When Captain Nemo saves the passengers of a sinking ship and takes them to his Utopian underwater city he discovers that not all of his guests agree to remain there forever.
When their sailing ship founders at sea, several of the passengers are rescued and find themselves aboard a submarine in the command of Captain Nemo. They are amazed to find that Nemo has built a vast underwater city. Men, women and children all live in harmony in Nemo's idyllic paradise that is free of war and lives off the riches that they've found at the bottom of sea. The new arrivals are distressed to learn however that as they've now seen the city, they cannot leave and must live there for the rest of their days. That doesn't sit well with many of the new arrivals some of whom set about to find a way to leave at whatever cost.—garykmcd
Far from the eyes of a world he disdains reigns a genius inventor and the fabulous sub aquatic world he has built--Captain Nemo and the Underwater City. 1850s. When a sailing ship sinks in mid-ocean, the survivors are rescued by a mysterious submarine, whose captain (Robert Ryan) ferries the survivors to the ocean floor and a fabulous underwater city enclosed by a giant, transparent dome. While some of the new guests are content to wander the city and marvel at its scientific wonders, United States Senator Robert Fraser (Chuck Conners) plots a way to escape and complete his peace-keeping mission to Europe.—yusufpiskin
Some survivors of a drowning ship are rescued by Captain Nemo and his submarine crew. They are taken to an underwater city, where they may be trapped for the rest of their lives.—Michael Zink
Captain Nemo's submarine Nautilus rescues drowning passengers and takes them to an underwater city, Templemer (pronounced Temple-Meer) where they are told they will remain forever. These survivors include thieving brothers Barnaby and Swallow Bath, the cowardly Lomax, Helena Beckett and her son, and Senator Robert Fraser.
Nemo takes them on a city scuba tour, but Lomax attempts to steal diving gear and escape but is caught. Fraser seems taken with a musical performance given by the city's swimming teacher Mala, this noted by Joab, Nemo's second in command.
Joab shows the Bath brothers how the city makes oxygen and fresh water and as a by-product gold, which is even thrown away. Joab advises them that no one has ever escaped Templemer. Lomax attempts to escape by using the oxygen machine to rupture the city's dome, but only manages to flood the machine's control room, killing himself in the process. While this is happening, the Bath brothers sneak into the Forbidden Area where they discover a second submarine, the Nautilus II. Seeing the second submarine as their means of escape, the brothers enlist Fraser to help them.
Fraser learns how to operate the submarine. During training they ram and kill a vast Manta Ray-like creature accidentally created during the building of the city. Fraser tells Nemo he should leave as he is attempting to cut off the supply of weapons to the American Civil War. Nemo refuses, and offers Fraser a position at Templemer. This alienates Joab, who helps Fraser and the Baths steal Nautilus II, on condition they leave without bloodshed and allow the crew to return with the submarine intact.
They manage to take the submarine and are followed by Nemo in his submarine. Nemo explains there is fault with the Nautilus II's engines that means that it could explode. The chase is brief. Unable to match the speed of the escaping submarine, Nemo has Nautilus I sheer away, to try 'going under the reef.' Confused by their pursuers apparently giving up, Fraser asks the Nautilus II's first mate if there is 'a shorter way,' and is told 'yes, there is,' but that 'this ship is too large!'
A now desperate Fraser gives orders for 'crash speed.' As the submarine increases to flank an explosion causes the engines to fail, and out of control the ship strikes a reef before coming to a stop whilst still submerged. The crew with Fraser and the Baths put on diving gear and attempt to escape from the now flooding submarine, but Barnaby panics and drown.
Nautilus I approaches the wreck just in time to be buffeted violently as the bigger ship explodes; Joab is electrocuted as he is thrown against a control panel. Mortally wounded he confesses to Nemo that he helped Fraser to escape. Helena Beckett admits that she knew of the attempt, and that she and her son chose to stay. Mala reads Nemo a letter that Fraser left behind, in which he thanks Nemo for offering him a place in the city's future, but that he cannot accept, as he believes in his mission, and the 'slower, more painful process' towards peace.
The film closes as Nautilus turns towards Templemer. On the surface, a small schooner is seen picking up two men in mid-ocean, far from either land or any sign of wreckage. Fraser and Swallow Bath, huddled in blankets, are taken aboard, and as the schooner prepares to set sail, Fraser finds his companion has concealed a gold ladle under his coat. The two exchange rueful smiles, and Fraser tosses it lightly into the sea.
