Under the Sea
CAPTAIN NEMO, portrayed by actor James Mason, looks in horror at the giant
squid in the 1954 film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Nemo’s adventures
aboard the Nautilus inspired not only dramatic adaptations but also real-life
deep-sea explorers, like Robert Ballard, discoverer of the Titanic. In an inter-
view with National Geographic, Ballard described himself as “this kid from
Kansas who reads 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and wants to be Captain
Nemo.” It’s no coincidence that his state-of-the-art research vessel is also
named the Nautilus.
LU WORTIG/AGE FOTOSTOCK