Around the World in 80 Days

Rating: 0.5/5

Oh man, this movie. What an incredibly bloated, racist, and ridiculous waste of time!

There are some movies in the Best Picture archives that have lengthy runtimes. The Godfather (both parts), Ben-Hur, Lawrence of Arabia; all have a duration of well over three hours, but that span of time feels incredibly necessary to the characters, and crucial to plot. Around the World in 80 Days, though it does attempt to span the globe in one film, absolutely did not need to be as long as it was. There were so many scenes that could've been entirely omitted, and if not that, at least shortened by ten minutes or more. For example, a bull fighting scene when they go to Spain. This scene went on for twenty minutes. Twenty! I actually had to fast forward it because I couldn't take the repetitive crowd noises nor the bull fighting any longer.

I can see why from a 1950s standpoint that this would've won Best Picture-what with its cameos and it being this grand adventure of sorts. But boy oh boy, by today's standards, this movie is just one seemingly never-ending, horrendously racist, bomb that is almost unbearable to sit through.

1957 Best Picture Winner - Around the World in 80 Days

1957 Best Writing, Screenplay - Adapted Winner - James Poe, John Farrow & S.J. Perelman

1957 Best Cinematography, Color Winner - Lionel Lindon

1957 Best Film Editing Winner - Gene Ruggiero & Paul Weatherwax

1957 Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture Winner - Victor Young