Disney's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" Quiz

Answer: Paul Lukas

Aronnax, a world-renowned authority on marine life, has been frustrated in his attempts to cross the Pacific by the repeated cancellations of sailings, the result of widespread rumors of a sea monster destroying ships. Aronnax has an open mind about the existence of such a creature and that, plus his unquestioned reputation as a scientist, prompts the U.S. Government to offer him passage on a Navy warship whose expedition seeks to confirm or deny the rumors. Taken captive aboard the Nautilus after its attack on the warship, Aronnax attempts to gain Captain Nemo's confidence and persuade him to share his secrets with the world.

By this stage of his career, Hungarian-born Lukas was having difficulty remembering his lines and was reportedly given to fits of temper after spoiling takes.

Answer: Apprentice

Though Conseil is loyal to and protective of Aronnax, he fears that the Professor's single-minded determination to learn Nemo's secrets places his life in jeopardy at the hands of the ruthless submarine captain. He willingly goes along with fellow-captive Ned Land's escape plans.

Though his role as Conseil is a sympathetic, often humorous one, Lorre was best known for his portrayals of bizarre, threatening and even psychotic characters. He quipped that in "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," the giant squid got the role usually reserved for him.

Answer: Captain Farragut of the U.S. warship sunk by the Nautilus

Captain Farragut is highly skeptical that a ship-sinking sea monster exists, to the point of censuring Professor Aronnax for expressing his open-mindedness on the matter in the presence of the crew. His determination that he has disproved the monster rumors is followed shortly by the Nautilus' attack on his ship.

Robert J. Wilke portrayed the First Mate; the Government agent was played by Carleton Young; the old salt was J.M. Kerrigan.

Answer: The dynamic power of the universe

Though the implication here and elsewhere in the film is clear, the terms "nuclear" or atomic" are never used. The first real-world nuclear-powered submarine, the U.S. Navy's Nautilus, was commissioned in 1954, the year of this film's release.

Answer: "I've found out what I wanted to know."

Nemo does not explain his comment to his First Mate, but later tells Aronnax, "I may have use for such misplaced devotion," referring to Aronnax's insistence on sharing his companions' fate. "It comforts me to know that your life was not too dear a price to pay for love of your fellow man," Nemo adds, but then refuses to elaborate.

He eventually informs Aronnax that he spared his life in order that he may act as an emissary in sharing his secrets with the world.

Answer: Abraham Lincoln

Andrew Johnson would have been President at the time, succeeding Lincoln, who was assassinated in 1865. Grant had already won election, but did not take office until March 1869. Washington was the first U.S. President, 1789-1797, and though he was so universally revered that his portrait was widely displayed in both public and private locations, it is not seen on board this ship.

Answer: Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor became something of an anthem for film madmen, megalomaniacs and monsters, heard also in such films as "The Black Cat", "The Raven" and "Sunset Boulevard."

Answer: Vulcania

Vulcania turns out to be an uncharted island formed by a partially-submerged extinct volcano. Nemo's secret facilities are hidden in the crater, accessible to the Nautilus via an undersea cavern.

Rura Pante is the slave camp at which Nemo was once an inmate. Crespo is the island in whose offshore waters Nemo cultivates his undersea farm. Murania is the undersea city in the 1935 serial "The Phantom Empire."

Answer: True

There are two indications of Nemo's religious faith. Shortly after boarding the deserted Nautilus, Professor Aronnax happens upon its giant viewing port and witnesses an undersea burial ceremony, during which Nemo places a cross upon the grave. No further reference is made to that, but in the final scenes, Nemo refers explicitly to the Deity: moments before the destruction of all his discoveries, he tells Aronnax that future generations will rediscover his secrets "in God's good time."

Nemo makes his statement about rejecting society to counter Aronnax's charge that it is uncivilized for him to condemn Ned Land and Conseil to what is, in effect, an execution merely for being aboard the warship that attacked him. Appalled, Aronnax refuses Nemo's offer to spare his life in exchange for access to his secrets.

Answer: Seaweed salad

The meal over, Ned Land and Conseil leave, whereupon Nemo offers Aronnax a cigar, which the Professor savors. "Delightful smoke," he says. "Different somehow. Havana?" "Seaweed," Nemo replies.