It was one of my favorite adventure movies growing up and I looked forward to it each time I knew it would be on television. "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" with Kirk Douglas and James Mason was one of those films that stuck with me throughout my life. I hardly ever missed seeing it when it was on television. Captain Nemo as portrayed by Mason was one of the first anti-hero villains I remember and his performance was stellar. Granted it was an adventure movie but it still snagged two Oscars in 1955 for Best Art Direction and Best Effects, Special Effects.
For those unfamiliar with the Jules Verne novel of the same name on which the movie is based, Captain Nemo is the captain of the Nautilus, a submarine at the center of ocean liners being attacked and sunk by a mysterious creature thought to be a narwhal which is a medium sized whale. When a harpoonist named Ned Land played by Douglas is sent to capture or kill the mysterious creature, he and his companions Professor Aronnax and Conseil escape the ship as it is attacked by the sea monster. As they find themselves trapped in the water, the creature comes up under them and they learn it is not an animal but a metal ship. At that point they soon find themselves inside the Nautilus and guests or prisoners of Captain Nemo.
Nemo takes them on a tour exploring and showcasing the wonders of the seas and oceans. As they spend time with hi