AS HAS OFTEN been the case, critical evaluation of much of the considerable output of Mr. Walt Disney was often downgraded. Although his was a multi-faceted world of many environs, each seemingly having been conquered to the ultimate degree, the snobbish attitudes of mediocrity persist. Even down to this day, the term "Mickey Mouse" is used in referring to some work of little true substance.
WE HAVE LONG believed these accusations to be overly exaggerated at best and steeped in some degree of envy by the very critics themselves. As we have heard that "Those who can't do, teach"; so it is that "Those who lack talent, critique those who are talented."
WHEN WE RECENTLY screened this episode of Walt Disney's DISNEYLAND, we well recalled having seen it, first run, while in the 3rd Grade at St. Theodore Elementary School, over 60 years prior. Unlike so many other TV shows and movies, which fade from their former positions of "esteem", OPERATION UNDERSEA seems to have gotten even better with time.
ALL OF THE elements here are outstanding in quality and have been expertly assembled in proper proportions. They manage to touch all of the bases in providing we, the viewing audience with the very complete package in an hour episode. And curiously, these components are disparate in nature; seemingly even incompatible to each other when presented in the same production.
TO BEGIN WITH we are given "Uncle Walt's" traditional introductory monologue. Then the expertise and nearly perfect talents of Winston Hibler in the role of narrator. His rich and smooth delivery of the scripted developments are already familiar to us from the Disney True Life Adventures and is a perfect fit in this behind the scenes film.
BEING THE PRODUCT of the Walt Disney Studio, on would expect that this film would possibly contain a measure of cartoony animation. This becomes fact with a short, but quite informative "history" of Man's quest to conquer the sea floors. Starting with Caveman, thru the Greek & Roman, 16th Century Seagoing and then up to the "Modern" diving Suits and to SCUBA*, here called "Skin Diving."
ALL OF THE table being set, the story switches to the story of a movie about making a movie. The wisdom and foresight of Walt Disney was clearly in evidence in his sending an additional film crew to capture and commit to celluloid the behind the scenes activities that go into making a movie with so much of the action being at the ocean floor.
OUR NARRATOR THEN relates the story of the multi-national settings and supporting cast that comprised the supporting company. Excellent candid filming of the local residents of Jamaica being hired to portray a tribe of primitive island peoples is among the most interesting and good will producing side bar to the story.
ONE LAST FACT that we must touch on concerns the singular position held by Disney's production of Jules Verne's 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA. Obviously the film is probably the biggest and most expensive production that Walt Disney Studios had done in the non-animation sector. It also sported the biggest "name" cast in Disney's history; what with James Mason (Captain Nemo), Kirk Douglas (Ned Land), Paul Lukas (Professor Arronax) and Peter Lorre (Conseil).
BUT IT ALSO was a first and in many ways an omen of things to come.
UP UNTIL THIS point, Disney's various cartoon shorts, full length animated pictures and live action feature films had been released through some other established movie companies. First came COLUMBIA PICTURES followed by UNITED ARTISTS. Then, for the bulk of the years, distribution of Disney was the function of RKO RADIO PICTURES. But that was then and this was now (then).**
STARTING WITH THIS top o' the line production, Disney movies were released by a new company called the BUENA VISTA FGILM RELEASING COMPANY. And guess what? BUENA VISTA was and is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Disney Company.
WELL NOW FRIEND Schultz, can you imagine that!
NOTE: * The word SCUBA is an acronym of "Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus"; being an invention of co-creator, Jacques Cousteau.
NOTE ** This self distribution by Disney no doubt was a contributing factor of RKO's demise in a few years after losing the Disney companies product.
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