Six years after 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea' premiered another version of The Nautilus was designed for Ray Harryhausen's adventure extravaganza 'Mysterious Island' starring Gary Merrill, Joan Greenwood, and Michael Callan and Herbert Lom as our mysterious Captain Nemo. The mighty organ that played those eeeeerie tunes Duplicates exist at the Walt Disney Worlds of Orlando, Paris and Toyko ( where by golly, Nautilus rides are still popular ). The original organ used for the film can still be seen though, at the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland. The Main Salon, from the 20,000 Leagues Exhibit Unfortunately that ride ( and the one that was built in Walt Disney World ) have both been closed down, due to a lack of modern Victorian voyagers. The exhibit existed from 1955-1966 and was a pleasant addition to the Submarine Voyage ride at Disneyland, where you could journey through Nemo's deep blue sea too in miniature versions of the Nautilus just like he did.

Visitors could see the largest of models on display, read about Nemo's important scientific research he was conducting, walk thru a replica of the sets used in the film, and awe at the giant squid about to attack your sub.all for only 10 cents. Shortly after the film was released, a 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction opened at Disneyland.

A full-scale replica was built for the filming of the interior sequences. No ship would be complete without a wheelhouse, the only place where a captain feels truly in command and can overlook his domain.įor the making of '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' several different sized models of the Nautilus were made. On days when Nemo would be feeling remorse and regret for the life he chose he could sit in his cabin and be transported once again to his home in England when he enjoyed peace and contentment, prior to his wife and children's accident.Īnd finally, to conclude our tour of the Nautilus is the wheel house ( shown in the topmost photo ). If one was to step into this room one would never even think they were at sea. Nemo slept on a traditional sea captain's bed which was a single bed atop numerous drawers ( something we all should use ). He had a magnificently ornate writing desk, a globe of the world at hand, and a map of his world - the underwater world - hanging opposite his desk. This lovely room was cheerful and yet quite masculine in style. After all, it was his ship so why not have the best suite? This was the beginning of his long association with the studio, but prior to this film he had worked as set decorator on many, many fine pictures : It's A Wonderful Life, I Remember Mama, A Place in the Sun, Fancy Pants, A Place in the Sun, War of the Worlds, Carrie, Shane, etc, etc.Įmile Kuri will be featured in a blog entirely devoted to him, right now let's begin our grand tour of the Nautilus.īut even though the Nautilus was a beautiful submarine throughout ( albeit a bit overly iron ) the BEST decorated room of all was Captain Nemo's very own quarters. Working alongside with him on '20,000 Leagues' was Emile Kuri, a very well known set decorator of numerous Walt Disney features.

During the late 1950s he turned to television set design and worked on Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Millionaire, Soldiers of Fortune and Leave It To Beaver. John Meehan, the art director for this film had won 3 Academy Awards in his career for such beautiful films as Sunset Boulavard, and The Heiress. Which as you can see below, it justly deserved. It won an Academy Award for its stunning special effects ( including all those underwater diving sequences ) and for its Color Art Direction. '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' was released in 1954 and was a bonanza at the box-office. Captain Nemo's underwater mechanical marvel, The Nautilus, as featured in Walt Disney's '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea', is our featured interior this week because it is a wonderous example of Jules Verne inspired 'Steampunk' set design.

Submarine cartoon nautilus nemo