The pivotal role of Captain Nemo had to communicate much of the tone and drama of the story. At one time, Walt considered British-born actor Ralph Richardson, who was best known for his performance in "Anna Karenina" and "The Fallen Idol," both in 1948, as well as subsequent appearances on Broadway.

But, of course, he ultimately selected James Mason, who fit so comfortably in the role of Captain Nemo that it is hard to imagine that Walt could have considered anyone else. British-born Mason was a sensation in the role of the famous German Field Marshal Edwin Rommel in the 1951 feature "The Desert Fox." He then appeared in a string of Hollywood films between 1951 and 1953, including "The Prisoner of Zenda," "The Desert Rats" (again as Rommel) and "Julius Caesar," which all but assured him a place on Walt's short list.

Walt cast the Hungarian-born actor Peter Lorre in the role of Conseil. His unmistakable — and frequently mimicked — voice and compact frame had appeared in such hits as "M" (1931), the "Mr. Moto" series, "The Maltese Falcon" (1941) and above all, "Casablanca" (1941).

Perhaps the most critical role of "20,000 Leagues" was that of Ned Land, the brash, outgoing, and muscular hero of the picture. Walt weighed the possibility of casting well-known performers Cornel Wilde or Burt Lancaster for the role. But in the end, Walt settled on Kirk Douglas. Born in Amsterdam, New York in 1916 as the son of illiterate Jewish Russian immigrants, the actor was 37 at the time.

When Douglas appeared on Walt's radar for "20,000 Leagues," he had been nominated for an Academy Award® for "Champion" (1949) and for "The Bad and the Beautiful" (1953). His most famous portrayal of the 1950's, that of Vincent van Gogh in "Lust for Life," was only three years in the future. Walt's confidence in Kirk was not misplaced, and he carries "20,000 Leagues" with all the cocky yet forceful intensity that would mark his later pictures.

Of course, one major role remained: that of Professor Aronnax. Walt originally considered French-born Charles Boyer for the role. In 1951, Charles Boyer and David Niven had co-founded a British television company, and their subsequent television productions made Boyer a star in both television and theatrical productions on both sides of the Atlantic. Two years after the release of "20,000 Leagues," he would co-star in the runaway hit "Around the World in 80 Days."

In the end, however, Walt cast Paul Lukas who had been born as Paul Lukàcs in 1895 in Budapest where he began his career. He appeared in a number of German UFA productions until, in 1927, he left for the United States, there to be typecast in Germanic roles, often playing the part of evil Nazis. In 1943, however, he won an Academy Award® for his performance in "Watch of the Rhine," based on the original Broadway hit. Five years later, he starred in "Berlin Express."

Of course, simply casting well-known actors isn't the key to success. If it were, then life would be much easier in Hollywood: there'd be 40 or 50 employed actors and nobody would ever lose money on a film. But Walt's selections proved to be just right. As film critic Leonard Maltin writes, "James Mason is compelling as Captain Nemo, wavering on that fine line between genius and madman, playing Bach's 'Toccata in D Minor' on his pipe organ one moment and planning a murderous attack the next. The balance of the cast fills the various roles to perfection -- Douglas's byplay with Nemo's pet seal and Lorre's unique personality providing gentle but welcome comedy relief."

Be sure to also visit the other exhibits on the picture:

The Story of "20,000 Leagues"
The Special Effects of "20,000 Leagues"
The Animation of "20,000 Leagues"