Disney 50th Anniversary of
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
(2004)

It is a limited edition size of 1000 pieces

Walt Disney Gallery Press Release: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Nautilus Replica

Fifty years ago the Walt Disney Studios took moviegoers on an adventure deep beneath the surface of the sea to a world of mystery and menace. Jules Verne's epic novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was adapted for the screen in grand style, being at the time of its release, the most expensive film ever made. In the 1950s Walt Disney's artists and craftsmen were the finest in the business and he combined them with the best filmmaking talent available in Hollywood.

20,000 Leagues boasts a stellar Hollywood cast (Kirk Douglas, Paul Lukas, Peter Lorre, and, of course, James Mason as Captain Nemo), but the most memorable "character" in the film is the Nautilus, Captain Nemo's fantastic submarine. With its frightening sea monster appearance and opulent Victorian interiors, the Nautilus roams the infinite underwater world piloted by its mad creator Captain Nemo. The look of the Nautilus came from the brilliant imagination of artist Harper Goff, who knew that the ship's design would be crucial to the success of the whole picture. " I always thought that the shark and alligator were quite deadly-looking in the water," Goff said, " so I based my design on their physical characteristics. The submarine's streamlined body, dorsal fin and prominent tail simulated the traits of the shark. The heavy rivet patterns on the surface plates represented the rough skin on the alligator, while the forward viewports and top searchlights represented its menacing eyes." Goff figured that Nemo would have built his Nautilus hastily and crudely, using only available rough iron salvaged from shipwrecks and riveted together by hand.

Other special Goff touches were the round irising viewports that look out from Nemo's salon, saw-toothed rakers capable of cutting through the hull of a ship, and a skiff which fits into its own berth on the afterdeck.

The Nautilus, as seen in the film, was actually built in a variety of different forms and sizes depending on the requirements of the production. For underwater scenes, a detailed 11-foot long miniature was built, complete with operational lights in the wheelhouse and salon viewports and a revolving propeller. Powered by five car batteries and weighing more than a thousand pounds, this model was filmed in a tank on Sound Stage 3 at the Disney studios in California. For scenes in which the actors would be filmed on the sub's exterior, a full-sized deck and wheelhouse set were constructed of wood and fiberglass.

After the film was completed, Walt Disney had the unprecedented idea of displaying the sets and other artwork in his brand new Disneyland park still under construction. The full-scale Nautilus sets, giant squid and all, were trucked from the studio lot down to Anaheim where they were displayed in Tomorrowland for eleven years. It was here that the intricate details of the world's most famous submarine could be studied up close and fuel the dreams of many young fans of the film.

Today 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is considered by film historians to be one of the greatest science fiction films ever made. Its thrilling story combined with timeless performances, powerful music and dazzling effects inspired generations of filmmakers to follow...but it's Captain Nemo's mysterious submarine cruising in the oceans' depths that still captures our imaginations.

The Walt Disney Gallery is proud to present this 1/96 scale replica of the Nautilus, the most accurate representation ever offered. William Babington and Rich Allsmiller, who both hold a personal respect for the subject matter, have constructed the model with painstaking attention to detail. Allsmiller, an expert on 20,000 Leagues and the Nautilus, and who shared a close friendship with designer Harper Goff, has authenticated the model to be as correct as possible. The upper deck and wheelhouse above the water line are based on the full-sized sets used in the movie, while the body of the ship below the water line is an exact replica of the 11-foot long miniature.

Cast in resin, this very special figurine commemorates the 50th Anniversary of Disney's landmark live-action film and is a tribute to the artistic vision of Harper Goff. The Nautilus rests on a specially designed wooden base and can be internally illuminated just as it was in the 1954 film.

Coming in March 2004 from the Disney catalog and at DisneyStore.com!

$39.50 (Item #29963)

Select Quantity:

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of ''20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,'' Disney Artist and Sculptor Vladimir Petrov has created this miniature replica of Captain Nemo's custom diving helmet. Petrov painstakingly studied the original prop helmet worn by the actor in the film during the diving sequences. Each rivet and dent was copied faithfully, resulting in accuracy down to the tiny pin that connects the helmet to the breastplate. Cast in metal and carefully painted by hand, this work of art is finished with a glass window and arrives with a special display stand sculpted by Disney Artist Kevin Kidney. 6 3/4'' with stand. Imported. Certificate of Authenticity. Limited Edition of 1500. Catalog/Online Only

$39.50 (Item #29964)

Select Quantity:

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of ''20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,'' Disney Artist and Sculptor Vladimir Petrov has created this miniature replica of a Nautilus Crewman's diving helmet. Petrov painstakingly studied the original prop helmets worn by the actors in the film during the diving sequences. Each rivet and dent was copied faithfully, resulting in accuracy down to the tiny pin that connects the helmet to the breastplate. Cast in metal and carefully painted by hand, this work of art is finished with a glass window and arrives with a special display stand sculpted by Disney Artist Kevin Kidney. 5 7/8'' with stand. Imported. Certificate of Authenticity. Limited Edition of 1500. Catalog/Online Only

$79.00 (Item #29966)

Select Quantity:

Imagine Captain Nemo sitting at his magnificent pipe organ! Disney Artists Kevin Kidney and Vladimir Petrov have constructed this 1/2''-scale replica with painstaking attention to detail -- down to the filigreed mirror and the forty-one hand-applied organ stops! Cast in metal and displayed on a wooden base, this very special figurine is a fitting tribute to one of Captain Nemo's favorite cultural wonders aboard the Nautilus. A hidden music box within the base plays the haunting strains of Bach's ''Toccata and Fugue in D Minor.'' 6 1/2'' H x 4 1/2'' W x 6 1/2'' D. Imported. Certificate of Authenticity. Limited Edition of 1000. Catalog/Online Only

$129.00 (Item #29962)

Select Quantity:

What mysteries lie hidden in the dark, murky waters beneath the surface of the ocean? Take a peek through the window of our unique mechanical diorama waterglobe to find out. Reminiscent of the viewport in Captain Nemo's salon and the surface of the Nautilus itself, this extraordinary collectible houses a giant squid who pushes up against the glass, ready to attack! Requires two AAA batteries, not included. 12 1/2'' H x 12 1/2'' diameter. Hand-painted, sculpted and cast metal and glass. Imported. Certificate of Authenticity. Catalog/Online Only

Honor Captain Nemo's greatest adventure, and this special anniversary, with our boxed pin set. Set of six includes the Nautilus, Captain Nemo's crest from his pipe organ, the film logo, the viewport with a monster lurking outside, a crewmember in his diving gear and the giant squid.

Pins range from 3/4'' to 2'' H. Box 3/4'' H x 4'' W x 6'' D. Enamel cloisonné. Imported. Limited Edition of 1500. Catalog/Online Only

$49.50 (Item #29967)

Select Quantity:

Disney Artist Bruce Bushman's image of Captain Nemo and his crew on an expedition at the bottom of the ocean was created for the film's original 1954 promotional campaign, and appeared on countless posters and print materials. To celebrate this special anniversary, we are proud to present Bushman's painting executed in the brilliance of stained glass. This handsome Glassmasters® panel incorporates wavy-style glass to create the illusion of an undersea scene. Hang it from the golden chain or display it on the included acrylic stand. 7 1/8'' H x 6 1/8'' W. Glass. USA. Certificate of Authenticity. Limited Edition of 1000. Catalog/Online Only

$1,450.00 (Item #95246)

Select Quantity:

Far below the surface of the sea is the silent, watery world of Captain Nemo. Here in this vast and mysterious place, Nemo and his crew walk the ocean floor while the submarine Nautilus, a dark mass, looms in the shadows above them.

This piece marks the first fine art collaboration between Artists Peter Ellenshaw and Harrison Ellenshaw, his son. They chose to publish this piece using the Giclée process, since they feel that it is the best form of reproduction to properly bring out the dynamic colors that are seen throughout their original works. After the original illustration was scanned into a computer, artists skillfully perfected the colors. The digitally recreated artwork is printed onto canvas with an enhanced printer, specially modified for fine-art reproduction. Elegantly framed in antiqued silver molding with a Manhattan pearl linen mat and a matching silver filet. 18'' H x 36'' W image size. 28'' H x 42'' W framed size. Giclée on canvas. Wood frame. USA. Certificate of Authenticity. Signed Limited Edition of 195.