20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) Review

Alex revisits the oft-overlooked legacy of Disney's live action films and discusses the greatest of them all... the 1954 adaptation of Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

[Agwings]

In the 50's and early 60's, Disney did movies intended for children with enough depth to be enjoyed by adults. Ive never understood why 20, 000 Leagues doesn't have the cult following of movies like Mary Poppins.

[williamivey]

I saw this film for the first time at a real movie theater in the early 1960s. Disney often re-released films on a cycle back then. I was totally blown away by it and still love it 60 years later. The other live action film I still enjoy from that period is "The Three Lives of Thomasina".

[Voltra]

This movie is one of those underrated Disney classics that people need to go back to. Disney should create more movies like this with new imaginative stories than rehashes we have today!

[jkorshak]

Saw it first in the late 1960's as a Saturday matinee. I was 6 or 7 and totally blown away. Impressively, the film still holds up very well 50+ years later. All four of the principle actors are legends.

[chevy-is-a-good-boy]

Excellent work here! Recently re-watched this film as was thoroughly impressed with the overall quality. Can't believe there's yet to be a Blu-ray release.

[freeguyeditz]

20000 leagues under the sea is a Masterpiece. I really enjoyed the movie, I knew it when they mention it in journey 2 the mysterious island.

[matthewwolfstein]

Excellent video The Cinemologists! This is one of my favorite 1950s Disney movies, simply because of how great the performances are. James Mason will always be forever associated with Captain Nemo, and it may be one of my favorites he's ever given in his whole career. Keep up the great work 👍🏻👍🏻

[simonriddick]

Amazing movie. I saw it the first time as a kid in the 80's and twice since then. I just finished watching it again just now. I have no complaints I would change nothing.

[SurlyInsomniac]

My favorite movie reviewers and one of my favorite movies. Cinemologists, you are a frustratingly rare breed on the internet; reviewers with great taste and a wisdom beyond your years. You have a childlike sincerity & enthusiasm, without resorting to being childish. My only critique is that your reviews are so few and far between (and short), but I'll take what I can get.

[emperorconstantine.]

You mentioned two of my favorite live action Disney movies!!

I grew up on Swiss Family Robinson, but only recently rediscovered the beauty and awesomeness of 20, 000 Leagues Under the Sea!!

❤️❤️

[CoryTheRaven]

It's SO nice to see a review giving this movie the attention and consideration it deserves. It's a GREAT movie... My favourite live-action Disney movie, which made me very upset last year when they showed it at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood and I wasn't able to go XD

[DonLuisZavala]

Always great to see people appreciating the unique gem 20, 000 Leagues is for Disney and movies in general. I just saw this movie today after I don’t know how many years/decades. One of my favorites ever.

[naynaynay]

In the short space of this vid you've managed to lift the curtain to the moviemagic that is 20000 Leagues and give newcomers an appetite for wellcrafted art, I believe. Well written, subbed.

[PrinceofArfon]

Good video! This was and is one of my favorite adventure movies, a true Disney Classic. It has a nice 2-disc DVD set that I’m happy to show to kids any chance I get.

[Enshohma]

I'd also give a huge shout to lesser known 1970's Disney romps like The Island on The Top of The World or One of Our Dinosaurs In Missing.

[Ray_]

I just discovered this movie last year and though it was hard for me to get the DMC exclusive Blu-ray in Europe (through ebay), I'm glad I spent the 35€ for it and have it in my collection now. Rewatched it again yesterday, great classic film! Really sad how the Disney company is today, at best just recycling old stuff or even ignoring old classics like this. This is definitely no obscure movie that nobody would watch today anymore, it should have a regular worldwide release along the likes of other 50s classics. Disney back then was really magic and even still when I grew up in the 90s, now the creativity is gone, they abandonned traditional animation (what made Disney big) and they even ruin some franchises from others (Star Wars)...just sad how the name Disney got more and more damaged in the last 20 years.

[Xenaboy-vthi]

I saw this movie as a child, back in the 1960s- possibly on the "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color" television show. I just watched it again a week or so ago and I was blown away at how rich it was. Having gotten used to CGI movies, I was stunned at seeing obviously real sets, scenes that looked real rather than CGI, and, most of all, originality. There was a remark made by, I think, the director, that Walt Disney was an innovator who would never make the same movie over and over just because it was very successful and he took risks, a risk that might have ended Disney Studios had "20, 000 Leagues Under the Sea" not been a huge success. It makes it so sad to see the no risk taking, make the same movie over and over- sometimes literally the same movie- with the same safe formula that Walt Disney's company has now descended into.

[morlockmeat]

Kirk Douglas was very much a Popeye character in this movie.

[aangryy]

just watched it. Im impressed by this masterpiece. I love the "cozyness" of the nautilus which is given by the design and the calm filming style.

[PaulKyriazi]

Great, concise video on the movie, Alex. I saw 'The Making of 20, 000 Leagues' on Disneyland TV when I was eight and decided that night to make movies.