Around The World In Eighty Days

1 9 5 6 (USA)

A splendid, charming film version of Jules Verne's magnificent travelogue with spectacular sketches from various parts of the world and scores of cameos from an all-star cast. Niven plays Phileas Fogg - the British gentleman who, in 1872, makes a 20,000-pound bet with the fellow members of his gentleman's club that he will circle the world in 80 days or less.

The club members think Fogg is a fool, but they have no qualms parting a fool from his money. Together with the reliable and multi-skilled Passepartout (Cantinflas), Fogg sets out on his journey.

The snags begin almost immediately, as Fogg misses a train and has to travel by balloon. The wild journey takes Fogg and Passepartout into a Spanish bullfight, through the jungles of India (where the two take on a third companion, the princess Aouda), to Hong Kong, San Francisco and the Wild West, with dangerous run-ins around every bend. Throughout, the globetrotters are dogged by the mysterious Mr. Fix, who believes Fogg may have secured his 20,000 pounds through less-than-legal means.

At every stop, viewers were treated not only to lush location scenery (shot in 70mm widescreen), but also to one double-take-inducing cameo after another. Frank Sinatra, Marlene Dietrich, Peter Lorre, George Raft, Red Skelton and dozens more popped up in the least expected places, while Edward R. Murrow provided the opening narration.

Even at nearly three hours, both kids and adults sat spellbound as one exotic location after another filled the screen. The Academy was duly impressed as well, awarding the film 5 Oscars, including Best Picture. Verne's tale was later adapted into a single season Saturday morning cartoon and a handful of TV miniseries, but for most, the definitive version will always be this lavish star-studded epic.