Got a whale of a tale to tell you lads, A whale of a tale or two!
With so many blockbuster releases in Hollywood, it’s easy to forget about our older films. Sure, we enjoy seeing the latest Marvel superhero adventure and Star Wars epic, but our cinematic history offers a diverse range of options. For those trying to stay home with their families, now is a good time to revisit some of the classics in the Disney movie library. Movies such as 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea are great for families to watch!
A Whale Of A Tale
Walt Disney’s 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea was a live-action adaptation of Jules Verne’s famous science fiction-adventure novel. It had a great cast of Hollywood talent including Kirk Douglas, James Mason, Paul Lukas, and Peter Lorre. The movie premiered on December 23rd, 1954. Also, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea was a hit in the box office and fans fell in love with the film. The movie won two Academy Awards for Best Special Effects and Best Art Direction.
The characters were memorable to audiences. James Mason proved to be stern and assertive in his portrayal of Captain Nemo. However, Kirk Douglas stole the show in his role as the tough guy sailer Ned Lands. His singing and lively demeanor won over moviegoers.
Another thing that makes 20,000 Leagues a classic is how Walt Disney himself oversaw its production. He wanted to introduce the literary works of Jules Verne to movie audiences and impress them with an epic adventure story.
The Nautilus
What good is a captain without their ship? Or in Captain Nemo’s case… his submarine! The Nautilus is the impressive submarine commanded by Captain Nemo in his science fiction adventure. The story is set in 1868, so the Nautilus represents a scientific wonder to the eyes of others in Jules Verne’s story. Nemo’s submarine is capable of fighting in sea battles and it’s filled with futuristic technology unseen to sailors in the 19th century. They showcase the awesome power of the Nautilus in a thrilling scene where the ship’s occupants battle a giant squid.
The Nautilus proves to be the primary location for characters throughout most of the film. It’s where we first meet Captain Nemo and see his interaction with others. We also learn about his mysterious past when others dive deep into his ship’s cabin to see his private collection of art and marine biology specimens.
Presence at Disney Parks
Once upon a time, the Nautilus could be found in real life at Disney Parks in America! The Magic Kingdom once had a “20,000 Leagues Under The Sea: Submarine Voyage” attraction located in Fantasyland from 1971 to 1994. The attraction was faithful to the movie by featuring underwater marvels to behold, plus it even featured a giant squid for guests to see. The lagoon that once housed this attraction is now filled up. New Fantasyland sits on the location of this former attraction. It’s where Seven Dwarfs Mine Train sits today.
Even though the Magic Kingdom attraction is closed, you can find a walk-through version of the Nautilus in Disneyland Paris, plus a different type of Nautilus adventure at Tokyo DisneySea!
We hope this article inspires some of you to check out this Disney classic. It’s currently available for streaming on the Disney+ app. Let us know your thoughts if you watch it!
Photo Source: Disney and D23
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