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Most Inspirational Travel Film

Around the World in 80 Days

Director: Michael Anderson
Producer: Michael Todd
Distributor: United Artists
UK release: 1956

Around the World in 80 Days: what's the story?
The film opens in 1870's London with a certain Phileas Fogg making a claim, and a £20,000 bet with his cronies at the Reform Club, that he can circumnavigate the world in eighty days. Fogg embarks on his journey from Paris via a hot air balloon with his trusty valet, Passepartout.
Meanwhile, back home Fogg's name is linked to the theft of a large amount of money from the Bank of England and Scotland Yard dispatch an Inspector Fix to track Fogg down. The two intrepid adventurers travel the world apace. In Spain there's a chance for the customary bullfight, and in India the pair rescue a princess in distress from a fiery end. The bet with his club fellows is very nearly scuppered by the untimely arrest of our hero Fogg. All charges are soon dropped but his quest seems to be at an end.
However, Passepartout, the perky valet, saves the day when he realises that time was gained when they crossed the International Date Line. Fogg arrives back at his club just in time and the wager is won.

Who's in Around the World in 80 Days?
David Niven, Mario Moreno "Cantinflas" and Robert Newton, plus Shirley MacLaine as Princess Aouda.

Where's Around the World in 80 Days set?
The film was literally shot around the world using over a hundred locations in countries including England, France, Spain and India.

What awards has Around the World in 80 Days won?
The film won five Oscars for Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture and Best Picture and the 1956 version of Around the World in 80 Days was nominated for three more Oscars, including Best Director. The film also scooped two Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture - Drama and Best Motion Picture Actor - Comedy/Musical for Cantinflas.

What do the reviews say about Around the World in 80 Days?
Film website Rotten Tomatoes featured critic, Geoff Andrew, Time Out, said: "Thanks to its grand scale and great central performances by Niven and Cantinflas, the original fantastic voyage still holds up very respectably." Bosley Crowther, New York Times wrote: "Is the whole thing too exhausting? It's a question of how much you can take. We not only took it but found it most amusing."