20,000 Leagues Under the Sea 

In 1886, a French marine biologist aboard an American warship is scouring the Atlantic Ocean in search of a sea monster that routinely attacks and sinks passing ships.

Stars:

Michael Caine, Patrick Dempsey, Mia Sara

Cast

Series cast summary:
Michael Caine	...	Captain Nemo 2 episodes, 1997
Patrick Dempsey	...	Pierre Arronax 2 episodes, 1997
Mia Sara	...	Mara 2 episodes, 1997
Bryan Brown	...	Ned Land 2 episodes, 1997
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje	...	Cabe Attucks 2 episodes, 1997
John Bach	...	Thierry Arronax 2 episodes, 1997
Nicholas Hammond	...	Saxon 2 episodes, 1997
Peter McCauley	...	Admiral McCutcheon 2 episodes, 1997
Kerry Armstrong	...	Lydia Rawlings 2 episodes, 1997
Cecily Chun	...	Imei 2 episodes, 1997
Ken Senga	...	Shimoda 2 episodes, 1997
Gerry Day	...	Nitongu 2 episodes, 1997
Steven Grives	...	Garfield 2 episodes, 1997
Boe Kaan	...	Ivanda 2 episodes, 1997
Damian Monk	...	Dennison 2 episodes, 1997
Jeff Dornan	...	American Scientist 2 episodes, 1997
Gabriel Carr	...	Russian Scientist 2 episodes, 1997
Peter Settle	...	British Scientist 2 episodes, 1997
Peter Scheidel	...	Austrian Scientist 2 episodes, 1997
Duke Bannister	...	Scientist #2 2 episodes, 1997
Christopher Pate	...	Conductor 2 episodes, 1997
Cal Rein	...	Seaman 2 episodes, 1997

Storyline

The year is 1886, when New England's fishing harbours are the scene for a "creature of unknown origin" destroying ships at sea. It is the job of Professor Pierre Arronax, a marine expert, and Ned Land, the iron-willed sailor, to learn the truth of the "monster" roaming the seas. The great novelist, Jules Verne, described this perilous journey to the darkest depths of the sea with Captain Nemo aboard the Nautilus.

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Plot Keywords:

sea | jules verne | monster | captain nemo | male female relationship | 

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Taglines:

Welcome to the last place on earth.

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Genres:

Adventure | Romance | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

USA Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

20.000 leguas de viaje submarino

Filming Locations:

Movieworld Studios, Australia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Frederick S. Pierce Company, Village Roadshow Pictures Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min (3 episodes) 175 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The second of two competing adaptations of the Jules Verne novel to be released in 1997. The other was a Hallmark presentation with Ben Cross as Captain Nemo.

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Goofs

As Thierry Arronax makes his speech from the ship's gangway, a woman waives a U.S. flag with the stars in the pattern that became official in 1890 or 1896. The film is set in 1886.

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Quotes

Captain Nemo: The surface... I never thought I'd want to see it so badly.

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Connections

Version of 30,000 Leagues Under the Sea (2007)

User Reviews

Second best made-for-TV version of 1997.

1997 saw two TV versions of Jules Verne's classic and I suppose which ever a viewer saw first would forever tarnish their view of the second (Warning: I saw the other version first.) This means neither film was all that bad, neither all that great, and neither threw the Disney version off it's pedestal as being the true film classic (James Mason, Kirk Douglas, and Peter Lorre are a tough act to follow). Personally, I will watch ANYTHING remotely associated with Jules Verne so don't get too upset at my review, I did purchase it for my collection. Yet, compared to the other TV version, this version which features Michael Caine as Captain Nemo is overlong and without style. It boasts a great cast (well cast and decent performances), nice sets, and sufficient special effects, but little imagination. While it lights up like a Christmas tree in production values, it pales in making anything seem interesting. I expect remakes to show me something a little different than what I've seen or read and this whole film tries to base itself on things all too familiar. Dig deeper! Please read my review of 1997's other "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" for that film had style and some original additions. In previous versions we were awed by James Mason behind his pipe organ like the Phantom of the Nautilus, and Ben Cross chilled us as he stood atop his submarine like a Russian commander with American gun fire bursting around him. In this version Michael Caine's bags under his eyes suggested he was quite tired and made me feel very sleepy as well. 1969's "Captain Nemo and the Underwater City" with a nothing budget and a bland cast (Robert Ryan, Chuck Conners!!!) was more interesting! But it is Jules Verne and can be proud to be the second best made-for-TV version of "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" to be aired in 1997. I may have been a little harsh, but I think Captain Nemo would have it no other way.