9. In Search Of The Castaways (1962)
Based on one of Jules Verne's lesser remembered works, this movie had a lot of....potential, but never materialized as a memorable movie. In fact, as a stand alone film, it is actually pretty good. Yes, they reused a lot of stock footage, yes, they threw in a love interest for Halley Mills, and yes, the best lines were all sort of throw-away lines. Audiences in the early 1960's still liked this movie. But with a better educated movie going public, any remake would need to be a whole lot flashier and bigger. The original movie had Haley Mills, Maurice Chevalier, exciting sets, typical Disney movie music, so what holds it back from being a classic? The special effects. They are extremely dated and obviously greenscreened. So, if we were to resurrect this movie, it almost screams franchise. Why? Remember me saying it was based on a work of Jules Verne? Well, it is actually the end of a trilogy: 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, The Mysterious Island, and Captain Grant's Children: In Search Of The Castaways. Disney already turned the first movie into a much loved classic movie, they can do it again. Nobody has really made a great version of the second book yet, and this one was....well, forgettable. Imagine the possibilities: a series of movies, alowing Disney to create their next big actor. A great opportunity to create a new land for the Disney Parks, with rides based on the Nautilus and the escape from the island/volcano/giant condors. Toys and other merchandise. Feel free to jump in anytime, Disney, I'm hireable for marketing.