History Film / TwentyThousandLeaguesUnderTheSea

* ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything: In the opening scenes of the movie we see 3 ships sunk or crippled on-screen by the Nautilus, and it's clear that several other ships have met similar fates. But once the main characters come on board, Nemo and his men only attack one ship on-screen over the course of many months - and dialogue supports that this is the only ship attacked in that time period, so we know he didn't go after any other ships during any time skips. The movie implies that Nemo halts his attacks for a time so as to take Arronax under his wing and show him the marvels of the ship and underwater life, only resuming them when he feels that the professor is firmly on his side.

* WorthlessYellowRocks: Nemo has collected much treasure from the ocean's depth but doesn't take any great value in it, in fact he uses it for ballast, much to Ned's chagrin.

* BigDamnHeroes[=/=]SaveTheVillain: Ned Land arrives in the middle of the giant squid attack, harpoons it right in the eye, and saves Captain Nemo from drowning.
* BittersweetEnding:[[spoiler: Nemo dies and the fantastic technology of the Nautilus is lost with him, but Aronnax, Conseil, and Ned successfully escape. Nemo's dying words likewise hint that his knowledge will someday be discovered again.]]

* OhCrap: When Ned sees the impaled skulls and realizes the jungle is NOT friendly. He immediately turns around and moves his ass back to Conseil and the Nautilus. For his part, Conseil hears the native drums, drops the coconuts he's carrying, and hauls ass to the skiff, getting it well away from shore before Ned reappears on the beach.

The film featured Creator/KirkDouglas as Ned Land, Paul Lukas as Professor Pierre Aronnax, Creator/PeterLorre as Conseil, and Creator/JamesMason as Captain Nemo, as well as a memorable design for the ''Nautilus'' and, of course, the memorable giant squid attack.

''20,000 Leagues Under the Sea'' is a 1954 adventure[=/=]{{steampunk}} film produced by [[Creator/{{Disney}} Walt Disney Productions]] and directed by Richard Fleischer. It is without much doubt the most famous motion picture to be based on [[Literature/TwentyThousandLeaguesUnderTheSea the novel of the same name]] by Creator/JulesVerne.

* DarkerAndEdgier: There’s quite a shocking amount of violence and death for a Disney film, especially for the time. Ned’s bawdy sea shanty is also quite a surprise to see from the studio.

* OldMediaAreEvil: Some subtext to this, when the reporters unabashedly twist Professor Arronax's words.

* ILoveNuclearPower: While the original novel used electric power itself as Nemo's AppliedPhlebotinum, the movie had him splitting the atom decades before its time. According to the DVD commentary, it's because the director knew that seawater batteries wouldn't provide anywhere near enough power to get the ship up to its canonical cruising speed.

* AFatherToHisMen: While distant, Nemo obviously cares for his men, from officiating a funeral for a man killed during a warship attack to him getting snared by the giant squid trying to rescue a man who fell overboard. In return, his men are unquestioningly loyal, and willingly follow any order Nemo gives [[spoiler:even if it's to sink the ''Nautilus'' and die with him.]]

%%* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Ned Land.

* CoolShip: [[http://www.julesverne.ca/images/imgjvmodels/nautilus_disney_50th-anniv_march_2004_.jpg The design of the]] ''Nautilus'' in the film is considered the iconic look for the submarine. It's influenced many designs of the sub, and even appears on some book covers as well.

%%* StrawNihilist: Nemo.

''20,000 Leagues Under the Sea'' is a 1954 adventure[=/=]{{steampunk}} film produced by [[Creator/{{Disney}} Walt Disney Pictures]] and directed by Richard Fleischer. It is without much doubt the most famous motion picture to be based on [[Literature/TwentyThousandLeaguesUnderTheSea the novel of the same name]] by Creator/JulesVerne.