# 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 17, 2007, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-000-leagues-under-the-sea/415882 "2007-08-17T00:36:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-000-leagues-under-the-sea/415882/1 "2007-08-17T00:36:50Z")
I rediscovered my childhood love for Disney’s _20,000 Leagues Under The Sea_ over the past few evenings, having found a copy of the two-disc special edition at the local video store, hidden away in the kid’s movie section. I loved all the extras with the movie - the Making Of doco narrated by John Rhys-Davies, all the period-piece Disney-made bits from the '50’s, the meet-the-geeks peice featuring the brothers who’ve made it their life to collect every bit of memorabilia that still exists. I had no idea it had been so ground-breaking in so many areas, like using fiberglass sets and only being the second movie shot in Cinemascope. The movie itself has so much right about it side-by-side with so much wrong. James Mason as the perfect Captain Nemo paired up with a fer-cryin-out-loud seal. Stunning miniature work in one scene followed by Kirk Douglas singing in the next. And of course, the star of the show, the Nautilus. Harper Goff’s ultimate steampunk machine. We just kept stopping the DVD to geek out over the interior shots. I can’t possibly detatch my feelings for this movie now from those of my 11-year-old self who saw it at a matinee back in the days when screens were biiig. James Mason’s Nemo had a tremendous effect on my just-approaching-puberty hormones, leaving me with a deep and abiding lust for brooding, tormented geniuses with beards. I’m aware that there have been a couple of sad, sorry attempts to remake 20,000 LUtS, but the only way it could be done is if Disney got on board and let, say, the writing/directing/production team behind Pirates of the Caribbean have Harper Goff’s perfect Nautilus and have them throw everything else away and start fresh, maybe casting Ciaran Hinds as Nemo, Paul Giamatti as Arronax, and Brendan Fraser as Ned Land (shirtless, as often as possible.). ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-000-leagues-under-the-sea/415882/2 "2007-08-17T00:45:55Z")
20,000 leagues? I didn’t know the ocean was that deep. That’s, like, 6 miles or something. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-000-leagues-under-the-sea/415882/3 "2007-08-17T00:51:11Z")
I saw an episode of **Antiques Roadshow** where a guy had the original two-foot model of the Nautilus. He was holding it in his hands like a medium-sized dog. The guy who brought it in got it from his uncle who worked on the movie F/X IIRC. It was pretty cool to see - he’d kept it in great shape. ---
**Author:** ![Hentzau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Hentzau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentzau)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-000-leagues-under-the-sea/415882/4 "2007-08-17T00:55:55Z")
I agree with nearly everything that Mrs. Cake has said, though speaking as a brooding, tormented genius with a beard I suppose that would be expected. I admit I have no particular preference for a shirtless Mr. Fraser over a fully-dressed one, though I can think of no-one more suited to the part. I’m sure Mr. Giamatti would bring more life and depth to the part of Arronax than that displayed by Mr. Lukas. Now who do we get for Conseil? And how do we raise the money? ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-000-leagues-under-the-sea/415882/5 "2007-08-17T01:02:26Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] 20,000 leagues? I didn’t know the ocean was that deep. That’s, like, 6 miles or something. [/QUOTE] A common misunderstanding of the title. 20,000 leagues is 60,000 miles. The title refers to a journey under the ocean of 20,000 leagues, not the ocean’s depth. (The circumference of the earth at the equator is 24,901.55 miles.) ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-000-leagues-under-the-sea/415882/6 "2007-08-17T01:07:44Z")
I admit I’m stuck for a Conseil. Much as I usually adore Peter Lorre, he isn’t who I’d cast in the part. As for money, let the mouse pony up. It’s not like they’d have to mortgage Disneyland this time. BTW, love the name, **Hentzau**. Brooding, bearded, tormented genius, eh? How are you with sabres and staircases? ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-000-leagues-under-the-sea/415882/7 "2007-08-17T01:21:07Z")
[QUOTE=Walloon] A common misunderstanding of the title. 20,000 leagues is 60,000 miles. The title refers to a journey under the ocean of 20,000 leagues, not the ocean’s depth. (The circumference of the earth at the equator is 24,901.55 miles.) [/QUOTE] Either Mr. Ekers was confusing leagues with fathoms, or you’ve been whooshed. There was a “Saturday Night Live” sketch a few years ago, with host Kelsey Grammer playing Captain Nemo, and having to explain that same point over and over to everybody else in the sketch. “Gee, I can’t believe we’re really 20,000 leagues under the sea! That’s really deep!” As far as I know, nobody’s ever made a filmed version of the novel that has the _Nautilus_ looking right. It’s supposed to be cigar-shaped, with a rudder and horizontal planes – just like an actual modern submarine. As I recall, Verne had the ship powered by fuel cells, refueled by chemicals filtered out of the seawater, which is pretty clever. ---
**Author:** ![Hentzau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Hentzau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentzau)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-000-leagues-under-the-sea/415882/8 "2007-08-17T01:41:03Z")
Well, the best wife in the world has just about got me talked into teaching sabre in the spring semester. As for staircases…I’ve got one but it’s not spiral, nor is it made of stone. That will have to wait for the next house. Fortunately I have this great lottery ticket. In something like seriousness, this could be a great time for the mouse to finance a re-make of the film. They already own the Nautilus design, which I love, as well as all those great props and set pieces. They could get anyone they want (can you imagine any actor turning them down?) and anybody who can make us believe we’re watching two square-riggers fighting in a maelstrom can handle the visual effects for 20,000 Leagues. I would like to see it treated more darkly than the last, however. Nemo having read his Nietsche (though I haven’t checked the dates to see if he could have). You know - “the abyss gazes into you” sort of thing. Handled right, the abyss could become a character in the film, the same way the ring became a character in LOTR. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-000-leagues-under-the-sea/415882/9 "2007-08-17T01:56:03Z")
I’ve got the perfect cast: Ned Land: Andy Dick Nemo: Dane Cook Arronax: Adam Sandler Conseil: Rob Schneider Plus Jessica Simpson as the holographic Nautilus Computer ---
**Author:** ![TupeloHoney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@TupeloHoney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TupeloHoney)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-000-leagues-under-the-sea/415882/10 "2007-08-17T02:11:33Z")
I never saw the original 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I’ve always been a huge Disney fan and somehow I missed that one. I am thinking that I should go out and rent it. I actually loved the Disney ride when I was younger but I remember that the line was always so long and my parents never wanted to wait. And now the ride isn’t there anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-000-leagues-under-the-sea/415882/11 "2007-08-17T02:14:27Z")
Dear Lord, **Morbo** , please tell us you’re whooshing us. Yes, a cool movie for its day, and ripe for a remake. My dream cast: Ned Land: Brendan Frasier Nemo: Russell Crowe or George Clooney Arronax: John Hurt or Ian Holm Conseil: David Sedaris (I don’t think he’s ever acted, but he’d be perfect in the role) Hanging in the visitors center for the Navy’s USS _Nautilus_, now a museum ship moored near Groton, Conn., is a model of the _Nautilus_ from the movie. I seem to remember it was an actual filming model, but it might be a later replica. It’s a few feet long. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-000-leagues-under-the-sea/415882/12 "2007-08-17T02:22:30Z")
I love that movie. Our babysitter took us to see it at the Drive-In one summer, and it was awesome! I still have the companion “Big Golden Book”, with it’s wonderful illustrations, from 1963. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-000-leagues-under-the-sea/415882/13 "2007-08-17T02:23:25Z")
[QUOTE=TupeloHoney] I actually loved the Disney ride when I was younger but I remember that the line was always so long and my parents never wanted to wait. [/QUOTE] One of the crushing disappointments of my youth was discovering that the subs didn’t dive, only the passenger area was underwater. And the giant squid was a fake. I have never trusted anyone since that bitter moment. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-000-leagues-under-the-sea/415882/14 "2007-08-17T02:34:10Z")
[QUOTE=Baldwin] Either Mr. Ekers was confusing leagues with fathoms, or you’ve been whooshed. There was a “Saturday Night Live” sketch a few years ago, with host Kelsey Grammer playing Captain Nemo, and having to explain that same point over and over to everybody else in the sketch. “Gee, I can’t believe we’re really 20,000 leagues under the sea! That’s really deep!” [/quote] Rob Schneider played the Peter Lorre role. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-000-leagues-under-the-sea/415882/15 "2007-08-17T02:40:40Z")
The first two movies I ever saw in a theater were a matinee double-bill of _Mothra_ and _20,000 Leagues Under the Sea_, sometime in the early '60s, when I was about 8 or 9. They both pretty much blew my mind to smithereens, and I’ve loved film ever since. That was in fact the only time I ever watched _2LUtS_ (oohhh, looks a bit too much like “sluts” doesn’t it?) until earlier this year, on one of the movie channels. The OP called it right. There’s so much that’s great, and so much that’s overripe cheese. I loved seeing it again anyway. ---
**Author:** ![TupeloHoney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@TupeloHoney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TupeloHoney)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-000-leagues-under-the-sea/415882/16 "2007-08-17T02:50:24Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] One of the crushing disappointments of my youth was discovering that the subs didn’t dive, only the passenger area was underwater. And the giant squid was a fake. I have never trusted anyone since that bitter moment. [/QUOTE] Haha, it was sad that it didn’t actually dive! I completely agree. However, I rarely got to ride it and I’m still a bit bitter about that! ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-000-leagues-under-the-sea/415882/17 "2007-08-17T02:56:24Z")
[QUOTE=Baldwin] There was a “Saturday Night Live” sketch a few years ago, with host Kelsey Grammer playing Captain Nemo, and having to explain that same point over and over to everybody else in the sketch. “Gee, I can’t believe we’re really 20,000 leagues under the sea! That’s really deep!” [/QUOTE] [Transcript here](http://snltranscripts.jt.org/93/93qleagues.phtml). ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-000-leagues-under-the-sea/415882/18 "2007-08-17T03:28:40Z")
The movie sets and props were turned into [a walk-through exhibit at Disneyland](http://www.20kride.com/photos_other_dl.html) from 1955 to 1966. The IMDb tells us: > [@](#): > > In 1969, [Captain Nemo’s pipe organ](http://doombuggies.com/secrets_ballroom.htm), which had been on display in Disneyland, was redressed and now resides in the ballroom of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion. A [duplicate](http://members.aol.com/HtdMsn/setc.html) was constructed for the ballroom of Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Haunted Mansion, which opened in 1971, and over a decade later another duplicate was built for Tokyo Disneyland. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-000-leagues-under-the-sea/415882/19 "2007-08-17T03:33:22Z")
Let me give a nod to the ABC-produced version with Michael Caine as Nemo. I truly enjoyed that. It is on DVD but for about $20 when I saw it in the store & was short on cash at the time. Alas, I got the NBC Ben Cross version for $6 but haven’t had the nerve to watch that yet. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-000-leagues-under-the-sea/415882/20 "2007-08-17T03:50:43Z")
There’s a silent version of 20,000 Leagues that’s worth watching. They do a good job of portraying the Nautilus (as described by Verne), and it’s the only version that depicts Nemo as Indian (something that wouldn’t happen on film again until The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen). The film also manages – amazingly – to tell the story of The Mysterious Island. The underwater scenes were ahead of their time, and shot in the same place Disney used some 30 years later. If you can, get hold of a copy of The Annotated 20,000 Leagues with notes by Walter James Miller, or else get his own translation of it. Worth the effort. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-000-leagues-under-the-sea/415882.md?page=2)