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
BFI Player logo

Stream hand-picked cinema

A free trial, then £4.99/month or £49/year.

Get 14 days free

Other things to explore

From the Sight and Sound archive

Elaine May: laughing matters

By Carrie Rickey

Elaine May: laughing matters
features

O dreamlands: why Lindsay Anderson was never the realist he claimed to be

By Henry K Miller

O dreamlands: why Lindsay Anderson was never the realist he claimed to be
features

Bye Bye Love, 50th anniversary: this gender-fluid couple-on-the-run movie had no precedent in Japanese cinema

By Tony Rayns

Bye Bye Love, 50th anniversary: this gender-fluid couple-on-the-run movie had no precedent in Japanese cinema