Disney's Classic `20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' Celebrates Its 45Th Anniversary With One-Week Engagement At the El Capitan Theatre.

BURBANK, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--May 4, 1999--

In celebration of its 45th anniversary, Walt Disney's live-action classic "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" is set to return to the El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood's legendary movie palace, for an exclusive one-week engagement beginning Friday May 7th. To showcase the film, a fully restored 35mm CinemaScope, Dolby Stereo print of the film will be shown. Further marking the occasion, director Richard Fleischer and Academy Award-winning matte artist Peter Ellenshaw will be on hand to discuss the film, at 8:30pm on May 7th (preceding the regularly scheduled 9:00pm show). Disney historian/head of library restoration Scott MacQueen will moderate Friday's discussion and introduce the Saturday noon show.

The special El Capitan engagement of "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" will run from May 7-13 with daily shows scheduled at noon, 3:00pm, 6:00pm and 9:00pm. Advance tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-DISNEY6 or at the box office. General admission prices range from $5-8.

Based on the classic novel by Jules Verne, "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" marked a major milestone in Walt Disney's live-action production career and the film went on to win Academy Awards for Best Special Effects and Best Art Direction/Set Decoration. Released in 1954, it was the Studio's most ambitious live-action film up until that time and one of the most successful. Kirk Douglas, James Mason (as the mad genius, Captain Nemo), Paul Lukas and Peter Lorre star in this exciting underwater adventure fantasy which includes lots of submarine action, futuristic visions of atomic energy and a spectacular encounter with a giant squid.