I Bet You Didn't See... Around the World in 80 Days
- ibetyoudidnt
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Phileas Fogg (David Niven) has made a substantial bet of £20,000 that he can circumnavigate the globe in 80 days. As the film is set in 1872, that would be worth over £2million today. His friends at the Reform Club in London contribute to the kitty against him, and he sets off on his adventure with his newly hired valet, Passepartout (Cantinflas). Meanwhile, the Bank of England has been robbed of £55,000 (approx. £6million today), and suddenly, Fogg is the prime suspect. Inspector Fix (Robert Newton) follows Fogg, eventually joining him on the trip until they return to England where he can arrest him. In their adventures, they meet Princess Aouda (Shirley MacLaine), who returns to England with them.
I encourage you to get the Special Edition DVD set, which makes the experience of the film all the more enjoyable. There is an optional introduction by former Turner Classic Movie host Robert Osborne, who explains that the mastermind behind the film is producer Michael Todd. This was the only film Todd ever produced, primarily being a theatre producer. Todd was ambitious. He had frequently been told by colleagues Around the World was too difficult to make, but Todd had faith. He was technically minded, having developed a new filming format (Todd-AO) and he had charisma and connections.
The film took, maybe quite appropriately, less than 80 days to film, and filming spanned the globe. Each country visited in the film was actually visited by the crew. In just animals alone, nearly 8000 were used. This was old-school Hollywood at its truest.
But it is the cast the makes this something truly special. Our primary leads are David Niven as Fogg, said to be his favourite role. Niven plays the pompous, punctual and proud Fogg impeccably, although of the 18 award nominations, he did not get a single nomination. Michael Todd was then able to talk Latin-American comedian Cantinflas to play the Parisien and jack-of-all-trades valet Passepartout. Cantinflas had never appeared in an English-speaking film before, and it is from him that we often see Passepartout portrayed as someone pretending to be French. His talents as a bullfighter and acrobat were shown off in the film as the book has no bullfighting scene (no bulls are harmed).
Additionally, we have the great Robert Newton as Inspector Fix. More the proud Victorian English Policeman here than the West Country Blackbeard we have had in the past, but sadly Robert passed away seven months before Around the World was released. Shirley MacLaine is our beautiful Princess Aouda, appearing in just her third film role. She was 21 when filming started, and 70 years later she has two films due to be released in the coming year or so, in which she starts. At 91 she is not slowing down!
However, Michael Todd was not due going to stop there.
In the introduction by Robert Osborne, we learn that this is the film where the term “cameo role” was coined. Dozens of major stars were cast for minor parts which they would normally have turned down, but Todd managed to get the likes of Robert Morlay, Noel Coward, Sir John Gielgud, Cesar Romero, Peter Lorre, Marlene Dietrich, Frank Sinatra and Buster Keaton to have roles that would last minutes, sometimes second. Sinatra just looks over his shoulder and doesn’t have a line!
We are looking at 40, at least, stars of the time. Supposedly, Cantinflas agreed to do the film so long as he was billed as the lead in Latin-America. This did happen, but whether it was because of any agreement, or because someone had a clever marketing strategy isn’t fully clear.
You would think that a cast brimming with stars would taint the film, but it only adds to the comedy. Cantinflas steals the show with his comedic timing (reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton films), wearing his Chaplin-esc valet uniform throughout apart from the bullfight. He is charming, witty, and bounces off Niven beautifully.
If I had to criticise anything, I would say that there are a few set ups that just don’t pay off as expected. Passepartout is told to guard their bag with his life. It implies that part of the journey is going to be getting it back, but it turns out not.
“Monsieur can trust me. I will cherish it – like a woman.”
“Don’t make love to it. Just watch it.”
Fogg’s punctuality is also a little misleading in terms of where it leads. It is just a support to his insistence that everything runs to his schedule. I think I am critical of these points because we are so used to set ups and payoffs being far less subtle.
The other little details that were very enjoyable about this film were the end credits - entertaining cartoon characterisations of the characters - and the “Intermission”. The Special Edition DVD came with two discs, and the first disc ends with “Intermission” across the screen. We replace it with the second disc, and “Entr’acte” appears on the screen. You can spend those first few minutes getting yourself a cup of Earl Grey (suitable for Phileas) and some biscuits or other snack and settle in. It gives that feeling of a show that you get at theatres, but in the comfort of your own home. More DVD sets should do that.
Around the World in 80 Days is a wonderful spectacle. It is funny, witty, heart-warming and a great demonstration of determination and innovative production. I really enjoyed it and I agree with this article from Cherwell, a long-running student newspaper in Oxford… cinema intermissions should come back.
Directed by: Michael Anderson
Based on: Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne
Starring: David Niven, Cantinflas, Robert Newton, Shirley MacLaine
Release Date: 17 October 1956
Rating: 7/10
Comments