Around the World in 80 Days 1956
Maybe with the Oscars coming up, I thought it would be good to check out this Best Picture winner from 1956. It is a big extravagant movie, with tons of extras, sets, animals, and worldwide locations. There are doezens of stars that show up, often briefly as the main characters have a schedule to keep. David Niven is fun to watch, but his character is mostly uninteresting. And the central idea of the movie, this contest to try to make it around the world, isn't enough to carry the movie. It is a big spectacle and at the time that was probably entertainment enough, but the movie is a chore to watch. Three hours long, and it took me a week to get through it. I was surprised that Shirley MacClain shows up as a princess from India, one of her earlier starring roles. But she doesn't have much to do either. I can only think that it was weak year, though I think a big, expensive movie like this still carried a lot of weight among voters at the time. Anyway, the movie is dated and creaky. The source material by Jules Verne was a serial, so it is just one big piece after another, with not a lot of character development. This means we see a lot of the actors sightseeing, which does not make for a good movie. Big problems are just suddenly resolved, including the long thread about Fogg potentially being a bank robber. There are some clever moments, but not enough to save the movie.
Written: 07 Feb 2026
Owned on: Digital