This leisurely adaptation of one of Jules Verne’s most extraordinary voyages sends us on a breakneck race to circumnavigate the globe in a then-unthinkable two and a half months. As more than eight decades had already passed since the book's publication, the filmed version takes some liberties with the source material, but most deviations are for the better. The famous flight in a hot air balloon, for example, was culled from a different Verne novel and has since become one of the tale’s most enduring images. The protagonist's French butler has seen his ethnicity swapped to suit the latin star Cantinflas, a popular foreign comedian whose unique brand of energetic charisma breathes life into a number of floundering scenes.

As travel and culture are essential themes, we’re treated to a great number of panoramic vistas and unique set designs. The route doesn’t make a lot of sense, given the urgency of the trip, but I’m willing to forgive that in the name of a little extra international flavor. Each destination gets its chance to shine, with a heavy emphasis placed on costume and set design, and the constant cultural crash courses feel earnest and celebratory despite a bit of common western bias. Worst of those offenses: casting lily-white Shirley MacLaine as an Indian princess (she studied for a semester in London, we’re told). But that kind of thing is to be expected of 1950s Hollywood.

Verne novels aren’t really regarded for their depth, and in that respect the film is completely loyal. This is just a flowery concept that’s thumped and beaten for every ounce of superficial value, offering no more insight or meaning than a travel agency brochure. It’s a voyage, after all, not a character piece, and despite a literal cast of thousands, loaded with cameos, the finished product can’t quite support its own weight. Without the top-notch production design, it would’ve been a total bore.

Spot the cameo in 5 Oscar winning epic.

Based on the wonderful writing from Jules Verne, Around the World in Eighty Days is just shy of three hours, this was my first ever visit to the film and my reaction is mainly positive, though tempered with a small sense of unfulfillment.

Phileas Fogg takes a wager from his fellow London club members that he can't circle the globe in 80 days, this it should be noted is 1872 where transport was not of the fast and dynamic variety. Fogg and his trusty servant Passepartout, set off on a journey that brings many adventures, and many humorous scrapes. They meet a wonderful array of characters and travel on many forms of transport, it is in short a magical journey.

The production here from Mike Todd is gargantuan, the sets are incredible, the multiple locations befit the multi cast of actors that grace the film (have fun playing spot the star in this one). The costumes and the score are spot on, while Lionel Lindon's cinematography rightly won the gold award because it's lush and cloaks the delightful story with a number of treats for the eyes. David Niven is perfect as Fogg, whilst Cantinflas as Passepartout is perfect foil for Fogg's staid stiff upper lippery.

Yet in spite of it's obvious beauty the film is a touch overlong, some scenes are padded far too much when surely a shorter take would have made its mark equally enough? I was surprised by the ending being so short and sweet, yes, sure it's fitting, but after sitting through just under 3 hours of film you are not being unreasonable to expect a grand fanfare type of ending. Still, it doesn't take away from this being a good cinematic achievement. As to if it stands up to repeat viewing? I'll have to see on that one... 7.5/10