I have to admit I kind of liked this movie. The book is better of course, but this version is better than the 2004 film. There may be those who say it is overlong. The film is long admittedly, but I think a film adaptation of the book needs to be long to do any kind of justice to it. I do agree with those who complain about the pace, when I first saw this film, I admit I found it hard to get into initially as it goes by at a snail's pace. Most of the film is entertaining and colourful, but some scenes are dull or overlong, the bull-fighting scene is the perfect example of both. That said, the direction is fine, and despite complaints of it being dated the film does look great with great cinematography and colourful sets and costumes. The music is terrific, the script has its good moments and the story is interesting. Another notable strong asset is the cast. David Niven a likable lead, but the real joys are in the cameos, Robert Newton is especially good here. Overall, maybe not best picture winner for me, but I actually found this film interesting. 7/10 Bethany Cox
174 Reviews
"It Might Have Been In County Down, Or In New York, In Gay Paree, Or Even London Town"
bkoganbing26 January 2007
Except for the horrible miscasting of Shirley MacLaine as a Hindu princess, Around the World in 80 Days comes close to being a perfect film. The rest of the cast paints to perfection the portrait of Jules Verne's odyssey about a very anal retentive man driven by a wager to complete a global circumnavigation in 80 days in the mid nineteenth century.
Jules Verne unlike in a lot of his other stories makes one of his main characters here a Frenchman. Normally the international minded Mr. Verne never had any of his protagonists come from his native France. In this case the valet Passepartout accompanies English gentleman Phileas Fogg on the journey and comes close to wrecking it a couple of times.
Michael Todd had to settle for second choices for both of his leads. The part was originally offered to Cary Grant who turned it down and Todd settled happily for David Niven. And even though Fernandel offered to learn English to play Passepartout, the process would have taken too long so the Mexican comic star Cantinfas got the part. Fernandel did have a small role as a Parisian hansom cab driver.
It's still a mystery to me as to why Cantinflas on the strength of this and Pepe did not break out of the Latin American market where he was nothing short of a demi-god of the cinema. Certainly his presence in this film opened up a huge market of viewers in the Spanish speaking parts of the world.
Also consider that the probably no other performer in the history of the cinema ever got as good supporting casts as Cantinflas did in both Around the World in 80 Days and Pepe. Maybe he didn't break into the English speaking cinema fan world, but it was no accident that all the stars who appeared in both wanted to be associated with him.
Shirley MacLaine would have to wait until Some Came Running for a real break out role. She's just not the type to play a Hindu princess. Someone like Jean Simmons who played one in Black Narcissus would have been far better.
David Niven however got on the crest of a big career wave that wouldn't reach maximum until his Oscar two years later in Separate Tables. This was one of his best career roles and nice that for once he would not have to carry a mediocre picture on the strength of his considerable charm.
Mr. Niven sadly recalls in his memoirs that Robert Newton was already dying when he made Around the World in 80 Days. The doctors had told the screen's most celebrated alcoholic that he had only a short time left when he did this film, his liver was failing. Newton does a grand job as the unctuous conniving detective Fix who gets it into his head that Niven robbed the Bank of England.
Around the World in 80 Days won for Best Picture in 1956 and four other Oscars including best musical score. Oddly enough the song Around the World was not nominated in that category even though it was a big hit that year. Bing Crosby for Decca and Eddie Fisher for RCA Victor had the big hit records of it, Frank Sinatra also did it for Capitol. It was a great tribute to its composer Victor Young and lyricist Harold Adamson. Young died in 1956 and the Oscar for Best Scoring was given to him posthumously.
Producer Michael Todd and Director Michael Anderson did a first rate job in casting all the small bit roles with major players. A lot of these names are unfamiliar to today's generation, but if they see the film it's a chance to see a lot of great cinema names at one time doing real characters instead of just walking on as themselves.
The film holds up well today and can still be enjoyed. Maybe someone will actually try to make it in the transportation mode of the Victorian era. Can it be done in 80 Days?
Jules Verne unlike in a lot of his other stories makes one of his main characters here a Frenchman. Normally the international minded Mr. Verne never had any of his protagonists come from his native France. In this case the valet Passepartout accompanies English gentleman Phileas Fogg on the journey and comes close to wrecking it a couple of times.
Michael Todd had to settle for second choices for both of his leads. The part was originally offered to Cary Grant who turned it down and Todd settled happily for David Niven. And even though Fernandel offered to learn English to play Passepartout, the process would have taken too long so the Mexican comic star Cantinfas got the part. Fernandel did have a small role as a Parisian hansom cab driver.
It's still a mystery to me as to why Cantinflas on the strength of this and Pepe did not break out of the Latin American market where he was nothing short of a demi-god of the cinema. Certainly his presence in this film opened up a huge market of viewers in the Spanish speaking parts of the world.
Also consider that the probably no other performer in the history of the cinema ever got as good supporting casts as Cantinflas did in both Around the World in 80 Days and Pepe. Maybe he didn't break into the English speaking cinema fan world, but it was no accident that all the stars who appeared in both wanted to be associated with him.
Shirley MacLaine would have to wait until Some Came Running for a real break out role. She's just not the type to play a Hindu princess. Someone like Jean Simmons who played one in Black Narcissus would have been far better.
David Niven however got on the crest of a big career wave that wouldn't reach maximum until his Oscar two years later in Separate Tables. This was one of his best career roles and nice that for once he would not have to carry a mediocre picture on the strength of his considerable charm.
Mr. Niven sadly recalls in his memoirs that Robert Newton was already dying when he made Around the World in 80 Days. The doctors had told the screen's most celebrated alcoholic that he had only a short time left when he did this film, his liver was failing. Newton does a grand job as the unctuous conniving detective Fix who gets it into his head that Niven robbed the Bank of England.
Around the World in 80 Days won for Best Picture in 1956 and four other Oscars including best musical score. Oddly enough the song Around the World was not nominated in that category even though it was a big hit that year. Bing Crosby for Decca and Eddie Fisher for RCA Victor had the big hit records of it, Frank Sinatra also did it for Capitol. It was a great tribute to its composer Victor Young and lyricist Harold Adamson. Young died in 1956 and the Oscar for Best Scoring was given to him posthumously.
Producer Michael Todd and Director Michael Anderson did a first rate job in casting all the small bit roles with major players. A lot of these names are unfamiliar to today's generation, but if they see the film it's a chance to see a lot of great cinema names at one time doing real characters instead of just walking on as themselves.
The film holds up well today and can still be enjoyed. Maybe someone will actually try to make it in the transportation mode of the Victorian era. Can it be done in 80 Days?
Very spectacular and glamorous adaptation with a cast of thousands , breathtaking scenarios and funny scenes
ma-cortes15 June 2014
This fun picture deals with known story about gentleman Phineas Fogg wagers he can circumnavigate the earth and he sets off on spectacular journey . Lavish rendition with all-star cast , it finds Victorian gentleman wagering that he can circle the globe in 80 days . Classic adaptation based on Jules Verne novel with a marvelous duo , David Niven and his faithful butler well played by Cantinflas who confront much excitement and a lot of adventures along the way . The film provides ample amusement and entertainment , it concerns about a Victorian English gentleman named Phileas Fogg (David Niven always professed that Phileas Fogg was his favorite role) and his manservant named Passapart (Cantinflas, in the mid-50s, he was the wealthiest movie star in the world, and was given top billing in Latin countries) . He takes a wager with various gentlemen from 'The Reform Club' that he can circle the globe around the world in 80 days . Just before the time they leave , a valuable lot of money is robbed and the authorities and president of Bank of England believe that unflappable Fogg is the guilty and a Detective set out after him . Later on , they save a damsel in distress, a gorgeous Indian girl (Shirley MacLaine to this day contends that she was miscast in this, her third film) . Using various means of transport as balloon , trains , steamer , flying machine and following a way , Fogg along with Passepart go to Dover , Paris , Spain , Calcuta , Burma jungle , Hong Kong , Yokohama , Forbidden city of Pekin , San Francisco , Omaha and New York , as they are trying back to London . Meanwhile , they are chased by an Inspector named Fix (Robert Newton) who suspects him of a daring bank theft .
This funny picture is plenty of adventures , humor , action , rip-roaring and spectacular outdoors . From start to finish the entertainment and amusement is continued . The bullfighting sequence filmed in Chinchon , Spain , was added because Cantinflas had bullfighting experience , he actually was in the ring with the bull, eschewing the use of a stunt doublé ; this was one of the first sequences to be shot. The film features the longest closing credits sequence up to that time and for many years afterward - six minutes and twenty-one seconds , splendidly realized by Saul Bass ; all of the film's credits are shown only at the end, and the very last credit to be shown is the film's title . Big-budgeted take on by two great producers , Michael Todd and William Cameron Menzies , as the film used 140 sets built at six Hollywood studios, as well as in England, Hong Kong and Japan , 74,685 costumes were designed, made or rented for use ; the cast and crew flew over 4,000,000 miles ; 68,894 extras were used while shooting the film in 13 countries ; 90 animal handlers managed the record 8,552 animals used . Michael Todd's original estimate for the film's budget was $3 million ; the film ended up costing nearly double that, largely thanks to Todd's demands for verisimilitude and location shooting. There appears a variety of cameos , the star-gazers will particularly enjoy several known actors by many Hollywood's biggest names with more than thirty cameos for buffs such as Marlene Dietrich , Robert Newton , John Carradine , Noel Coward , Ronald Colman, Ronald Squire, Cedric Hardwicke, John Gielgud, Trevor Howard , Victor McLaglen and John Mills , Robert Morley who repeat in a 1989 TV version , among others ; in fact , the term "cameo", meaning in this case a small part by a famous person, was popularized by the many "cameo appearances" in this film. The colorfully cinematography by Lionel Lindon is well showed on sensational landscapes ; being second Todd-AO production , the first was Oklahoma!. Unforgettable and lively music by Victor Young including catching leitmotif .
This classic ¨Mike Todd's Around the world in 80 days¨ that hasn't lost its charm over the years was compellingly directed by Michael Anderson and generally considered the single largest film project ever undertaken in Hollywood . However , the movie began shooting with John Farrow as director, and Emmett Emerson as the first assistant director in London ; both were replaced. Filming was completed in 75 shooting days . Other versions are the followings : , Australian retelling titled ¨Around the world in 89 days (1986)¨ by Stephen MacLean and recent adaptation (2004) offering full of entertainment directed by Frank Coraci with Jackie Chan , Steve Coogan , Cecile De France , Mark Addy , Owen Wilson , Luke Wilson and many others . And a TV version (1989) with by Buzz Kulik with Pierce Brosnan , Eric Idle , Julia Nickson , John Mills, Robert Morley , among others .
This funny picture is plenty of adventures , humor , action , rip-roaring and spectacular outdoors . From start to finish the entertainment and amusement is continued . The bullfighting sequence filmed in Chinchon , Spain , was added because Cantinflas had bullfighting experience , he actually was in the ring with the bull, eschewing the use of a stunt doublé ; this was one of the first sequences to be shot. The film features the longest closing credits sequence up to that time and for many years afterward - six minutes and twenty-one seconds , splendidly realized by Saul Bass ; all of the film's credits are shown only at the end, and the very last credit to be shown is the film's title . Big-budgeted take on by two great producers , Michael Todd and William Cameron Menzies , as the film used 140 sets built at six Hollywood studios, as well as in England, Hong Kong and Japan , 74,685 costumes were designed, made or rented for use ; the cast and crew flew over 4,000,000 miles ; 68,894 extras were used while shooting the film in 13 countries ; 90 animal handlers managed the record 8,552 animals used . Michael Todd's original estimate for the film's budget was $3 million ; the film ended up costing nearly double that, largely thanks to Todd's demands for verisimilitude and location shooting. There appears a variety of cameos , the star-gazers will particularly enjoy several known actors by many Hollywood's biggest names with more than thirty cameos for buffs such as Marlene Dietrich , Robert Newton , John Carradine , Noel Coward , Ronald Colman, Ronald Squire, Cedric Hardwicke, John Gielgud, Trevor Howard , Victor McLaglen and John Mills , Robert Morley who repeat in a 1989 TV version , among others ; in fact , the term "cameo", meaning in this case a small part by a famous person, was popularized by the many "cameo appearances" in this film. The colorfully cinematography by Lionel Lindon is well showed on sensational landscapes ; being second Todd-AO production , the first was Oklahoma!. Unforgettable and lively music by Victor Young including catching leitmotif .
This classic ¨Mike Todd's Around the world in 80 days¨ that hasn't lost its charm over the years was compellingly directed by Michael Anderson and generally considered the single largest film project ever undertaken in Hollywood . However , the movie began shooting with John Farrow as director, and Emmett Emerson as the first assistant director in London ; both were replaced. Filming was completed in 75 shooting days . Other versions are the followings : , Australian retelling titled ¨Around the world in 89 days (1986)¨ by Stephen MacLean and recent adaptation (2004) offering full of entertainment directed by Frank Coraci with Jackie Chan , Steve Coogan , Cecile De France , Mark Addy , Owen Wilson , Luke Wilson and many others . And a TV version (1989) with by Buzz Kulik with Pierce Brosnan , Eric Idle , Julia Nickson , John Mills, Robert Morley , among others .
A spectacle in every sense of the world!
Nazi_Fighter_David2 January 2002
Warning: Spoilers
Mike Todd's version of Jules Verne tale offers a refined English comedy, giant-screen travel landscapes, dazzling brilliant color, famous actors in small roles... as Phileas Fogg and his comical valet made the tour of the world beginning in England, going to Europe, the Middle East, India, and Asia...
It begins in (1872) Victorian London as the wealthy, supremely confident Phileas Fogg sets out a wager that he can traverse the globe in precisely eighty days... The other club members at the Reform Club think Fogg is a fool, and challenge his claim and wager £20,000 that he is wrong...
The snags begin almost immediately, as the true gentleman misses a train and has to travel by balloon... The wild journey takes Fogg and his new servant into a series of incredible adventures in every land they pass through...
David Niven plays the true impassive Englishman Phileas Fogg... A polished man of the world, who makes no superfluous gestures, and is never seen to be moved or agitated... A puzzling personage, who believes in progress, science, and intellectual deduction... An eccentric quiet gentleman who talks very little and lives by a precise schedule of tea, whist games, fish and chips... He lives alone in a big house, and a single domestic sufficed to serve him...
Mexican screen legend Cantinflas known as the comic genius of the Spanish-speaking world, plays Passepartout, the most faithful of domestics...
Passepartout is a multi-skilled honest Frenchman with a pleasant oval face, slender and slight, soft-mannered and serviceable...
Robert Newton plays Mr. Fix, the mysterious detective who had been dispatched from England in search of the bank robber... He is a slight-built personage, with a nervous, intelligent face, and bright eyes peering out from under eyebrows which he is incessantly twitching...
Shirley MacLaine plays the charming young Indian princess, Aouda, who was married against her will at age seven... She speaks English with great purity...
One of the main interests of the film is the various cameos played by stars of the time who give minute but exquisite characterizations:
The other scenes that were actually outrageous and delightful are:
Passepartout scooping some snow off an alp to chill a bottle of champagne; his funny and graceful way of bullfighting; his burlesque dance with a troupe of Spanish dancers; his venture to ride an ostrich through a back-lot Hong Kong; his anxiety when he is captured by savage Sioux; his courage when he is almost burned to death with an Indian widow; his fault when he clears the 'human' pyramid; his ignorance when he breaks Hindus religious beliefs and his absurdity when he constantly tries to hit on anything in skirts...
With terrific music, this Academy Award winner for Best Picture of 1956 is nice for the family to watch...
It begins in (1872) Victorian London as the wealthy, supremely confident Phileas Fogg sets out a wager that he can traverse the globe in precisely eighty days... The other club members at the Reform Club think Fogg is a fool, and challenge his claim and wager £20,000 that he is wrong...
The snags begin almost immediately, as the true gentleman misses a train and has to travel by balloon... The wild journey takes Fogg and his new servant into a series of incredible adventures in every land they pass through...
David Niven plays the true impassive Englishman Phileas Fogg... A polished man of the world, who makes no superfluous gestures, and is never seen to be moved or agitated... A puzzling personage, who believes in progress, science, and intellectual deduction... An eccentric quiet gentleman who talks very little and lives by a precise schedule of tea, whist games, fish and chips... He lives alone in a big house, and a single domestic sufficed to serve him...
Mexican screen legend Cantinflas known as the comic genius of the Spanish-speaking world, plays Passepartout, the most faithful of domestics...
Passepartout is a multi-skilled honest Frenchman with a pleasant oval face, slender and slight, soft-mannered and serviceable...
Robert Newton plays Mr. Fix, the mysterious detective who had been dispatched from England in search of the bank robber... He is a slight-built personage, with a nervous, intelligent face, and bright eyes peering out from under eyebrows which he is incessantly twitching...
Shirley MacLaine plays the charming young Indian princess, Aouda, who was married against her will at age seven... She speaks English with great purity...
One of the main interests of the film is the various cameos played by stars of the time who give minute but exquisite characterizations:
- Finlay Currie, Mr. Fogg's usual partner at whist...
- Robert Morley, one of the directors of the Bank of England...
- John Gielgud, the dismissed servant who relates that his master wears two watches, and every available surface in his house is covered with so many clocks...
- Trevor Howard, the club's member who rejects the news that the English gentleman has robbed the Bank of England...
- Charles Boyer, the educated travel agent who proposes to the couple to travel with a hot-air balloon...
- Martine Carol, the offended lady who slaps the new butler just for saying: 'Mademoiselle!'
- Fernandel, the French coachman who was not so content with the tip...
- Gilbert Roland, the Arab who offers his ship to Marseilles just on one condition...
- Cesar Romero, the henchman who sadistically insists Passepartout must fight a bull even if he doesn't know how...
- Ronald Colman, the Railway Official who announces (No more railway!) all passengers know that they must provide means of transportation for themselves from Kholby to Allahabad...
- Cedric Hardwicke, the officer who finds happily a means of conveyance : to cross the deep jungle on an elephant!
- Charles Coburn, the Steamship Company clerk who makes the observation that the 'Carnatic' had sailed the evening before...and he doesn't expect any vessel to Yokohama one week from now...
- Peter Lorre, the smiling Japanese steward who informs Passepartout that being broke without money in Yokohama... is catastrophic!
- Glynis Johns, the sporting lady who bets with her companion on Fogg's outcome...
- George Raft, the suspicious mob who chases everyone who stands near his glamorous woman...
- Marlene Dietrich, the Barbary Coast saloon hostess who looks for a way to be free...
- Frank Sinatra, the honky-tonk pianist...
- Red Skelton, the drunken with great appetite...
- John Carradine, the insolent colonel hit by an arrow...
- Buster Keaton, the American train conductor who announces some delay...
- Andy Devine, the first mate who refuses 'Henrietta' to be burn...
- Victor McLaglen, the helmsman who is ordered ('Full steam!') to feed all the fires until the coal is exhausted...
- John Mills, the sleepy carriage driver at the delicate moment...
The other scenes that were actually outrageous and delightful are:
Passepartout scooping some snow off an alp to chill a bottle of champagne; his funny and graceful way of bullfighting; his burlesque dance with a troupe of Spanish dancers; his venture to ride an ostrich through a back-lot Hong Kong; his anxiety when he is captured by savage Sioux; his courage when he is almost burned to death with an Indian widow; his fault when he clears the 'human' pyramid; his ignorance when he breaks Hindus religious beliefs and his absurdity when he constantly tries to hit on anything in skirts...
With terrific music, this Academy Award winner for Best Picture of 1956 is nice for the family to watch...
The greatest supporting cast in the history of film
Scaramouche200428 September 2005
Michael Todd's screen adaptation of Jules Verne's classic novel is a masterpiece.
Beautifully shot in over 100 different locations around the world, it is one of the few novels which actually benefits from big screen treatment. No longer do we have to imagine these fine exotic places in our minds, they are presented here in full cinematic and Technicolour brilliance.
The great David Niven plays the quintessential English gentleman to the hilt as Philias Fogg, the well to do bachelor who after calmly announcing that it was possible, accepts a £20,000 wager from his fellow Reform Club members to travel round the world in 80 days.
In tow on this mammoth voyage are newly appointed man servant Passepartout played by Mexican entertainer Cantinflas, a rather miscast Shirley MacLaine as Aouda a recently rescued Indian Princess and the lovable and ever watchable Robert Newton as Mr. Fix the detective who is convinced Fogg is a master criminal who left Britain having just robbed the Bank of England.
Yet what adds flavour to an already wonderful story and fascinating movie, is that no matter what corner of the globe our intrepid Fogg appears, he is helped, hindered, slowed down, befriended and attacked by a myriad of world renowned movie stars. Never before or since has a film boasted so many top named stars in cameo appearances.
Robert Morley, Ronald Squire, Finlay Currie, Basil Sydney, Noel Coward, John Gielgud, Trevor Howard, Harcourt Williams, Martine Carol, Fernandel, Charles Boyer, Evelyn Keyes, Gilbert Roland, Cesar Romero, Alan Mowbray, Cedric Hardwicke, Melville Cooper, Reginald Denny, Ronald Colman, Charles Coburn, Peter Lorre, George Raft, Red Skelton, Marlene Dietrich, John Carradine, Frank Sinatra, Buster Keaton, Tim McCoy, Joe E. Brown, Andy Devine, Edmund Lowe, Victor McLaglen, Jack Oakie, Beatrice Lillie, John Mills, Glynis Johns and Hermione Gingold all come along for this bizarre journey.
Now thats what I call a cast list.
Niven is as always a joy to watch as the seemingly unstoppable and resourceful Fogg, so much so that the film can be forgiven its epic length.
However, I do feel as though a good half an hour could have been trimmed had Todd decided to tone down some of Cantinflas' over long routines. We know what a fantastic and talented performer he was, there was no real need to hammer the point home with a nigh on 15 minute bull fight sequence, Japanese circus tricks and stunt horse riding.
However despite this one criticism, the film is legend, the story is legend and was fully deserving of the five Oscar's it was awarded, including Best Picture of 1956.
In fact I feel certain that if Philias Fogg had a film like this on DVD, he would have much preferred to stay at home and watch it. I know I certainly would.
Beautifully shot in over 100 different locations around the world, it is one of the few novels which actually benefits from big screen treatment. No longer do we have to imagine these fine exotic places in our minds, they are presented here in full cinematic and Technicolour brilliance.
The great David Niven plays the quintessential English gentleman to the hilt as Philias Fogg, the well to do bachelor who after calmly announcing that it was possible, accepts a £20,000 wager from his fellow Reform Club members to travel round the world in 80 days.
In tow on this mammoth voyage are newly appointed man servant Passepartout played by Mexican entertainer Cantinflas, a rather miscast Shirley MacLaine as Aouda a recently rescued Indian Princess and the lovable and ever watchable Robert Newton as Mr. Fix the detective who is convinced Fogg is a master criminal who left Britain having just robbed the Bank of England.
Yet what adds flavour to an already wonderful story and fascinating movie, is that no matter what corner of the globe our intrepid Fogg appears, he is helped, hindered, slowed down, befriended and attacked by a myriad of world renowned movie stars. Never before or since has a film boasted so many top named stars in cameo appearances.
Robert Morley, Ronald Squire, Finlay Currie, Basil Sydney, Noel Coward, John Gielgud, Trevor Howard, Harcourt Williams, Martine Carol, Fernandel, Charles Boyer, Evelyn Keyes, Gilbert Roland, Cesar Romero, Alan Mowbray, Cedric Hardwicke, Melville Cooper, Reginald Denny, Ronald Colman, Charles Coburn, Peter Lorre, George Raft, Red Skelton, Marlene Dietrich, John Carradine, Frank Sinatra, Buster Keaton, Tim McCoy, Joe E. Brown, Andy Devine, Edmund Lowe, Victor McLaglen, Jack Oakie, Beatrice Lillie, John Mills, Glynis Johns and Hermione Gingold all come along for this bizarre journey.
Now thats what I call a cast list.
Niven is as always a joy to watch as the seemingly unstoppable and resourceful Fogg, so much so that the film can be forgiven its epic length.
However, I do feel as though a good half an hour could have been trimmed had Todd decided to tone down some of Cantinflas' over long routines. We know what a fantastic and talented performer he was, there was no real need to hammer the point home with a nigh on 15 minute bull fight sequence, Japanese circus tricks and stunt horse riding.
However despite this one criticism, the film is legend, the story is legend and was fully deserving of the five Oscar's it was awarded, including Best Picture of 1956.
In fact I feel certain that if Philias Fogg had a film like this on DVD, he would have much preferred to stay at home and watch it. I know I certainly would.
Go and see it - in a cinema
george-10213 December 2000
I really enjoyed this film, and was shocked to see all the negative comments about it on IMDB. Yes it's long, yes it's a fantasy rather than true-to-life, yes it's spectacular rather than deep drama. But what the hell, it's also (like the book) a hilarious send-up of Englishness as seen by a Frenchman. The millions of cameo roles (actually I'm HOPELESS at recognising faces, so identified none of them) camp it all up splendidly. This film is one of those, like the Ealing comedies or the Carry-On films, that define the British Myth.
OK, so it won't work on TV, unless you have a widescreen TV and can shut yourself away from all distractions for several hours. But I just dare anyone to be bored by the film in a cinema. They don't make them like that any more, because these days films are "made for TV" . . .
OK, so it won't work on TV, unless you have a widescreen TV and can shut yourself away from all distractions for several hours. But I just dare anyone to be bored by the film in a cinema. They don't make them like that any more, because these days films are "made for TV" . . .
It comes off like a 9-hour travelogue, but maybe it's something you may want to see once.
planktonrules13 December 2011
As I watched "Around the World in Eighty Days" tonight, I noticde that it is a beautiful and spectacular film. The first time I tried seeing it was on a 25" TV--this time it's on a 58" one and the beauty is much more obvious. Too bad I couldn't have seen this on the big screen using the amazing 70mm cameras. And, if they brought it back to the theaters, I might be tempted to see it that way--even though the film does have many shortcomings.
I've got to be honest here, I tried watching this film years ago and gave up on it. The only reason I am watching it through to the end now is that I would like to eventually see all the Best Picture winners--even the incredibly overblown ones. This brings me to a pet peeve I have. I HATE films that feature a bazillion cameos. I find that often the plethora of stars tend to get in the way of the story and often soak up a huge portion of the budget--leaving precious little for writing. Some of the stars in the film are very international in flavor and I never would have recognized them the first time I tried to see this movie 25 years ago. Now, after having seen and reviewed a ridiculous number of films, I was actually excited by some of these casting decisions. Catinflas, though completely unknown in America did some marvelous little comedies in Mexico--and he is the other reason I chose to try watching the movie again. I was to see Fernandel (who also made many wonderful films--in France and Italy). But, I was also maddened because his cameo as a hack driver was so short and unfunny--completely wasting his wonderful comedic talents. And this trend continued for several more of the cameo--wonderful actors who really have nothing to do and are pretty much wasted.
At least 30 minutes could have and should have been cut from the film. I am NOT against long films...if they are well-paced. Too many times in this movie, however, scenes just unfold way too slowly--such as when the balloon is going over the Alps. A VERY LONG period of nice music and shots of the balloon are shown--when it really seemed interminably long. This reminded me of the major problem with "Star Trek: The Motion Picture"--too many unnecessarily long shots which killed the film's momentum. The bullfighting scene is also one that goes on and on and on and could have been 1/3 as long. Many other such examples followed.
So is it a great film? No. I agree with another reviewer who felt the movie got an Oscar for Best Picture simply because it was such a spectacle--not because it was especially good. It's one of the weaker Best Picture films of the era, in my opinion. However, I must give the film its due. The movie is beautiful in every way--great costumes, amazing locations and sets, breathtaking cinematography and a scope that cannot really be matched. But, it is also very, very , very long with poor pacing, suffers from an overuse and wasting of cameos and just isn't that interesting. Catinflas was a very gifted and funny man--here you don't get a great sense of that at all. Likewise, David Niven was a very fine actor--but here he's more like set dressing and you don't get to see him at his best.
Before I conclude, let's talk about the cameos. With all the many cameos, why did they pick Shirley MacLaine to play an Indian princess?! Talk about bizarre casting! And why have Frank Sinatra in a cameo that takes two seconds and he just turns and smiles at the camera?! I don't get it. And what was with John Carradine?! Even for him he over-acted horribly.
I've got to be honest here, I tried watching this film years ago and gave up on it. The only reason I am watching it through to the end now is that I would like to eventually see all the Best Picture winners--even the incredibly overblown ones. This brings me to a pet peeve I have. I HATE films that feature a bazillion cameos. I find that often the plethora of stars tend to get in the way of the story and often soak up a huge portion of the budget--leaving precious little for writing. Some of the stars in the film are very international in flavor and I never would have recognized them the first time I tried to see this movie 25 years ago. Now, after having seen and reviewed a ridiculous number of films, I was actually excited by some of these casting decisions. Catinflas, though completely unknown in America did some marvelous little comedies in Mexico--and he is the other reason I chose to try watching the movie again. I was to see Fernandel (who also made many wonderful films--in France and Italy). But, I was also maddened because his cameo as a hack driver was so short and unfunny--completely wasting his wonderful comedic talents. And this trend continued for several more of the cameo--wonderful actors who really have nothing to do and are pretty much wasted.
At least 30 minutes could have and should have been cut from the film. I am NOT against long films...if they are well-paced. Too many times in this movie, however, scenes just unfold way too slowly--such as when the balloon is going over the Alps. A VERY LONG period of nice music and shots of the balloon are shown--when it really seemed interminably long. This reminded me of the major problem with "Star Trek: The Motion Picture"--too many unnecessarily long shots which killed the film's momentum. The bullfighting scene is also one that goes on and on and on and could have been 1/3 as long. Many other such examples followed.
So is it a great film? No. I agree with another reviewer who felt the movie got an Oscar for Best Picture simply because it was such a spectacle--not because it was especially good. It's one of the weaker Best Picture films of the era, in my opinion. However, I must give the film its due. The movie is beautiful in every way--great costumes, amazing locations and sets, breathtaking cinematography and a scope that cannot really be matched. But, it is also very, very , very long with poor pacing, suffers from an overuse and wasting of cameos and just isn't that interesting. Catinflas was a very gifted and funny man--here you don't get a great sense of that at all. Likewise, David Niven was a very fine actor--but here he's more like set dressing and you don't get to see him at his best.
Before I conclude, let's talk about the cameos. With all the many cameos, why did they pick Shirley MacLaine to play an Indian princess?! Talk about bizarre casting! And why have Frank Sinatra in a cameo that takes two seconds and he just turns and smiles at the camera?! I don't get it. And what was with John Carradine?! Even for him he over-acted horribly.
It feels like its running time is 80 days
AlsExGal5 March 2021
I remember Turner Classic Movies' Robert Osborne once talking about films made pre WWII versus post war. He mentioned that sound films prewar were largely dealing with an American audience that had not traveled outside of the USA for many reasons - the Depression made the cost insurmountable for most, then came the war when hostilities made it impossible. Also, before the late 40s, to travel to foreign lands was mainly a long excursion by boat. Too expensive and too time consuming for working people. But then peace came to the world and prosperity to the USA and Americans could explore the world using the speedier method of air travel. They would never settle for fake exterior art design of places they had actually seen. They would laugh at it.
So I think this film won the Academy Award and was even popular at the time because it is like so many James FItzpatrick Traveltalks shorts strung together with beautiful cinematography of places either Americans had just recently seen or wanted to see in person at some time.
The loads of cameos had been done before, and although David Niven is a delight this film is just too long and the travelogue experience is just not enough to hold a modern audience's interest. Today it seems like one of the more ponderous best picture decisions, much like 1933's Cavalcade. I give it 5/10 for the cinematography, art design, and skill of the main actors.
So I think this film won the Academy Award and was even popular at the time because it is like so many James FItzpatrick Traveltalks shorts strung together with beautiful cinematography of places either Americans had just recently seen or wanted to see in person at some time.
The loads of cameos had been done before, and although David Niven is a delight this film is just too long and the travelogue experience is just not enough to hold a modern audience's interest. Today it seems like one of the more ponderous best picture decisions, much like 1933's Cavalcade. I give it 5/10 for the cinematography, art design, and skill of the main actors.
Short Story Long
tedg4 January 2006
What astounds me is how things change. Here's a film that was celebrated in its day.
In fact, I remember my third grade class taking the day off to go to this. (The year previously, we had gone to see a Cinerama movie in the same theater.) We had reserved seats and popcorn was disallowed. We sat through maybe 20 minutes of overture, three hours of movie and 20 minutes of intermission.
And I loved it. This was a lifealtering experience, so grand, so exotic. And yes, for a seven year old, romantic.
Everyone loved it. In its day, most everyone got caught up in the sheer audacity of thing, the cinematic scope, the number of stars and extras, the locales (which we thought were genuine). The introduction by Ed Murrow seemed apt for something so newsworthy.
I haven't seen it in 50 years. And now, even in the full ToddAO experience it is dull except for the wonderfully bombastic score. There's really nothing to it except that it exists.
It reminds that many films I see, new and old, depend on context. The new ones are simple. Things we get excited about now will seem juvenile in just a short time. "Die Hard" was eclipsed on its own terms in short order. "Speed" even more so.
But the old ones...
Sometimes they are so strongly evocative of an era that watching them pulls us into that era, giving us a whole world by association. Others cannot pull us, or aren't set up to, but are so weak they fall apart. Its a slippery game, watching old movies.
But in this case, it is simple. Big bowl thin soup. But a grandly shaped bowl.
Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.
In fact, I remember my third grade class taking the day off to go to this. (The year previously, we had gone to see a Cinerama movie in the same theater.) We had reserved seats and popcorn was disallowed. We sat through maybe 20 minutes of overture, three hours of movie and 20 minutes of intermission.
And I loved it. This was a lifealtering experience, so grand, so exotic. And yes, for a seven year old, romantic.
Everyone loved it. In its day, most everyone got caught up in the sheer audacity of thing, the cinematic scope, the number of stars and extras, the locales (which we thought were genuine). The introduction by Ed Murrow seemed apt for something so newsworthy.
I haven't seen it in 50 years. And now, even in the full ToddAO experience it is dull except for the wonderfully bombastic score. There's really nothing to it except that it exists.
It reminds that many films I see, new and old, depend on context. The new ones are simple. Things we get excited about now will seem juvenile in just a short time. "Die Hard" was eclipsed on its own terms in short order. "Speed" even more so.
But the old ones...
Sometimes they are so strongly evocative of an era that watching them pulls us into that era, giving us a whole world by association. Others cannot pull us, or aren't set up to, but are so weak they fall apart. Its a slippery game, watching old movies.
But in this case, it is simple. Big bowl thin soup. But a grandly shaped bowl.
Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.
This Picture Makes No Sense On A Small Screen
tonstant viewer24 December 2004
Around the World in 80 Days is part comedy and part demonstration of a new wide-screen process. I saw it in its original run at the old Rivoli Theater in New York, where the screen ran from 48th St. to 49th St. People gasped at the size of the screen when the curtains opened, before the film even got underway.
If you watch the new 16x9 DVD on anything less than a 50-inch television, the visual composition and the pacing are absolutely incomprehensible, and you're on your own to seize on the many little things that are there to entertain you. But as a whole, the film loses its reason for being when viewed on a conventional TV.
David Niven is unbeatable as Phileas Fogg, Shirley Maclaine is implausible but slyly humorous as the Princess, Robert Newton appears sober most of the time and hammy all of it as Inspector Fix.
Cantinflas is inexplicable as Passepartout, except perhaps as Mike Todd's attempt to corral the entire Latin American market. The Mexican comedian's English is very shaky; it slows him down, and his clarity comes and goes and makes me wonder if Paul Frees didn't replace a lot of his lines. At any rate, only in the seemingly improvised encounter with Red Skelton at a buffet does Cantinflas do anything remotely humorous, and there he's the straight man.
The cameos are fun, and if you're too young to know who all these geezers are, it's worth it to find out, and use the IMDb to track down the work that made them famous. I remember the shriek the original audience let out when the piano player was revealed to be Frank Sinatra.
Viewing the film now, I was most moved to see Edmund Lowe and Victor McLaglan reunited in the engine room of the Henrietta, thirty years after they riveted the industry in "What Price Glory?" Buster Keaton concentrates really hard in his appearance as the train conductor, to excellent effect. A. E. Matthews gives a terrific acting lesson in saying "no" a half a dozen times in a London sequence.
Among the original bettors, locate Ronald Squire with the drooping mustache, hollow nasal baritone, and a slouching relaxation while performing that was a marvel - Rex Harrison publicly admired Ronald Squire's ease on stage all his life. In fact, Squire is so relaxed he makes someone like Dean Martin seem uptight.
So, this film is an unusual case - requiring patience for lots of little joys on the small screen, but making sense only on a large one.
If you watch the new 16x9 DVD on anything less than a 50-inch television, the visual composition and the pacing are absolutely incomprehensible, and you're on your own to seize on the many little things that are there to entertain you. But as a whole, the film loses its reason for being when viewed on a conventional TV.
David Niven is unbeatable as Phileas Fogg, Shirley Maclaine is implausible but slyly humorous as the Princess, Robert Newton appears sober most of the time and hammy all of it as Inspector Fix.
Cantinflas is inexplicable as Passepartout, except perhaps as Mike Todd's attempt to corral the entire Latin American market. The Mexican comedian's English is very shaky; it slows him down, and his clarity comes and goes and makes me wonder if Paul Frees didn't replace a lot of his lines. At any rate, only in the seemingly improvised encounter with Red Skelton at a buffet does Cantinflas do anything remotely humorous, and there he's the straight man.
The cameos are fun, and if you're too young to know who all these geezers are, it's worth it to find out, and use the IMDb to track down the work that made them famous. I remember the shriek the original audience let out when the piano player was revealed to be Frank Sinatra.
Viewing the film now, I was most moved to see Edmund Lowe and Victor McLaglan reunited in the engine room of the Henrietta, thirty years after they riveted the industry in "What Price Glory?" Buster Keaton concentrates really hard in his appearance as the train conductor, to excellent effect. A. E. Matthews gives a terrific acting lesson in saying "no" a half a dozen times in a London sequence.
Among the original bettors, locate Ronald Squire with the drooping mustache, hollow nasal baritone, and a slouching relaxation while performing that was a marvel - Rex Harrison publicly admired Ronald Squire's ease on stage all his life. In fact, Squire is so relaxed he makes someone like Dean Martin seem uptight.
So, this film is an unusual case - requiring patience for lots of little joys on the small screen, but making sense only on a large one.
Abound the World in Stereotypical Ways...
Xstal26 December 2023
There's a Fogg that's heading out to round the world, to envelope, wrap and coat, cover and twirl, with his servant Passepartout, there's no route they won't eschew, eighty days is all they have, to make their whirl. On their travels they'll encounter lots of types, if your of a certain age you may just gripes, at the way folk are presented, as it's often far from splendid, makes it easy to stand back, and take some swipes. And perhaps a certain princess takes the biscuit, although in modern times they often still use misfits, it's no wonder then you'll find, that this offerings inclined, to be challenging to like, and somewhat unfit.
Great sets
kosmasp13 April 2009
The set pieces are great, the actors seemed to have a lot of fun and I'm sure it sounded like a lot of fun on paper. Don't get me wrong, this movie has classic written all over it. Still it doesn't really cut it.
Why that is? While putting a more or less emotionless character (here a British one to fit the cliché) next to a lively one (again more or less a cliché) is a good idea, it doesn't work as well. The British character is just too emotionless and while they might have had great fun shooting the whole thing, it doesn't translate 100% on screen. It's a better sketch show, where some skits(countries) work and some just don't.
While the twist at the end is neat, it is not convincing and has many flaws. I can't go into them, without spoiling, just don't try to over think the whole thing and then it's quite enjoyable.
Why that is? While putting a more or less emotionless character (here a British one to fit the cliché) next to a lively one (again more or less a cliché) is a good idea, it doesn't work as well. The British character is just too emotionless and while they might have had great fun shooting the whole thing, it doesn't translate 100% on screen. It's a better sketch show, where some skits(countries) work and some just don't.
While the twist at the end is neat, it is not convincing and has many flaws. I can't go into them, without spoiling, just don't try to over think the whole thing and then it's quite enjoyable.
Cantinflas Saves This Trip Around The World
ccthemovieman-131 March 2006
This is a bit dated by now, but still not a bad film to watch. It seems like more of a travelogue than anything else, at this point. Frankly, at three hours and being a mid-50s film, I thought it might be too slow in too many spots but that was not the case. Only the bullfighting scene went on too long. The rest kept my interest.
David Niven gets top billing but the real star of the show is "Cantinflas," a Spanish actor who, to my knowledge, only made it big in this movie.....at least in this country. He is very likable and entertaining. The only thing is he is not always easy to understand. I used English subtitles a few times when he spoke.
Niven played his normal stiff-neck Brit role. Thank goodness we don't see those, "I say, old bean" characters from GB anymore. However, I have always appreciated the British vocabulary, so much more refined than here in North America. Shirley MacLaine was so young I didn't recognize her. Of course, she made it difficult to spot her playing a brown-skinned Indian princess.
In all, decent entertainment but one that might bore a lot of people today, which is probably why they did a re-make. I haven't seen the re-make, but I'll bet it isn't as good as this movie.
David Niven gets top billing but the real star of the show is "Cantinflas," a Spanish actor who, to my knowledge, only made it big in this movie.....at least in this country. He is very likable and entertaining. The only thing is he is not always easy to understand. I used English subtitles a few times when he spoke.
Niven played his normal stiff-neck Brit role. Thank goodness we don't see those, "I say, old bean" characters from GB anymore. However, I have always appreciated the British vocabulary, so much more refined than here in North America. Shirley MacLaine was so young I didn't recognize her. Of course, she made it difficult to spot her playing a brown-skinned Indian princess.
In all, decent entertainment but one that might bore a lot of people today, which is probably why they did a re-make. I haven't seen the re-make, but I'll bet it isn't as good as this movie.
The Parapatetic Novel of Jules Verne
theowinthrop24 January 2007
Warning: Spoilers
In 1946 Orson Welles decided to return to his Broadway roots and produce a dramatic version of the 1872 Jules Verne novel "Around The World In 80 Days". It was to be a big production - with a musical score by Cole Porter, and Mike Todd as producer. Welles, besides directing it, was playing the part of the Detective (in the musical he was "Dick Fix" = presumably called that because of the slang term for a detective). It was an extravaganza, and Welles had plenty of gags in it including one where he brought out a kitchen sink (i.e. "everything and the kitchen sink": get it?). The show had a big opening night - and sank in a couple of months. It also had no song of any worth by Porter, whose normal abilities were finally shown not to be limitless (a typical song in the show was "There goes Phileas Fogg" - hardly sounds interesting from a man who created "Night and Day" or "Begin the Beguine" or "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" or "Anything Goes"). Welles had to declare bankruptcy, and had tax problems for years (which explains why after 1949 he did much of his work in Europe). He also sold his interest in the musical to Todd.
That is why Michael Todd is given full credit for "Around The World In 80 Days" (the 1956 movie) rather than an angry Welles. He really had no leg to stand on in this case.
"Around The World In Eighty Days" is really the odd duck among the major novels of Verne. If you read it, except for the use of a "wind wagon" in the Western United States portion of the novel, there are no odd devices or inventions or methods of travel in the story. In fact, the best known image of the movie (David Niven and Cantaflas flying in a balloon over the Pyranees) is not from the novel - Verne's balloon novel was "Five Weeks In A Balloon" (and he came out against balloons in "Robur The Conqueror").
"Around The World" was Verne's fun novel about English stuffiness (he disliked the English), wherein the phlegmatic and punctual Phileas Fogg makes a bet of his whole fortune to prove that he can get around the world in under three months. As such, the novel enabled Verne to show how travel was not very broadening to Fogg (a perfect name for the hero) and yet fascinating to his French valet Jean Passepartout (pronounced "Pass - par - too"). It is Passepartout who examines all the foreign peoples and lands he and Fogg travel through. Fogg only shows spirit twice: in rescuing the Indian princess Aouda from being burned alive, and in getting into a duel with the obnoxious American Colonel Seth Proctor.
When he wrote the novel, Verne was aware of an actual "Fogg" - but an American one. The eccentric American millionaire, George Francis Train (great name for a traveler) traveled around the world, in 90 days in 1870. Train would be so impressed by his effect on Verne, he did a second world tour in 72 days. And in 1889 the American journalist Nelly Bly did it in 69 days (when she stopped off in Nantes to meet Verne, he asked her where Aouda was). Verne made fun of the story himself in 1893 when in another novel he had a German aristocrat try to beat Fogg's record, but so botches up his schedule that he ended up taking twice as long.
David Niven is good as Fogg in one of his "comeback" roles that led to his Oscar winner in "Separate Tables". Shirley Maclaine seems good as Aouda, but she really is not eastern enough (maybe Merle Oberon could have handled the role twenty years earlier). Cantaflas rarely did English speaking films, and it is this one that gives non-Spanish audiences an idea of his abilities as a comic performer (but his Mexican films are better). Robert Newton was in his final performance as Fix - and he is very good. He comes across as conniving but witless at the same time. However I find that Peter Ustinov's performance in the 1989 miniseries was funnier.
Then there are all those stars in cameo parts. A clever selling idea by Todd to ensure the public's attention in the film. As a result this is the only film where Ronald Colman and Frank Sinatra and Col. Tim McCoy and Red Skelton and Edmund Lowe all appear - though not necessarily together. As many of these stars of the 1930s - 1950s are no longer remembered too well, it is difficult to see if the cameo idea was such a hot one in the long term. But the film is still enjoyable, and should lead one back to reading the Verne original.
That is why Michael Todd is given full credit for "Around The World In 80 Days" (the 1956 movie) rather than an angry Welles. He really had no leg to stand on in this case.
"Around The World In Eighty Days" is really the odd duck among the major novels of Verne. If you read it, except for the use of a "wind wagon" in the Western United States portion of the novel, there are no odd devices or inventions or methods of travel in the story. In fact, the best known image of the movie (David Niven and Cantaflas flying in a balloon over the Pyranees) is not from the novel - Verne's balloon novel was "Five Weeks In A Balloon" (and he came out against balloons in "Robur The Conqueror").
"Around The World" was Verne's fun novel about English stuffiness (he disliked the English), wherein the phlegmatic and punctual Phileas Fogg makes a bet of his whole fortune to prove that he can get around the world in under three months. As such, the novel enabled Verne to show how travel was not very broadening to Fogg (a perfect name for the hero) and yet fascinating to his French valet Jean Passepartout (pronounced "Pass - par - too"). It is Passepartout who examines all the foreign peoples and lands he and Fogg travel through. Fogg only shows spirit twice: in rescuing the Indian princess Aouda from being burned alive, and in getting into a duel with the obnoxious American Colonel Seth Proctor.
When he wrote the novel, Verne was aware of an actual "Fogg" - but an American one. The eccentric American millionaire, George Francis Train (great name for a traveler) traveled around the world, in 90 days in 1870. Train would be so impressed by his effect on Verne, he did a second world tour in 72 days. And in 1889 the American journalist Nelly Bly did it in 69 days (when she stopped off in Nantes to meet Verne, he asked her where Aouda was). Verne made fun of the story himself in 1893 when in another novel he had a German aristocrat try to beat Fogg's record, but so botches up his schedule that he ended up taking twice as long.
David Niven is good as Fogg in one of his "comeback" roles that led to his Oscar winner in "Separate Tables". Shirley Maclaine seems good as Aouda, but she really is not eastern enough (maybe Merle Oberon could have handled the role twenty years earlier). Cantaflas rarely did English speaking films, and it is this one that gives non-Spanish audiences an idea of his abilities as a comic performer (but his Mexican films are better). Robert Newton was in his final performance as Fix - and he is very good. He comes across as conniving but witless at the same time. However I find that Peter Ustinov's performance in the 1989 miniseries was funnier.
Then there are all those stars in cameo parts. A clever selling idea by Todd to ensure the public's attention in the film. As a result this is the only film where Ronald Colman and Frank Sinatra and Col. Tim McCoy and Red Skelton and Edmund Lowe all appear - though not necessarily together. As many of these stars of the 1930s - 1950s are no longer remembered too well, it is difficult to see if the cameo idea was such a hot one in the long term. But the film is still enjoyable, and should lead one back to reading the Verne original.
I Saw It in Cinerama. It was kind of dull even then.
Hitchcoc24 March 2006
If you have a chance to read the Jules Verne novel, do so. It's a great story. It is so much more than this glitzy piece of hash. Because Cinerama was such a big deal (the literally put you inside the movie), scenes that were chosen were chosen for their size and excessiveness. Phileas Fogg and Passeportout find themselves in one tough situation after another. The science be damned. It's an Indian tribe or a train or a balloon. Everything is big and colorful. This is fine if there is a really nicely thought out story. Yes, I know he had to get around the world, but each step becomes an excuse for the camera. David Niven is a nice screen presence; he excludes sophistication. Of course, there is a raft of big stars along the way. Some of them work, some just do the cameo thing with very little to do. I'm sure that at the time many were dazzled by this new cinematic technique (which never really caught on). Like the I-max thing, at times it becomes really distracting. Seeing it on the small screen is even more ineffective. The only thing that has this going for it is that it is better than the abomination that features Jackie Chan.
Truly a must-see movie
richard-178718 September 2008
Never has a movie that does not depict its own times (in this case, the 1950s) had more to do with them. Watching this movie - which, to the best of my memory, I had never actually seen all the way through before - I was reminded of the lavishly-filmed travelogues that they used to show in movie theaters between pictures back in the 1950s. (World travel in those days was a LOT more expensive than it is now, so for most people travelogues were the only way they were going to see the world.) And that is what this movie is. The plot, which everyone knew, is strictly incidental, a framework on which to hang one magnificently filmed travelogue after the next. In that sense, it was a very original movie, and certainly deserved the Oscar for best picture, though the acting is at best incidental. This was a triumph of movie technology and inventive vision, not a dramatic work.
One could, I suppose, quibble about the treatment of Verne's text. Casting a Mexican comedian as the very French valet Passepartout did strike me as strange, for example. Sometimes he even forgot that he was playing a Frenchman and said Señor rather than Monsieur. And, of course, with his accent, which he made no attempt to disguise, no one was going to mistake him for French. Since Fernandel has one of the many cameos in this movie, I thought that he might have made a more "authentic" choice, as he was not just French but a great actor, both in drama and in comedy.
Still, this movie is just "based" on Verne's novel, not meant to be a faithful adaptation of it. Since Passepartout's nationality is only incidental to the action, it didn't really matter that he was so clearly not French. The same would apply to the other "infidelities" to the novel. The actual "purpose" of Verne's novel, however, not just this one but most of them, was to provide adventure-coated geography and history lessons to young boys. Verne's books were sold as educational, and Verne did do a lot of research for them. (He wasn't always good at making that research interesting; the long technical descriptions of underwater flora and fauna in 20000 Leagues under the Sea make for slow reading even for an adult.)In that sense this movie very much captures the spirit of the novel, even if it changes parts of it: it provides a VERY entertaining way of getting to know the visual wonders of the world.
This is truly a picture to be seen in a theater with a big screen, though. I enjoyed it on my TV, but kept thinking how much more overwhelming it would have been in a theater with a wide screen.
Treat yourself to it. It's pure entertainment, and very beautifully so.
--------------------
I saw it again on TCM today. The real star of this movie is the cinematography. Some of the shots and camera-work are really breathtaking.
One could, I suppose, quibble about the treatment of Verne's text. Casting a Mexican comedian as the very French valet Passepartout did strike me as strange, for example. Sometimes he even forgot that he was playing a Frenchman and said Señor rather than Monsieur. And, of course, with his accent, which he made no attempt to disguise, no one was going to mistake him for French. Since Fernandel has one of the many cameos in this movie, I thought that he might have made a more "authentic" choice, as he was not just French but a great actor, both in drama and in comedy.
Still, this movie is just "based" on Verne's novel, not meant to be a faithful adaptation of it. Since Passepartout's nationality is only incidental to the action, it didn't really matter that he was so clearly not French. The same would apply to the other "infidelities" to the novel. The actual "purpose" of Verne's novel, however, not just this one but most of them, was to provide adventure-coated geography and history lessons to young boys. Verne's books were sold as educational, and Verne did do a lot of research for them. (He wasn't always good at making that research interesting; the long technical descriptions of underwater flora and fauna in 20000 Leagues under the Sea make for slow reading even for an adult.)In that sense this movie very much captures the spirit of the novel, even if it changes parts of it: it provides a VERY entertaining way of getting to know the visual wonders of the world.
This is truly a picture to be seen in a theater with a big screen, though. I enjoyed it on my TV, but kept thinking how much more overwhelming it would have been in a theater with a wide screen.
Treat yourself to it. It's pure entertainment, and very beautifully so.
--------------------
I saw it again on TCM today. The real star of this movie is the cinematography. Some of the shots and camera-work are really breathtaking.
known for its end credits and numerous cameos
didi-514 August 2004
'Around the World in Eighty Days' stars David Niven,Cantinflas, and Robert Newton (in his final role) but is mainly known for featuring zillions of people in cameo parts as Niven moves round his world trip.
You can spot ... Marlene Dietrich, Frank Sinatra, Buster Keaton, Ronald Colman, Gilbert Roland, Shirley MacLaine, Tim McCoy, Hermoine Gingold, Charles Boyer, Finlay Currie, Trevor Howard ...
Is it any good? Well, it is too long but gives a good attempt to present countries and travelling on a big scale. Niven is as charming as ever, while Cantinflas manages to stay irritating for three hours. Robert Newton as the obsessed Inspector Fix is entertaining but he'd done better.
One to watch at least once (and no doubt better than the recent remake). And the end credits by Saul Bass are superb.
You can spot ... Marlene Dietrich, Frank Sinatra, Buster Keaton, Ronald Colman, Gilbert Roland, Shirley MacLaine, Tim McCoy, Hermoine Gingold, Charles Boyer, Finlay Currie, Trevor Howard ...
Is it any good? Well, it is too long but gives a good attempt to present countries and travelling on a big scale. Niven is as charming as ever, while Cantinflas manages to stay irritating for three hours. Robert Newton as the obsessed Inspector Fix is entertaining but he'd done better.
One to watch at least once (and no doubt better than the recent remake). And the end credits by Saul Bass are superb.
Delightful and Wonderful!
Daniel Ocean17 June 2002
This has got to be one of the most delight comedies ever made. I totally agree with one comment that says "Around the World in 80 Days like a fine wine, it gets better with age". Featuring fine performances from David Nivven, Cantinflas, and the rest of the cast in this wonderful movie about a man and his servant who try and travel around the world in just eighty days. This movie oddly enough was 175 minutes long and in all honestly I didn't believe that for second when I first heard because it really only seemed like 88 minutes. One of the most fun, wittiest, and delightful films of all time and that's coming from a person who adores film and has seen plenty in his (my) day. I do not recall the last time I had so much fun while watching a movie, it's basically just one big fun fest! The cinematography and photography are unarguably some of the best ever in any film. How anyone could call this film boring is beyond me. It is fun, witty, delightfully written, directed, and as I already mentioned acted. The score is also a work of genius. See this film, then see it again. If you hate it, well, then you need to lighten up a bit (no offense intended).
Final Grade: ***** (out of 5)
Final Grade: ***** (out of 5)
My favorite film of all times.
alexpecam13 January 2019
Cataloged as one of the best movies of all times (It won 5 Oscars, included the Best Film). I have the creed to see it, at least once a year. It's simply a sensational movie, a giant production (Mike Todd); of those that were made at the time of the spectacular films. It is based, almost verbatim, on the famous novel by Jules Verne. Very well directed and owner of a pompous and unique scenography in each and every one of the locations in which it was filmed. Excellent performances and no waste. However, the interpreter who steals the show, eclipsing to David Niven and Shirley McLaine is, yes you guessed it, Mario Moreno ("Cantinflas"). I remember seeing her in my early childhood and having enjoyed an unparalleled world of pleasurable sensations: Colorful, adventure, intrigue, romance, beautiful music and, above all, healthy humor. If you are going to enjoy it, do it with the little ones in the house. It is long with desire but it is worth it.
Best imitation of one of the finest work by Jules Verne.
mianaliilyas7862 May 2007
Well before ditching in this movie I had a glimpse of the book and I feel very delighted about the extraordinary vision of Jules Verne. He had predicted many inventions and innovations before the time, but I felt more delighted after seeing this movie. The true essence of Jules Verne's literal work is flawlessly captured by director Michael Anderson. This movie is true extravaganza with some special acting by veteran actor David Niven. His portrayal of arrogant, time-table stricken rich innovator was immaculate. This movie also has handful of cameos played by great actors like Frank Sinatra and others. Only one thing that can bother viewers is its immense length where some scenes are monotonous and make you feel loitered. Over all it's a great movie and best motional version of Jules Verne's finest work. The movie won five Oscars including best picture of 1956.
A true spectacle
HotToastyRag26 June 2017
Michael Todd, Hollywood and Broadway producer and one-time husband to Elizabeth Taylor, put up six million dollars in his quest to make Around the World in 80 Days the greatest film of all time. And in 1956, that was an unheard of amount of money to spend on a movie. It swept up five Oscars, including Best Picture, but lost Best Director to the ridiculously overrated Giant. When you watch this incredible production and learn the facts behind it, it's downright sickening that George Stevens won for filming thirty seconds of striking oil. The crew literally filmed around the world, traveling to over a hundred locations in thirteen countries and building 140 sets. The extras neared a total of 70,000 and the animals neared 8,000. Nearly half a million dollars were spent creating nearly 75,000 costumes, setting a Hollywood record. Yet The King and I won the Academy Award for costumes. And to top it all off, producer Todd and director Michael Anderson filmed it all in less than 80 days. It's time to quote my classic phrase: What does it take?
If you don't know the movie and someone asks you about it, you'll probably remember the promotional poster and answer, "Isn't that the movie where the guy in the top hat sails around the world in a hot air balloon?" While that's partially true, David Niven and his manservant Cantinflas also use trains, boats, and elephants to complete their bet that the journey in such a short time can be done. And how amazing is it that the hot air balloon isn't even in Jules Verne's original novel? There have been two remakes (both excellent and very fun) and the hot air balloon is included in both. It's a must!
The other must (included in all three versions and started by the brain of Michael Todd) is a host of cameos by Hollywood's finest. There are no opening credits in this movie, but instead a lovely surprise around every corner. David Niven's buddies who bet against him are Robert Morley, Trevor Howard, and Finlay Currie, and the well-meaning inspector who follows him is Robert Newton, in his final movie. I've rewatched this movie recently, and I could tell you exactly who you'll find in which country, but it's a lot more fun to wave at the television set and squeal with surprise and delight as you say, "Oo! There's Frank Sinatra/Charles Boyer/Marlene Dietrich/Cesar Romero/Buster Keaton/Charles Coburn/George Raft/John Gielgud/Glynis Johns/Joe E. Brown/John Carradine/Andy Devine/Philip Ahn/Noel Coward/Hermione Gingold/Evelyn Keyes/Glynis Johns/Cedric Hardwicke/Ronald Colman/Victor McLaglen/John Mills/Peter Lorre/Gilbert Roland/Jack Oakie/Red Skelton!" Some of the cameos are very cute, like Buster Keaton's setting, Frank Sinatra's buildup, and Ronald Colman's return from retirement. Others go by very quickly, so you'll have to be on your toes-it's no wonder this movie stayed in the theaters for two straight years during its release! Audiences wanted to make sure they caught every cameo, and when they finally did, they wanted to go out and see it again.
Believe it or not, my two criticisms of the movie are the leads. Cantinflas is fine, and it's very fun to see him perform so many stunts (including bullfighting!), but I have no idea why anyone thought to cast Shirley MacLaine as an Indian princess. David Niven lobbied for his old flame and costar Merle Oberon to have been cast, and she would have been much better. Now, you all know how much I love The Niv, but he's very unlikable in this movie. I like Steve Coogan's eccentric interpretation of Phileas Fogg, because a man would have to be eccentric if he were to act on such a bet, and to require his toast to be exactly 84 degrees in the morning. However, if Fogg has to have a gigantic stick up his behind, he should have been played by Clifton Webb. Imagine Mr. Belvedere sailing around the world in a hot air balloon with nothing but a red bag full of cash and a talented manservant!
To end on a nicer note, Victor Young finally won his only Academy Award for his lovely score. Not only does the title song sweep you up into the time period and setting of a hot air balloon, but each location gets its own theme. Passepartout (or as Jackie Chan says in the remake Passport-2) has a delightful theme as well. When you listen to the suite, you'll get transported to India, China, France, Mexico, and the Wild West. If the original 1956 version has escaped you (or if you remember falling asleep the first time you watched it) it's time to rent it again. Trust me, it's going to be better than you remember.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. There are a couple of boat scenes with a bobbing camera movement that will make you sick, and when Cantinflas makes his entrance on the unicycle, the placement of the camera might throw you off. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
If you don't know the movie and someone asks you about it, you'll probably remember the promotional poster and answer, "Isn't that the movie where the guy in the top hat sails around the world in a hot air balloon?" While that's partially true, David Niven and his manservant Cantinflas also use trains, boats, and elephants to complete their bet that the journey in such a short time can be done. And how amazing is it that the hot air balloon isn't even in Jules Verne's original novel? There have been two remakes (both excellent and very fun) and the hot air balloon is included in both. It's a must!
The other must (included in all three versions and started by the brain of Michael Todd) is a host of cameos by Hollywood's finest. There are no opening credits in this movie, but instead a lovely surprise around every corner. David Niven's buddies who bet against him are Robert Morley, Trevor Howard, and Finlay Currie, and the well-meaning inspector who follows him is Robert Newton, in his final movie. I've rewatched this movie recently, and I could tell you exactly who you'll find in which country, but it's a lot more fun to wave at the television set and squeal with surprise and delight as you say, "Oo! There's Frank Sinatra/Charles Boyer/Marlene Dietrich/Cesar Romero/Buster Keaton/Charles Coburn/George Raft/John Gielgud/Glynis Johns/Joe E. Brown/John Carradine/Andy Devine/Philip Ahn/Noel Coward/Hermione Gingold/Evelyn Keyes/Glynis Johns/Cedric Hardwicke/Ronald Colman/Victor McLaglen/John Mills/Peter Lorre/Gilbert Roland/Jack Oakie/Red Skelton!" Some of the cameos are very cute, like Buster Keaton's setting, Frank Sinatra's buildup, and Ronald Colman's return from retirement. Others go by very quickly, so you'll have to be on your toes-it's no wonder this movie stayed in the theaters for two straight years during its release! Audiences wanted to make sure they caught every cameo, and when they finally did, they wanted to go out and see it again.
Believe it or not, my two criticisms of the movie are the leads. Cantinflas is fine, and it's very fun to see him perform so many stunts (including bullfighting!), but I have no idea why anyone thought to cast Shirley MacLaine as an Indian princess. David Niven lobbied for his old flame and costar Merle Oberon to have been cast, and she would have been much better. Now, you all know how much I love The Niv, but he's very unlikable in this movie. I like Steve Coogan's eccentric interpretation of Phileas Fogg, because a man would have to be eccentric if he were to act on such a bet, and to require his toast to be exactly 84 degrees in the morning. However, if Fogg has to have a gigantic stick up his behind, he should have been played by Clifton Webb. Imagine Mr. Belvedere sailing around the world in a hot air balloon with nothing but a red bag full of cash and a talented manservant!
To end on a nicer note, Victor Young finally won his only Academy Award for his lovely score. Not only does the title song sweep you up into the time period and setting of a hot air balloon, but each location gets its own theme. Passepartout (or as Jackie Chan says in the remake Passport-2) has a delightful theme as well. When you listen to the suite, you'll get transported to India, China, France, Mexico, and the Wild West. If the original 1956 version has escaped you (or if you remember falling asleep the first time you watched it) it's time to rent it again. Trust me, it's going to be better than you remember.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. There are a couple of boat scenes with a bobbing camera movement that will make you sick, and when Cantinflas makes his entrance on the unicycle, the placement of the camera might throw you off. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
...and probably as many cameos
lee_eisenberg28 April 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Michael Anderson's* "Around the World in 80 Days" had to have been one of the most ambitious movies ever made at the time. Lots of sets, lots of animals, lots of traveling, and countless cameos. Obviously the downside is the casting of Shirley MacLaine (not of South Asian descent) as an Indian princess, as well as the depiction of Native Americans in one scene. Overall, it's an impressive piece of work. I suspect that this was the non-Spanish-speaking world's introduction to Cantinflas. You gotta appreciate what they put into this movie.
As for other things, when David Niven's character insists that he always eats at a certain time, it reminded me of Sheldon Cooper. During the party scene in Spain, everyone's having fun while he just stares; typical Englishman keeping a stiff upper lip. During the scene where they burn parts of the boat to keep it going, I figured that they would eventually have to burn their clothes and arrive naked.
If you judge the cast by the roles and personalities for which they're most famous, then the movie includes the Pink Panther (Niven), Pepe le Moko (Boyer), the Joker (Romero), the gangster (Raft), Clem Kadiddlehopper (Red Skelton), the Blue Angel (Dietrich), the Voice (Carradine), the swoon-inducer (Sinatra), deadpan guy (Keaton), the informer (McLaglen), Benzino Napoloni (Oakie), Mrs. Banks (Johns), Charlie Chan's #1 son (Luke), and of course, the guy who took down Joe McCarthy (Murrow). Directed by Elizabeth Taylor's future husband from a script by Mia Farrow's dad.
I haven't seen every Oscar-nominated movie from 1956, but I'd say that this one deserved it (though it had tough competition from "Giant").
*I decided to read about Michael Anderson, and surprisingly learned that he died just a few days ago.
As for other things, when David Niven's character insists that he always eats at a certain time, it reminded me of Sheldon Cooper. During the party scene in Spain, everyone's having fun while he just stares; typical Englishman keeping a stiff upper lip. During the scene where they burn parts of the boat to keep it going, I figured that they would eventually have to burn their clothes and arrive naked.
If you judge the cast by the roles and personalities for which they're most famous, then the movie includes the Pink Panther (Niven), Pepe le Moko (Boyer), the Joker (Romero), the gangster (Raft), Clem Kadiddlehopper (Red Skelton), the Blue Angel (Dietrich), the Voice (Carradine), the swoon-inducer (Sinatra), deadpan guy (Keaton), the informer (McLaglen), Benzino Napoloni (Oakie), Mrs. Banks (Johns), Charlie Chan's #1 son (Luke), and of course, the guy who took down Joe McCarthy (Murrow). Directed by Elizabeth Taylor's future husband from a script by Mia Farrow's dad.
I haven't seen every Oscar-nominated movie from 1956, but I'd say that this one deserved it (though it had tough competition from "Giant").
*I decided to read about Michael Anderson, and surprisingly learned that he died just a few days ago.
Classic Cinema At its Best!
greene51526 January 2006
Based on the famous novel of the same name Around The World In Eighty Days,is an undeniable classic,Despite a forgettable 'remake'it has never been bettered, David Niven star's as The eponymous Phileas Fogg, an Eccentric gentleman who wages a bet with his chums at the reform club, that he can attempt the impossible travel Around the globe in a record time,His epic journey takes Fogg to Paris Spain, India,Hong Kong,Japan,San Francisco, Mexican personality Cantinflas,plays Fogg's loyal Man servant Passpartout,who attends to Mr Foggs every whim, Shirley McClaine,in an early role is Aouda the Indian girl Whom Fogg rescues from a fiery death atop a funeral pyre, and subsequently falls in love with,This Classic was probably the first film to feature 'Cameo roles' the roles are an impressive list of who's who of stage and screen,the film's budget is certainly well spent every cent is up there on screen, lavishly lensed in Todd-AO which of course must be viewed in Widescreen,as it's totally unwatchable in 'Pan And Scan'
Beautiful looking but way too long
pmtelefon26 February 2020
"Around the World in 80 Days" is beautiful movie to look at. The costumes and sets are great. The colors of both are terrific. The location photography is stunning. The cast is good. There is also a lot more humor than I expected. There is a lot to like in "Around the World in 80 Days". There only problem, and it's almost a deal killer, is the length. This movie is just too long. It wears out its welcome after a while. That said, this is a great looking movie that I wish I was around to see in theater. It must have been something else in its big screen glory.
the Oscar must have been won for how the film plays on the BIG screen
dbborroughs4 August 2008
Mike Todd's epic travelogue must have looked spectacular on huge screens of old, but on my 42 inch widescreen TV it was just okay. Yes I've seen the film before but only in pieces or cut up never had I seen it widescreen before, not had I seen in complete in at least a decade.. For the most part its an empty movie. Only Caniflas as Fogg's man servant has any real character since his is really the only person given anything to do.The film lurches from spectacle to spectacle with only the odd moment to get to know the characters. Its one of those movies that really makes you go "how did this win Best Picture?". Then again if I saw this in a theater with a huge screen I would have been floored...or not. Worth a look for the scenery and because it is a good film-though far from great.
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