Features

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea – 60th anniversary

These eye-popping lobby cards were created to promote Disney’s classic live-action version of Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, which was first released 60 years ago on 23 December 1954.

23 December 2014

‘Head-hunters attacking the Nautilus leap from its electrified deck’ 
© Preserved by the BFI National Archive
 ‘Ned Land (Kirk Douglas) and Conseil (Peter Lorre) prepare for a diving expedition’ 
© Preserved by the BFI National Archive
 ‘Ned Land, Aronnax and Conseil (Kirk Douglas, Peter Lorre, Paul Lukas) ward off the divers who are in hot pursuit’ 
© Preserved by the BFI National Archive
 ‘Captain Nemo (James Mason) shows Professor Aronnax (Paul Lukas) the underwater kingdom over which he reigns’ 
© Preserved by the BFI National Archive
 ‘James Mason explains the wonders of the nuclear power plant in the heart of the Nautilus to Paul Lukas’ 
© Preserved by the BFI National Archive
 ‘Kirk Douglas enjoys a light-hearted sing-song with Esmeralda, the Captain’s performing seal’ 
© Preserved by the BFI National Archive
 ‘Kirk Douglas, trapped on a desert island, looks very shaken when confronted by a row of skulls – victims of the island’s inhabitants’ 
© Preserved by the BFI National Archive
‘Crew members struggle to free the Nautilus from the tentacles of an enormous squid’ 
© Preserved by the BFI National Archive
‘Kirk Douglas rebels against James Mason’s decision to destroy the submarine and all her crew and passengers’ 
© Preserved by the BFI National Archive
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