Several years ago, I had made up my mind to finally visit Disneyland Paris. Relatives had been but it had always been this far off place of supposed wonder. Sadly it was in the year 2019 I made that decision to go the year after, and we all know what happened. One of the locations was Discoveryland, their version of Tomorrowland, yet in Paris – styled after the works of Jules Verne and I had heard it was a great version of the concept. But it wasn’t the only time Disney dealt with the works and let’s look at one of those.

20000 Leagues Under The Sea is a science fiction film from 1954 set during 1868. It is a story of Professor Pierre Aronnax, Ned Land played by Kirk Douglas, (kind of important to mention that) and the professor’s assistant Conseil to look into reports of a mysterious sea monster attacking ships, only for it to attack and sink the ship they are on. It’s then they are brought aboard the monster, revealed to be a ship, that can function below the waves led by Captain Nemo, played by James Mason.

These days you would think of Kirk Douglas as the most prominent figure, and at times maybe he is. Watching the film it’s much more the interaction between the professor and the captain that the story revolves around. Perhaps that comes down to my age and experience of who I view as the most important.

Ned was someone who already decided Nemo was his enemy and did everything to sabotage his works. The professor meanwhile is shown things by Nemo to bring him to understand his view point, this goes as far to show him the nations of the world who claimed to have turned away from slavery, and still have many slave camps.

While this is the core focus, the most memorable thing is the fight against the giant squid.

While you can see elements of the time, like the animal side kick seal and how the Kirk Douglas character is clearly meant as this dashing action hero – with later sensibilities we find him more questionable.

I do enjoy watching old films like this. And a Colour film from the 50s by Disney has a lovely style to them. It’s incredibly impressive with its amazing visuals all in colour, you can see why Disneyland Paris would use that style for the aesthetic of one of its parks.