AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS 2PK (DVD/SPECIAL EDITION) DVD

Around the World in 80 Days
Razzle-dazzle showman Michael Todd hocked everything he had to make this spectacular presentation of Jules Verne's 1872 novel Around the World in 80 Days, the second film to be lensed in the wide-screen Todd-AO production. Nearly as fascinating as the finished product are the many in-production anecdotes concerning Todd's efforts to pull the wool over the eyes of local authorities in order to cadge the film's round-the-world location shots--not to mention the wheeling and dealing to convince over forty top celebrities to appear in cameo roles. David Niven heads the huge cast as ultra-precise, supremely punctual Phileas Fogg, who places a 20,000-pound wager with several fellow members of London Reform Club, insisting that he can go around the world in eighty days (this, remember, is 1872). Together with his resourceful valet Passepartout (Cantinflas), Fogg sets out on his world-girdling journey from Paris via balloon. Meanwhile, suspicion grows that Fogg has stolen his 20,000 pounds from Bank of England. Diligent Inspector Fix (Robert Newton) is sent out by the bank's president (Robert Morley) to bring Fogg to justice. Hopscotching around the globe, Fogg pauses in Spain, where Passepartout engages in a comic bullfight (a specialty of Cantinflas). In India, Fogg and Passepartout rescue young widow Princess Aouda (Shirley MacLaine, in her third film) from being forced into committing suicide so that she may join her late husband. The threesome visit Hong Kong, Japan, San Francisco, and the Wild West. Only hours short of winning his wager, Fogg is arrested by the diligent Inspector Fixx. Though exonerated of the bank robbery charges, he has lost everything--except the love of the winsome Aouda. But salvation is at hand when Passepartout discovers that, by crossing the International Date Line, there's still time to reach the Reform Club. Will they make it? See for yourself. Among the film's 46 guest stars, the most memorable include Marlene Dietrich, Charles Boyer, Jose Greco, Frank Sinatra, Peter Lorre, Red Skelton, Buster Keaton, John Mills, and Beatrice Lillie. All were paid in barter--Ronald Colman did his brief bit for a new car. Newscaster Edward R. Murrow provides opening narration, and there's a tantalizing clip from Georges Méliès' A Trip to the Moon (1902). Offering a little something for everyone, Around the World in 80 Days is nothing less than an extravaganza, and it won 5 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Cinematography. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast David Niven as Phileas Fogg Cantinflas as Passepartout Robert Newton as Mr. Fix Shirley MacLaine as Princess Aouda Charles Boyer as Monsieur Gasse Joe E. Brown as Station Master Ronald Colman as Railway Official Martine Carol as Tourist John Carradine as Col. Proctor Stamp Charles Coburn as Clerk Melville Cooper as Steward Noël Coward as Hesketh-Baggott Finlay Currie as Whist Partner Reginald Denny as Police Chief Andy Devine as First Mate Marlene Dietrich as Hostess Luis Miguel Dominguin as Bullfighter Fernandel as Coachman John Gielgud as Foster, the Butler Hermione Gingold as Sportin' Lady Jose Greco as Dancer Cedric Hardwicke as Sir Francis Gromarty Trevor Howard as Falletin Glynis Johns as Companion Buster Keaton as Conductor Evelyn Keyes as Flirt Beatrice Lillie as Revivalist Peter Lorre as Steward Edmund Lowe as Engineer Victor McLaglen as Helmsman A.E. Matthews as Club Member Mike Mazurki as Character John Mills as Cabby Alan Mowbray as Consul Robert Morley as Ralph Edward R. Murrow as Narrator Jack Oakie as Captain of S.S. Henrietta George Raft as Bouncer at Barbary Coast Saloon Gilbert Roland as Achmed Abdullah Cesar Romero as Henchman Frank Sinatra as Saloon Pianist Red Skelton as Drunk Ronald Squire as Member Basil Sydney as Club Member Harcourt Williams as Hinshaw

Crew William Cameron Menzies - Associate Producer Paul Godkin - Choreography Miles White - Costume Designer Lew Borzage - First Assistant Director Ivan Volkman - First Assistant Director Michael Anderson - Director Kevin McClory - Second Unit Director Gene Ruggiero - Editor Paul Weatherwax - Editor Victor Young - Composer (Music Score) Gus Norin - Makeup Ken Adam - Production Designer James Sullivan - Production Designer Lionel Lindon - Cinematographer Michael Todd, Sr. - Producer Ross Dowd - Set Designer Lee Zavitz - Special Effects Joseph I. Kane - Sound/Sound Designer James Poe - Screenwriter S.J. Perelman - Screenwriter John Farrow - Screenwriter Jules Verne - Book Author Kevin McClory - Producer's Assistant

Around the World in 80 Days
Around the World in 80 Days is all spectacle and little else, a frenetic travelogue filled with copious star cameos and exciting set pieces, all courtesy of producer Mike Todd, who risked his personal fortune to bring the film to the screen. The film was released the year before Sputnik would revolutionize world communications, and audiences flocked to the box office to experience its exotic locales, all shot on locations around the world. David Niven was well-cast as the excessively punctual Phileas Fogg, but many of the best scenes are stolen by his sidekick, Passepartout (Mexican superstar Cantinflas). Todd ruled the production with an iron hand, firing director John Farrow on the first day of shooting and attempting to deny him writing credit. Farrow took his complaint to the Writers Guild, who, while powerless to restore him to the set, did at least get him a shared screenplay credit. Todd, seeking the last word, took out ads in industry publications thanking deceased source-novel author Jules Verne for "giving me absolutely no trouble on billing or credits." Always appreciative of good showmanship, AMPAS honored Around the World in 80 Days with five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. ~ Richard Gilliam, All Movie Guide
 

Cantinflas: Golden Globe, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Com (winner) Gene Ruggiero: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Editing (winner) James Poe: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Adapted Screenplay (winner) James Sullivan: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Color Art Direction (nominated) John Farrow: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Adapted Screenplay (winner) Ken Adam: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Color Art Direction (nominated) Lionel Lindon: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Color Cinematography (winner) Michael Anderson: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Director (nominated) Michael Anderson: Directors Guild of America, Best Director (nominated) Michael Anderson: Golden Globe, Best Director (nominated) Paul Weatherwax: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Editing (winner) Ross Dowd: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Color Art Direction (nominated) S.J. Perelman: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Adapted Screenplay (winner) S.J. Perelman: New York Film Critics Circle, Best Screenplay (winner) Victor Young: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Drama or Comedy Score (winner)

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Picture (winner) Golden Globe, Best Picture - Drama (winner) National Board of Review, Best Picture (winner) New York Film Critics Circle, Best Picture (winner)

General Specifications: Language Options: English, French Subtitle Options: English, French, Spanish Sound Processing: DD2: Dolby Digital Stereo DD5.1: Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel Additional Features: cc All-new widescreen Digital transfer soundtrack remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 Introduction by Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne Feature-length audio commentary by BBC radio's Brian Sibley documentary Around the World in 90 Minutes, A star-filled extravaganza commemorating the film's one-year anniversary Highlights of the March 27, 1957 academy awards® ceremony Newsreels of the Los Angeles premiere and opening in Spain Outtakes Georges Melies' A Trip to the Moon Stills gallery Theatrical trailers Enhanced features for your DVD-ROM PC:* Michael Todd's Around the World in 80 Days Almanac Languages: English & Français Subtitles: English, Français & Español MPAA Rating: G DVD Discs Included: 2 DVD Sides: 2 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 182 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- Disc 1 1. A Trip to the Moon Prologue [4:35] 2. How the Earth Looks [1:59] 3. The Reform Club [3:02] 4. Man for the Job [5:23] 5. The Wager [5:11] 6. Unpacking and Packing [2:35] 7. Paris [2:53] 8. Bought: One Balloon [2:51] 9. Aloft Over France [6:18] 10. Spain [3:56] 11. Cave of the Seven Winds [4:07] 12. Achmed Abdullah's Request [3:18] 13. Master Bullfighter [4:09] 14. Passepartout Triumphant [6:14] 15. Inspector Fix [4:46] 16. Fogg Fix-Ation [3:55] 17. Bombay By Dawn [1:54] 18. No Place to Fight a Bull [3:38] 19. India Countryside [3:37] 20. Via Elephant [4:33] 21. Princess in Distress [4:09] 22. Scandalous Rescue [3:00] 23. Kindred Spirits [3:42] 24. This, That and T'other [1:50] 25. Follow That Ostrich [3:22] 26. Farewell Drink [5:31] 27. Yokohama-Bound [3:08] 28. Alone in Yokohama [4:06] 29. Circus Reunion [3:10] 30. Intermission [1:31] Side #2 -- Disc 2 31. Entr'Acte [3:16] 32. Latest News [2:11] 33. Frisco Spectacle [2:45] 34. Star-Spangled Saloon [3:32] 35. Ornery Specimen [1:38] 36. Way out West By Train [3:53] 37. A Bridge Too Rickety [3:11] 38. Redskins! [3:22] 39. Rescuing Passepartout [7:13] 40. Prairie Sail Car [2:44] 41. Disquieting Information [3:54] 42. The Henrietta [2:20] 43. Stripping the Ship [4:45] 44. Arrested and Freed [2:43] 45. Sympathetic Spirits [4:22] 46. Saturday! [1:56] 47. Race to the Club [2:35] 48. The End [1:06] 49. End Credits [6:25] 50. Exit Music [5:05]