AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
animation Shamus Culhane
director Michael Anderson
producer Michael Todd, 1956
A lot of images, but still a very small selection, really. The end title sequence was six minutes (at $10,000 per).
It was really funny how audiences reacted. The movie had clearly finished, and they started getting up, putting on their overcoats and getting ready to leave, while the titles came on. Almost invariably, the entire audience then set down again and watched them until the real end. Amazing how the movie stands up: One of the greatest money makers of all time. Even if it is full of Cinerama-like shots that, especially on video, don't work at all; especially as in November 2002 there was only a non-letterboxed VHS tape available (with letterboxed titles).
They now have restored the movie, which is just fine with me. I, a great worrier, am only worried because on the website dedicated to this restauration, they showed the opening shot in Academy and letterboxed, remarking how much more room there is around the guy introducing the movie. Meanwhile, I have seen the DVD and all I can say is (what a relief) VERY WELL DONE. Especially the sound, like all those clocks in Fogg's home merrily ticking away.
Very interesting production. It took six months from shooting start to premiere. Read what David Niven had to say on it.
Winner of five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Michael Todd's lavish production of the Jules Verne adventure classic stars David Niven as globe-trotting Phileas Fogg, with Cantinflas and Shirley MacLaine as his companions. Dozens of cameos, including Frank Sinatra, Marlene Dietrich, Ronald Colman, Buster Keaton, and more. 182 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital stereo; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French; "making of" documentary; audio commentary; deleted scenes. Two-disc set.     It's well worth it for the titles alone! A very entertaining movie with the great Mexican comedian Mario Moreno — Cantinflas in his only fine English speaking role |
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