....	lead man (uncredited)
Juan Haquinta	....	stand-by painter (uncredited)
John Harris	....	stand-by painter (uncredited)
John Hench	....	production illustrator (uncredited)
Roland Hill	....	interior design consultant: Nautilus (uncredited)
De Nunsic	....	painter (uncredited)
James Owens	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Russell Ray	....	laborer (uncredited)
Freddie Stoos	....	production illustrator (uncredited)
Art Sweet	....	laborer (uncredited)
Karl Wiebach	....	submarine interior (uncredited)

Sound Department
Robert O. Cook	....	sound recordist
C.O. Slyfield	....	sound director
G.R. Danner	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John Hench	....	special effects
Joshua Meador	....	special effects (as Josh Meador)
Jim Donnelly	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Lou Gray	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Robert A. Mattey	....	special effects director (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Peter Ellenshaw	....	matte artist
Ralph Hammeras	....	effects photographer
Ub Iwerks	....	special processes
Charles Bovel	....	director of photography: visual effects unit (uncredited)
Marcel Delgado	....	miniatures (uncredited)
Warren Wray Hamilton	....	miniature technician (uncredited)
Andy Lane	....	back projection supervisor (uncredited)
Chris Mueller	....	model sculptor (uncredited)
Fred Sersen	....	visual effects supervisor: second unit (uncredited)
Albert Whitlock	....	titles designer (uncredited)

Stunts
Norman Bishop	....	stunt diver (uncredited)
Ricou Browning	....	stunt diver (uncredited)
Joe Canutt	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Daheim	....	stunt double: James Mason (uncredited)
F. Donahue	....	stunt diver (uncredited)
Al Hansen	....	stunt diver (uncredited)
Stubby Kruger	....	stunts (uncredited)
Carey Loftin	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Carey Loftin	....	stunts (uncredited)
Frank McGrath	....	stunts (uncredited)
Frank McMann	....	stunt double: James Mason (uncredited)
Eddie Parker	....	stunt double: Robert J. Wilke (uncredited)
Gil Parker	....	stunt diver (uncredited)
Harvey Parry	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gil Perkins	....	stunt double: Kirk Douglas (uncredited)
Charles Regan	....	stunt diver (uncredited)
George Robotham	....	stunts (uncredited)
D. Rochlen	....	stunt diver (uncredited)
Ed Stepner	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Sterling	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Stropahl	....	stunt diver (uncredited)
Louis Tomei	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	....	stunts (uncredited)
Carl Vernell	....	stunt double: Kirk Douglas (uncredited)
Jack Williams	....	stunt double: Kirk Douglas (uncredited)
Jack Williams	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Wilson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Fred Zendar	....	stunt diver (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Til Gabani	....	underwater photographer (as Till Gabbani)
Charles P. Boyle	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Edward Colman	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Tom Eddy	....	electrician (uncredited)
John Farrell	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Jim Grady	....	electrician (uncredited)
Hadley	....	camera grip (uncredited)
Paul Hill	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Dick Johnson	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Kauffman	....	camera technician (uncredited)
James V. King	....	camera operator: second unit (uncredited)
Morris Rosen	....	key grip (uncredited)
Charles Russell	....	grip (uncredited)
Don Stott	....	chief lighting technician (uncredited)
Hal Swanson	....	assistant chief lighting technician (uncredited)
Anthony Ugrin	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Norman Martien	....	costumer
Harrington	....	costume assistant (uncredited)
Herman	....	costume assistant (uncredited)
Robert Martien	....	wardrobe supervisor (uncredited)
Robert Olivas	....	costume assistant (uncredited)
Ottras	....	costume assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Joseph Dubin	....	orchestration (as Joseph S. Dubin)

Other crew
Walt Disney	....	presenter
Harper Goff	....	production developer
Morgan Padelford	....	Technicolor consultant
Fred Zendar	....	diving master
Dick Anderson	....	dive equipment master (uncredited)
Elliott Barns	....	wrangler (uncredited)
Art Black	....	first aid (uncredited)
Dr. Bryan	....	first aid (uncredited)
Howard Davis	....	assistant production coordinator (uncredited)
Thomas Michael Dyers	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
W.F. Fitzgerald	....	production coordinator (uncredited)
Hazel George	....	first aid (uncredited)
William Hunter	....	life guard (uncredited)
Howard Lightbourn	....	liaison: Bahamas locations (uncredited)
Howard Lydecker	....	consultant (uncredited)
Theodore Lydecker	....	consultant (uncredited)
Jack Peterson	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Robertson	....	liaison: Jamaica (uncredited)
Marvin Weldon	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Walt Disney Productions (as A Walt Disney Production)

Distributors

• Buena Vista Film Distribution Company (1954) (USA) (theatrical) (as Buena Vista Film Distribution Co. Inc.)
• Suomi-Filmi (1955) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Film Distribution Company (1963) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Buena Vista Pictures (1955) (France) (theatrical)
• Cinédis (1955) (France) (theatrical)
• Daiei Motion Picture Company (1955) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Herzog-Filmverleih (1956) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Kinosto (1976) (Finland) (theatrical)
• RKO Radio Pictures (A/SIA) (1955) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Abril Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Arcade Movie Company (2000) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Canada) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Disney Channel (1983) (USA) (TV)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1976) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• TV3 (1991) (Finland) (TV)
• Walt Disney Home Video (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Walt Disney Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)

Also Known As:

"Jules Verne's 20000 Leagues Under the Sea" - UK (complete title), USA (complete title)
"Walt Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" - USA (poster title)

Runtime:

127 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Portugal:M/6 | Iceland:L | Finland:K-12 (1955) | Finland:K-8 (1976) | Canada:G (video rating) | New Zealand:G | Argentina:Atp | Peru:PT | UK:U (video rating) (1987) (2002) | Sweden:11 (cut) (1966) | Sweden:Btl (cut) (1955) | Australia:PG | Canada:F (Ontario) | France:U | Norway:11 | Spain:T | Sweden:15 (original rating) | UK:U (passed with cuts) | USA:Approved (PCA #17073) | Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | USA:G (re-rating) (1970) | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Walt Disney Productions

Trivia:

Sections of the film were photographed on location in Jamaica and the Bahamas, by director Richard Fleischer and a crew of over 400 technicians.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: The note that Ned Land puts in the bottle, while containing numbers representing both latitude and longitude, neglects to say whether the latitude is North or South. The note is however not useless: the unnamed state could have sent warships to both the North and South locations.

Quotes:

Captain Nemo:Would you care to come along, Professor?
Professor Pierre Aronnax, narrator:No, thank you. The last time I went ashore it was a prelude to murder.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Haunted Mansion (2003)

Soundtrack:

A Whale of a Tale

Great DVD Makes This Fun Again

One of the first movies, along with "Shane," that I ever saw as a young kid that I still watch and enjoy today is this one. One of the reasons I still enjoy it is the wonderful restoration job someone did in the latest DVD that was released in 2004.

Of course, it's not as exciting as seeing this on the big screen as a youngster, but it's still entertaining thanks to the intelligent dialog of James Mason, the humor (believe it or not) of Peter Lorre and the good special effects. The submarine is still neat to watch, particularly at night with the green glow to it. I haven't seen anything like it since. I haven't seen a giant squid attacking a boat, either, come to think of it. That still is pretty cool.

I don't find this movie "spectacular" as its reputation but it's still a very worthy addition to any movie buff's collection. It's one of the classics of the '50s that has been revived with this great-looking DVD which also has some interesting extra features.