Editorial Reviews

The swashbuckler genre bumped into science fiction in 1954 for one of Hollywood's great entertainments. The Jules Verne story of adventure under the sea was Walt Disney's magnificent debut into live-action films. A professor (Paul Lukas) seeks the truth about a legendary sea monster in the years just after the Civil War. When his ship is sunk, he, his aide (Peter Lorre), and a harpoon master (Kirk Douglas) survive to discover that the monster is actually a metal submarine run by Captain Nemo (James Mason). Along with the rollicking adventure, it's fun to see the future technology that Verne dreamed up in his novel, including diving equipment and sea farming. The film's physical prowess is anchored by the Nautilus, an impressive full-scale gothic submarine complete with red carpet and pipe organ. In the era of big sets, 20,000 Leagues set a precedent for films shot on the water and deservedly won Oscars for art direction and special effects. Lost in the inventiveness of the film and great set pieces including a giant squid attack are two great performances. Mason is the perfect Nemo, taut and private, clothed in dark fabric that counters the Technicolor dreamboat that is the beaming red-and-white-stripe-shirted Kirk Douglas as the heroic Ned Land. The film works as peerless family adventure nearly half a century later.

Product details

Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Yes
Package Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.32 x 4.19 x 1.12 inches; 0.01 ounces
Item model number ‏ : ‎ 15V
Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 6 minutes
Date First Available ‏ : ‎ August 10, 2008
Actors ‏ : ‎ James Mason, Kirk Douglas, Paul Lukas, Peter Lorre
Studio ‏ : ‎ Walt Disney Home Video
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B001E3DYVE

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4.7 4,238 ratings

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Xenophon12

From Jules Verne's original story to a great movie with Kirk Douglas

Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2024

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The story is well known, so take a look at 2 options. From the French DVD 2004 (widescreen, Disney) to the Blu-ray cop 2019, usual improvments, so, happy I am. But also less choices in the languages, and no bonus(es). Now, Anniversay Edition, Blu-ray 2019 : English + English SDH, no more. As for the the 2004 edition (my old DVD, beautiful both sides of the box) : Audio : French, English, Spanish. As for the Subtitles = 9 (nine !), first of all : Français, Anglais, Espagnol, Néerlandais, Portugais. And Bonuses, with visit of the Nautilus, etc. So... make pour choice ! Or have them both !

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HAL lives!

All this will one day come to pass...

Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2003

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"20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" is, IMHO, one of the greatest Science Fantasy's ever brought to the silver screen, and the one true unquestionable masterpiece from the "House of Mouse!" Being the wrong side of 40, "20,000 Leagues" is one of my earliest cinematic memories, and watching this superb Disney DVD - in wide screen for only the first time since I saw it as a child! - brought the magic of those long ago years flooding back in an instant!
The Amazon review above will give you the bare bones of the story; a terrible "sea monster" - all glowing eyes and "breath like a furnace!" - is sinking ships just after the end of the American Civil War. Things have gotten so bad that maritime trade is being crippled; ships can't sail without a crew, the crews themselves having deserted in fear of the "monster." Almost in desperation, the authorities organize a hunt for the creature, and invite the famed oceanographer, "Professor Arronax," and his research assistant "Conseil," along, on a US warship, to lend the expedition scientific gravitas. Also along for the ride is a fearless harpooner, "Ned Land," looking for adventure, and the rewards of being the man who kills the "monster."
After more than a month at sea, and with no sighting of anything unusual, they are about to head for home when they see a ship, some miles distant, explode with enormous force. They race to the spot and arrive in time to see the vessel slipping beneath the waves with all hands. A lookout sees the creature in the distance, moving away from the area; they fire on it and it turns towards them. Slicing through the waves, the creature races towards its attackers with a hellish shriek, its eyes alight, just as the stories said, with an unearthly glow. Panic ensues on the ship, the gunner's fire repeatedly, but cannot find their range; the creature is covering the distance between them at incredible speed!
The resulting impact is shattering; Arronax, Conseil, and Land, are hurled into the sea, where they are separated. Arronax and Conseil watch helplessly as the crippled warship limps away into the distance, listing badly. After hours in the water, and completely lost in a fogbank, Arronax and Conseil come across the "monster" floating on the surface. They soon discover that what they thought was a supernatural beast, is, in fact, a fantastic vessel, a "sub-marine boat," capable of travel beneath the surface of the sea.
Seemingly deserted, they enter the ship and start to explore, soon to be joined by Ned Land, who paddles into view on an upturned skiff. From a massive view port, they see the crew outside the ship working on the seabed; once the crew returns, the three friends are quickly apprehended... now their adventure, and ours, is about to REALLY begin!
The ship they are on is called the "Nautilus," a technological wonderland, it's commanded by "Captain Nemo;" his crew, all of them to a man, absolutely loyal. The Captain has scant time for Conseil, and even less for Land, but he is pleased to meet the renowned Pierre Arronax, a man he sees, at least as far as their mutual fascination for the sea is concerned, as a kindred spirit. Nemo takes Arronax under his wing, slowly revealing to him the secrets of the deep through which they travel, and the fantastical secrets of the Nautilus itself. Nemo also shares his own terrible secrets with the oceanographer, experiences that have shaped him, and driven both him, and his crew, to disown any allegiances to any and all terrestrial governments and flags.
Nemo is portrayed by James Mason in a magnificently layered, complex performance. At first cold, austere, dark, and brooding, Mason slowly reveals the tortured soul of the man, driven by his own demons to do what he knows are terrible things, for, he hopes, the betterment of mankind. Neither hero nor villain, Mason's performance is beautifully nuanced, and his final scenes are especially moving.
The three other central characters are also played to perfection, Kirk Douglas, especially, has a blast with Ned Land, one moment slap-sticking his way through his song, "A Whale of a Tale," the next butting heads with Nemo, and plotting escape. Peter Lorre, as Conseil, is the perfect foil to Douglas' larger than life character, and the two of them seemed to have formed a genuine friendship on the set, something which shows through in the "hair" scenes... you'll know them when you see them! Paul Lukas is pitch perfect as Professor Arronax, all at once in thrall to Nemo's genius, but at the same time horrified by the terrible deeds he's capable of. And a final word has to go to the `biggest' character of all, the Nautilus itself; a gothic masterpiece, it's quite simply the greatest fantasy vehicle ever created for the silver screen... EVER! The Nautilus departs quite extensively from Verne's description, but, just like the film itself, it's completely within the spirit of the original story, more so than just about any film adaptation of classic Science Fantasy that I can think of!
One minor gripe, Nemo, as I have said before, is an incredibly complex character, so I was saddened to see on the back of the DVD case, the following; "...can the captive crew (Arronax etc) expose his (Nemo's) evil plan before he destroys the world?" After all that Disney has done to make this a landmark release, with hours of extras, including an incredible 90 minute(!) "making of" featurette, it's such a shame that Nemo is misrepresented so crudely.
Almost half a century(!) later, this is still Disney's crowning glory, and a glowing testament to visionary film making... HIGHLY recommended!!!

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Daniel B. Lyle

A brilliantly ancient Sci-Fi argument against war and inhumanity

Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2023

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The hubris and hypocrisy of humans is brilliantly displayed in this wonderful film based on Jules Verne’ 1870 science fiction book. Those that decry war instead make war on the supposed oppressors. The role of science as a liberating force is used to make better weapons. Revenge justifies taking revenge. Money which creates marvelous new wonders for humanity at the same time threatens to enslave the world. Wrapped up in a gripping conflict story, the steam-punk vision of Walt Disney from the 1950’s is gripping. It’s so great to see Kirk Douglas in his prime, the cheerful wild card enlivening the whole story. Truly, the blu-ray anniversary edition provides a still-mesmerizing spectacle, particularly when projected onto a large wall screen with full surround sound turned up. This is a “blast from the past” that I didn’t fully appreciate when I was six years old back in 1954 but enjoy its spectacle and subtleties even more today. Bravo!

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P.S Winn

Great for all ages

Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2024

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Although, like always, the book was better, this is a good movie. One that can be enjoyed by all ages, and great to watch together as a family.

Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2007

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As a boy I use to read everything I could on Walt Disney's work, hoping to one day work at the Disney studios as an animator. Well, even though that dream never happened, I was quite saddened by Walt's death when I saw a stand up poster of Mickey Mouse on a street corner one day as a boy, my mother and I passed with the stand up A-frame showing Mickey Mouse, with tears falling from his eyes, holding up a sheet of paper in his right hand saying"My father has died!".

Walt was a great man and a visionery in my book. I especially enjoyed reading Diane Disney's book; telling her father's life story when I was going through high school and how Walt went through three bancrupcies, as I recall, before drawing Mickey Mouse on a subway one day, while his wife looked on viewing over his shoulder what he had drawn. He had named the character "Mortimer" but his wife proposed "Mickey" as a name, which Walt liked better; so goes Diane's account.

This film was, however, I think, his most ambitious, if not most costly; price wise. What a gambler he was! But he caught us kids with this one and boy how we lined up at the theatre's to see this one! I wasn't a real big Kirk Douglass fan back then. However I did enjoy Kirk Douglass in the motion picture film entitled "The Final Countdown" where he plays Captain Yelland aboard the aircraft carrier Nemitz which travels back into time a day before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Another great film worth viewing I might add.

Anyway, in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, I saw myself more as Captain Nemo throughout the film; played by James Mason. Mason struck me as the perfect Captain Nemo, if there ever was going to be one on the silver screen. Douglass's character struck me more as a guy who was a jerk, out for profit and gain, as well as a good time, while not being a visionary of what Nemo was trying to accomplish as a peace ruler. So I don't know if it was his character or Douglass himself that turned me off.

While we all had our own imagination working for each of us, when we read the book, I think Walt came the closest anyone could in bringing it to the silver screen. Even if the subject was remade today, those my age would still be comparing it to the fabulous achievement Walt Disney and his people did with this production master while we waited in theatre lines to see the film again and again.

I even remember they had the giant squid on display at Disneyland, as a boy, in a giant "aquariam tank"; for lack of a better word. The tank was not real, but the lighting and the glass going around the display made it look real as you viewed the giant squid. It was well done for the viewing populace. Wish I had pictures, but then I was only a boy back then and my parents didn't take any picture of the display that I know of to this day.

Anyway, I gave this four stars, simply because I didn't think the role Kirk Douglass played was the right part for him, but the film itself is worth five stars. I've also been a long time fan of Peter Lorre, who I loved in the Humphrey Bogart film "The Maltese Falcon" and other old Hollywood classic films that graces my library collection. The behind the scenes DVD is also well worth the money that comes with the product.

The case and DVD were in excellent condtion and I have no complaints about the DVD quality. Purchase price was good too and delivery was on time.

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Jonathan Friebel

Classic

Reviewed in Canada on January 26, 2024

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I'm introducing my boys to some of these older 'classics' that I remember. Watched it once with them, and they've watched it on their own a few times since. I think in some ways they like the more thoughtful movies, with a slow burn, as opposed to the sort of crazed modern kids movies.
Anyway, it's a great movie.

Tim product is great thankyou

Great film

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 21, 2024

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Dvd

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OLIVIER BAUD

100% ok

Reviewed in France on January 12, 2024

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100% ok

Roger Gustafsson

Old classic

Reviewed in Sweden on January 14, 2023

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It's a great movie

jose garcia

Gran obra de arte

Reviewed in Spain on December 2, 2022

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La compre para regalo y como no fue una gran compra, la compre versión usa, pero viene en español y a un gran precio,gran película de walt Disney con un muy buen reparto y un gran kirk douglas

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