Around The World In 80 Days (1956)

Set in 1872, a British gentleman (David Niven) makes a 20,000 pounds wager with members of his club that he can travel around the world in exactly eighty days. They take his bet and the race is on. Based on the novel by Jules Verne and directed by Michael Anderson (LOGAN'S RUN). In 1956, this was an event film. The second movie to be shot in the 70 millimeter Todd AO large format process, this was a prestigious roadshow production (with an intermission and entr'acte). Seats were reserved in advance as if you were going to see a Broadway play. In New York, it played for 2 years in one theatre. The film also invented the "cameo", brief appearances by name actors who usually starred. The film was a huge hit winning the Oscar and New York Film Critics award for best picture. Alas, the film doesn't quite stand up today. What should have been a delightful and colorful diversion is hampered by the film's "everything but the kitchen sink" attitude which bloats the movie to an elephantine presentation. Just one example, the film stops cold with a lengthy bullfighting sequence in Spain that has nothing to do with the movie's plot but serves as a showcase for the Mexican comic actor Cantinflas (in his first English speaking film) doing his stuff and that's one of many examples. Lionel Lindon's Oscar winning cinematography still dazzles and the memorable score is by Victor Young. With Shirley MacLaine as a Hindu princess(!) and Robert Newton. Among the many stars making guest appearances: Frank Sinatra, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Boyer, Red Skelton, Trevor Howard, John Gielgud, John Mills, Buster Keaton, Ronald Colman, Glynis Johns, Noel Coward, Peter Lorre, George Raft, Gilbert Roland, Hermione Gingold, Cesar Romero, Evelyn Keyes, Charles Coburn, Robert Morley, Martine Carol, Beatrice Lillie and Fernandel.