Category Archives: Young Adult

Around the World in 80 Days (1956)

07 Saturday Jul 2012

Posted by in Adventure, Asia, Classics, Europe, Movie Review, North America, Young Adult

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One of the images that most think of when thinking of Around the World in 80 Days is traveling in a hot air balloon…in reality, though, that scene never appears in Jules Verne’s novel.  It does, however, appear in the Academy Award winning movie produced in 1956 by Michael Todd.

Watching this movie is not only a fun trip around the world with scenes ranging from a bull fight in Spain to elephants in India, a Japanese acrobatic show to the wild West of the United States, but it is also a fun visit to movie-making of yesteryear.  Without computer imaging, green screens, or fast-paced fight scenes, the movie relies on old-fashioned costumes, sets, and extras to bring the travels to life.  According to the International Movie Database, the film used 140 sets in six Hollywood studios (plus sets in London, Hong Kong, and Japan), almost 75,000 costumes, 8,500 animals, and almost 70,000 extras.

It is also the film that brought the idea of “cameo” appearances to the movies—famous stars (including Ronald Colman who came out of retirement for his “role”) appeared in small roles delighting audiences…a practice that continuously used today.

Starring David Nevin in his favorite role as Phileas Fogg and the popular Mexican star Cantinflas in his first English-speaking role as Passepartout (a Frenchman in the book, but rewritten for the comedian), Around the World in 80 Days is an exploration of the world, adventure, and transportation in the late 1800’s as filmed in the 1950’s—full of stereotypes and scenery.

As is true of most books-turned-into-movies, there are quite a few differences between the novel and the film (learn about the novel: Around the World in 80 Days), but it’s still an adventure around the world with beautiful landscapes, funny moments, and lots of stars.  And although by today’s standards, the movie can seem slow and silly, the role that this movie played in the future of film cannot be denied.

There are many other versions of this adventure story, too:

Title: Around the World in 80 Days
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Warner Home Video
Actors: David Niven, Cantinfals, Robert Newton
Directors: Michael Anderson
Release Date: October 17, 1956
10-digit ASIN number: B0001US8F8

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne

02 Monday Jul 2012

Posted by in Adventure, Asia, Book Review, Classics, Europe, Historical, North America, Young Adult

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I couldn’t think of a more fitting start for a site like this, focused on books and movies that inspire travel, than an adventure story that takes us completely around the world—even if it was written almost 140 years ago.  It’s been assigned by literature teachers everywhere, adapted into movies, mini-series, and musicals, and has certainly inspired travelers—Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne was written in 1873 and continues to encourage adventurers all over the world.

While it seems silly now since our world is full of high-speed affordable air travel (well, the affordable part can be argued), back then, the idea of traveling around the world in 80 days was ridiculous—worthy of a £20,000 bet (equal to well over one million pounds—or two million dollars—today).  Phileas Fogg, an exacting rich single English gentleman, takes on this bet and hastily sets out on an adventure accompanied by his manservant, Jean Passepartout, a Frenchman who serves as the comic relief in the story.

Fogg knew that their journey around the world would not be an easy one: “I knew that some obstacle or other would sooner or later arise on my route.”—transportation issues are expected (who hasn’t experienced those?), but they are also met with other challenges along the way including a detective with an arrest warrant, a funeral pyre, opium dens, train hijacking, and more (if you’ve experienced any of those, I hope you’re writing your own book about your travels).

Although it seems crazy to me, Fogg isn’t actually interested in “travelling, but [in] only describing a circumference,” so for readers looking for detailed descriptions of the book’s destinations (which include England, India, Hong Kong, Japan, and the United States), you’ll have to look through Passepartout’s eyes, and, even then, there isn’t always a lot of description.  The book has inspired several travelers, however, including Michael Palin, of Monty Python fame, to traverse the world in similar patterns…continuing the challenge of not traveling by air (which would be way too easy and way less adventurous).

If you’re looking for a thrilling easy-to-read story that is full of adventure, fun, and exotic destinations, this is a good choice.  It is a classic for adventurers and literati alike, but, do keep in mind the book was written in the late 1800’s—the language can sometimes be challenging and the views of different cultures are occasionally disparaging.

As Fogg states, “The world has grown smaller, since a man can now go round it ten times more quickly than a hundred years ago,”—and that was written 140 years ago.  Imagine what Jules Verne would think of the world (and our travel opportunities) today.

Title: Around the World in 80 Days
Author: Jules Verne
Publisher: Several
Year Published: 1873
ISBN number: 1936594617, 9781619490529
Formats available: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle (currently free!), Nook, Audio

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