or nearly a century, filmmakers have been fascinated by Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Three separate versions of the durable yarn were crafted during the silent era (1905, 1907 and 1916), while elements from the story continue to influence more up-to-date projects, including the animated Atlantis: The Lost Empire, with its Nautilus-like submarine, and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Nonetheless, it's doubtful any true-blue SF fan would deny that the definitive cinematic interpretation of this "whale of a tale" was the incredible live-action adventure released by Walt Disney in 1954.
A superb two-DVD "special edition" delivers an exhaustive yet exhilarating chronicle of the landmark movie. The primary platter presents a pristine print of the picture—one of the first to be shot using the CinemaScope process—accompanied by either the standard stereo soundtrack or a revealing dialogue between director Richard Fleischer and Hollywood historian Rudy Behlmer. Grand Canyonscope, the Donald Duck cartoon that preceded 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea during its original theatrical release, is contained on this disc, too.
The second half of the set features a rich array of supplementary material. Via a high-tech menu designed to mimic an ultramodern entertainment complex, viewers can access sections showcasing production photos and documents, advertising art, extensive behind-the-scenes footage,
unused animation and various audio excerpts. Additionally, there are a variety of documentaries and short "spotlight" features, including "The Making of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," a lengthy piece incorporating fresh interviews with Fleischer, actor Kirk Douglas and matte artist Peter Ellenshaw, among others. A somewhat chaotic discussion with movie-memorabilia collectors Paul and Lawrence Brooks is also available, along with a legendary "Lost Treasure": a three-minute scene popularly known as "The Sunset Squid Sequence" that, due to mammoth special-effects problems, almost caused work on the picture to be abandoned.
A rollicking whale of a moviemaking tale
Within a fun reminiscence titled "Jules Verne & Walt Disney: Explorers of the Imagination," genre luminaries like Forrest J. Ackerman, Gregory Benford and Vincent Di Fate lavishly equate "Uncle Walt" and his imaginings to the pioneering Verne. For the most part, these comparisons are ludicrous, but certainly regarding this production the assessment is not entirely inaccurate. Nearly five decades after its debut, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea remains an astounding achievement, and this package provides convincing evidence that it was Disney's drive, determination and deep-seated faith in his filmmaking crew that allowed the risky undertaking to succeed.
From abortive early plans to craft the tale as an animated adventure to anecdotes concerning on-set camaraderie, Fleischer, predominantly in "The Making of ..." documentary, shares charming private memories that elucidate many key decisions. The tribulations in realizing the film's famed squid attack, and Disney's financial maneuvering to save the picture, are spellbinding stories, too, as are abundant observations about the differences between the novel and screenplay. Samuel R. Delany's remarks, offered as part of the aforementioned Disney/Verne comparison piece, are particularly astute, especially when noting that, "with Captain Nemo, it's not really a mad scientist, it's a mad politician. It's somebody who has a social vision; a vision of the way the world ought to be."
The extras also inadvertently supply insight into the Disney marketing juggernaut, flaunting relevant passages from the at-the-time-fledgling Disneyland TV show and the "1954 Disney Studio Album," plus radio spots, promotional paraphernalia and the requisite theatrical trailer. A few of the add-ons are feeble—a ridiculous "scientific" segment dubbed "The Humboldt Squid: A Real Monster!" is exceptionally weak—but overall this is a commendable collection, confirming time and again why 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is a genuine milestone in both Hollywood and SF-movie history.
