20,000 Leagues Under the Sea – 1954 (WINNER)
Here we have Disney finally throwing its hat into the ring, and their first venture was a good one. I remember seeing this movie as a young child and being mesmerized by the wonderful underwater imagery, the glowing lights of the Nautilus as it prepared to sink a ship, and the battle with the giant squid. It was a pretty magical piece of fantasy that Walt Disney brought to life to thrill audiences the world over.
It is significant to note that this was their first fully live-action film, and that it was the first science fiction movie ever shot in Cinemascope, which is a special kind of camera lens used for making widescreen movies. It was also an early precursor to the steampunk aesthetic, which I have always loved, especially in the design of the infamous submarine and the diving suits.
From the first time we see the Nautilus on the screen, its glowing yellow-green windows that looked like the eyes of a sea-monster, captivated my imagination. The vessel was designed by Harper Goff, and he really did a fantastic job. It had the look and feel of a massive sea-creature, despite being made entirely of metal.
I happen to be a fan of practical effects, rather than animation. Here, the animation was kept to a bare minimum, and it gave the whole movie a realistic, tactile feel that I liked. The animatronic effects of the film’s centerpiece, the giant squid, had a wonderful physicality about them that worked perfectly. Just keep in mind that this is a fantasy, based on a novel that was published in 1870. This deep-sea monster behaved more like a mythical kraken than a squid, but never mind that. It was still impressive.
There were other effects that were memorable, as well. For example, when the Nautilus sunk the munitions ship, which burned and exploded as it sank, or when the island cannibals try to board the Nautilus, and had to be shocked with blue bolts of electricity to repel them. And when Captain Nemo destroys his base on Vulcania Island, the gigantic explosion was pretty cool.
True, by today’s standards, this movie might seem like it is geared toward a younger audience. It is 1950s Disney, after all. But even as an adult, I really enjoyed all the fantastical imagery created for this thrilling underwater adventure. Disney really pulled out all the stops both creatively and financially, and it really paid off! Great movie. Great visual effects. ‘Nuff said.