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20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA
Review by Michael Jacobson
Stars:
Kirk Douglas, James Mason, Paul Lukas, Peter Lorre
Director: Richard Fleischer
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.55:1
Studio: Walt Disney
Features: See Review
Length: 127 Minutes
Release Date: May 20, 2003
“Do
you know the meaning of love, Professor?”
“I
believe I do.”
“What
you fail to understand is the power of hate.”
At
long last, Walt Disney’s most heralded live action adventure is available in
original widescreen format! But
more on that further down…
20,000
Leagues Under the Sea was, by far, the most expensive production ever attempted at the time in
1954, with a final cost of around $9 million. Toward the end of production, moneys were being diverted from
Walt’s dream project of Disneyland and other films in progress, until cash ran
out leaving Walt and his vision at the mercy of the bankers.
The picture was considered by everyone in the business to be a tremendous
risk.
Fortunately,
Disney was a man used to taking risks and having them pay off.
20,000 Leagues was a triumph of storytelling and imagination, with
a great cast, wondrous worlds to explore and amazing Oscar winning special
effects and set design. It was a monster hit for the studio, and remains one of their
most beloved offerings ever.
Unfortunately
for me, even the imagination of Disney couldn’t quite compare with that of a
young boy who loved the Jules Verne novel with vigor. No movie adaptation could ever equal the worlds created in my
head by Verne’s original text. I’ve
seen the Disney film many times over the years, and each time, I appreciate it
more and more…but my overall reaction is still a bit of quiet dissatisfaction.
Verne’s
tale was simply wider in scope and range…a collection of adventurous vignettes
that could almost stand apart from each other, yet each one inspiring awe and
imagination, even in our modern world where submarines are no longer a fantasy.
Every time I think of the passage in the book where the professor and
Captain Nemo, in their underwater suits, overlook the ruins of a city on the
ocean floor and Nemo uses his finger to write “Atlantis” in the sand, I
think the Disney film missed an opportunity or two.
Yet
I can’t blame the studio for the fact that I cherished the book so much.
Frankly, I’ve never found a suitable screen adaptation of The Three
Musketeers either. So, while admitting my own imaginative prejudices against it,
keeping in mind the historical perspective and achievement, and mostly, for
finally seeing the picture in its true 2.55:1 ratio which lent a greater
appreciation for the visuals, I arrive at a three star rating.
When
a menacing sea monster seems to be destroying warships and supply ships, many
sailors become reluctant to take to the sea.
But for one Professor Arronax (Lukas) and his assistant Conseil (Lorre),
the attraction is too great to resist, especially when they are invited onto a
vessel to explore the myth.
Their
vessel sinks as well, leaving only Arronax, Conseil and salty harpooner Ned Land
(Douglas) alive and adrift, when they make the discovery of a lifetime…the sea
monster is in fact a brilliantly designed and powerful underwater craft!
The
Nautilus, commanded by the reclusive Captain Nemo (the superb Mason), is
indeed a ship of wonders. With the
three men as Nemo’s reluctant guests (Ned would say prisoners), the captain
takes them on an underwater adventure with plenty of surprises in store,
including a sea bottom hunting and gathering expedition, a look at a slave labor
island that holds the key to Nemo’s past, a secret base where the Nautilus repowers,
and more.
But
while the professor marvels at the discoveries and inventions that could better
all humanity, he finds little cooperation from Nemo, who has withdrawn from a
society he deems cruel and barbaric. He’s
made it a personal mission to thwart mankind’s attempts at war, and has no
intention of releasing the secrets of his submarine that would only become
another instrument of destruction in the wrong hands.
Ironic, because that’s just what the Nautilus becomes from time
to time in Nemo’s hands.
All
of this cumulates in the legendary battle with the giant sea squid (and how
appropriate to see this film again now, after recent scientific discoveries have
proven the existence of such creatures!), which is dated just a tad, but still
holds up better than most science fiction monster combat scenes of the era.
But that isn’t the finale…that comes only when Nemo discovers his
private world has been invaded by land dwellers, and he decides that he, his
ship, his crew and guests must all perish for the sake of keeping his knowledge
out of the hands of humanity!
There
is plenty to love about this classic film, but a few complaints as well, my
issues with the novel translation notwithstanding. There are some places in the movie that move too slowly for
my taste, though the action sequences usually make up for them.
It isn’t Walt’s fault, or Jules’ fault, or even the fault of
director Richard Fleischer, but the undersea world isn’t quite as mysterious
to us as it once was, especially for those of us who grew up with Jacques
Cousteau and programs like Nova. Though the oceans still hold many mysteries, deep sea
diving is no longer a novelty to us.
Still,
I don’t want to be too harsh, so I’ll give the movie my one compliment that
has never wavered over the years: James
Mason is absolutely perfect as the enigmatic, intelligent and quietly pained
Captain Nemo. Every experience that
led him to his rejection of mankind seems written on his troubled face.
His performance is elegant and eloquent.
Supporting cast members all turn in good work as well, from the nervous
Peter Lorre to the do-whopping Kirk Douglas.
Strangely enough, the book’s most pivotal role (as a first person
narrative) makes for the movie’s blandest character in Arronax, though
that’s no fault of actor Paul Lukas.
For
me, the entertainment value is enriched by the historical context of the film as
Disney’s first major financial gamble with a live action picture and their
first CinemaScope offering…in fact, the supplements indicate that this was
only the second CinemaScope movie made after The Robe! Though a bit dated by today’s standards, it’s easy to
remember how marvelous an accomplishment the picture was in 1954.
All
considerations put together, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea remains a big
screen classic…even on the little screen.
BONUS
TRIVIA: Director Richard
Fleischer is the son of animation pioneer Max Fleischer, who was one of
Disney’s biggest rivals in the early days!
Video
***1/2
The
2.55:1 anamorphic offering is the biggest attraction here, but Disney’s DVD
presentation is a visual treat in other respects as well.
The print is quite clean and free of specs and scratches…only a bit of
dinginess can be noted in a few more monochromatic shots.
The Technicolor tones are rich and deep, with good containment and
crispness throughout. The Oscar
winning sets are magnificent looking, with every detail showing distinction. This is the only way to view this movie at home!
Audio
***
The
5.1 remix is a welcome treat…the .1 channel keeps the Nautilus humming
along, while a few action and storm sequences get the rear stage into the
action. For the most part, the film
is dialogue, and therefore forward stage, oriented. This isn’t one of the boldest remixes I’ve heard, but
still well balanced, more than serviceable, and very enjoyable.
Features
****
This
is a wonderfully loaded double disc edition, with plenty of features to satisfy
the most insatiable of curiosities!
Disc
One, in addition to the movie, contains a new commentary track with director
Richard Fleischer and film historian Rudy Behlmer, who guides the session along
with his questions. It’s not
always scene specific, but it’s still filled with interesting information and
trivia. There is also a cartoon
short with Donald Duck that originally appeared theatrically with the film,
“Grand Canyonscope”. It was
Disney’s first CinemaScope cartoon…I loved it when the ranger chided the
tourists who were all bunched together in the center of the screen, “Spread
out, folks…this is CinemaScope!”
Disc
Two is set up with the Vault Disney menu screens, and the fun begins with a
tremendous new documentary on the making of the film. Lots of reflection, new interviews (including, I’m pleased
to say, the legendary Kirk Douglas), and plenty of stories about yet another
film that almost bankrupt the studio turning into a monster hit make this a
wonderful and fascinating viewing experience.
A
featurette on Jules Verne and Walt Disney is also a treat, as is a real look at
the Humbolt Squid that inspired the major action sequence…this thing really is
a killer!
A
“Lost Treasure” segment shows the famous original “Sunset Squid”
sequence that was scrapped. There
is also a tour of the Nautilus, a look at Paul Smith’s musical legacy,
a studio album for 1954, production gallery, trims, a “monsters of the deep”
special look, a script excerpt detailing the death of Nemo, a look at the
film’s merchandise, unused animation, storyboards, audio outtakes of Peter
Lorre doing post-dubbing, Captain Nemo’s organ music, trailer and radio spots.
I hope I didn’t leave anything out!
Summary: