Watch out for a 3-hour movie. While watching, I looked at the clock a few times to see what time it was, did it have to be this long? I asked myself. But on the other hand… it’s a very good adventure movie. A colorful, epic production with lots of cameos and the biggest production show of Hollywood of the time. It is based on Jules Verne’s 1873 novel and based on Phileas Fogg’s claim to “travel the world in 80 days”.
So what does it have to do with Verne, whom we know as the “father of science fiction”? This is where the good part begins. Story and Themes The character of the meticulous, clockwork English gentleman in Verne’s book has been preserved. Fogg and Passepartout ride on trains, ships, elephants, balloons… whatever they find. Like Disney’s 20,000 Leagues, the science fiction here is not “hardcore”; It’s more about the will of man and the theme of pushing the limits with the technology of the period.
Yes, there is no revolutionary invention like the Nautilus. But not every book by Verne had a science fiction explosion. The man was also an adventurous visionary. In this movie, “how small is the world, how big can we be?” he asks the question. Technology (steam train, telegraph, early balloons) liberates people, but it can also be an obstacle. The film achieves this balance by softening it with comedy. What we mean by the father of science fiction, “predicting the future”, has now turned into “turning today into an adventure”.
It still has the spirit of Verne, just the tone is lighter and more fun. Effects and Technical Side: Officially huge budget show for 1956. 70 mm Todd-AO format, real location shooting (Spain, Pakistan, Japan, USA…), huge sets built in the studio… The film is like a visual travelogue. The balloon scene, the ride on an elephant, and the train chases are still enjoyable. It’s a work that deserves an Oscar (it won 5, including Best Picture).
This is exactly why its 3-hour duration: It wants to show every continent, every culture. Today, it may seem a bit heavy because we are used to fast-paced movies, but this is exactly the “traveling the world in the movie theater” experience of that period. The effects are practical and realistic; There is no CGI, everything is done by hand. That’s why, while watching, I thought “how did they shoot these?” It makes you say.
Characters David Niven as Phileas Fogg is a true English gentleman: a cold-blooded, punctual man who seems emotionless but has adventure inside. Cantinflas’s Passepartout is the heart of the film; energetic, funny, a cure-all. Shirley MacLaine’s Aouda is a strong female character who joins later. On top of that, cameos by names such as Frank Sinatra, Buster Keaton, Marlene Dietrich… The film is like a Hollywood “come and see” party.
The characters function as “types” rather than depth, but this suits the purpose of the film. This is not a deep psychological drama, this is an epic journey. Everyone plays their role well and makes the audience share in the journey. Conclusion Around the World in 80 Days (1956) is one of the most entertaining and spectacular of Jules Verne’s adaptations. With its 3-hour duration, it requires some patience, but in the end it gives that classic adventure taste.
The sci-fi aspect isn’t as hardcore as Nautilus; It rather highlights Verne’s adventurous side. Yet the theme remains the same: How does man deal with nature, time, and himself? Movies never get old, the narrative changes, the tone shifts. But the idea remains. This movie revolves around the big problem that Verne laid the foundation for. If adventure and science fiction still survive today, it is thanks to that foundation, Jules Verne.
Thank you, Jules Verne, for gifting us these films. With love and respect.
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