Odd, that in the 19th century they had to race to get around the world in eighty days. Today, we'd consider that a luxury. The introduction my copy of the English translation of Jules Verne's 1873 classic indicated that modern scholars look back at the novel and see the beginning of globalism, the first glimmer of a recognition that the world was becoming a smaller place. Now, we look back at the novel to see a world whose cultures were for distinct, whose social codes were for more rigid (for better and worse) and for a darn good read.
Though it won the Oscar for Best Picture, the 1956 movie is not as good as the book, although it is very faithful to the source material. The story concerns an eccentric and introverted English aristocratic, Phileas Fogg (David Niven) who makes a 20,000 pound bet with other rich people that he can (surprise) circumnavigate the globe in eighty days. He leaves for Paris the next day with his valet Passepartout (Mexican comedian Cantinflas), and begins a voyage where he will spend an awful lot of money. Along the way he is pursued by Inspector Fix (Robert Newton) a British detective who falsely believes that Fogg as robed the Bank of England and picks up a love interested in India when he saves Princess Aouda (Shirley MacLaine) from the Thugee cult.
This is one of those ridiculously expensive and over produced epics from the 50's that really need to be seen on a big screen to appreciated. Parts of the picture are long stretches of scenery with no dialogue, and they are surprisingly beautiful and not boring, although the movie does bog down a bit when the party reaches the United States and the picture becomes a Western (it worked better in the book).
Producer Michael Todd spared no expense in making the movie and spent a lot more money than he had to, peppering his film with cameo appearances with big stars in small and sometimes forgettable roles. I noticed Marlene Dietrich, Sir John Gielgud, Ronald Colman, Peter Lorre, Buster Keaton, and (most famously) Frank Sinatra, but I'm sure I missed a few.
It's rumored that Todd was more of the film's auteur than Anderson, and Brian Sibley on the DVD commentary reveals that Todd was involved in making artistic decisions far more than the usual producer would be. It's also telling the original director, John Farrow, quit after a week of shooting, presumably because he couldn't get along with Todd, and that Anderson did not win the Oscar for Best Director (it went to George Stevens for Giant).
The picture is not as good as the novel. Although Niven and Cantinflas are excellent, we don't really get involved with the characters as we do in the book. Newton is a boring villain and I could never quit buy Shirley MacLaine as an East Indian, to say the least. It's easier to explain much of the complicated material regarding travel times in the book than it is in film, and thus, easier to keep track of whether Fogg is on schedule. Also, there is a major contrast between the real locations the filmmakers visited (such as Spain) and the obvious studio sets (such as the Suez harbor).
The primary pleasure of the movie is to look at it and enjoy its bigness, which is colossal. I can definitely say that this is not the best film of any year, but it is enjoyable and has its moments for fans of epic cinema.
Around the World in 80 Days (1956)