Around the World in 80 Days ***½ (1989, Pierce Brosnan, Eric Idle, Julia Nickson, Robert Morley, Peter Ustinov) – Classic Movie Review 2454

In director Buzz Kulik’s classy, entertaining 1989 Malta-made miniseries, an ideally cast Pierce Brosnan shines as Jules Verne’s Victorian adventurer Phileas Fogg and Eric Idle is a total scene-stealer as his French gentleman’s gentleman Passepartout.

The show follows usual story in which the duo takes a bet with the Governor (Robert Morley) of the Bank of England that they can traverse the globe in 80 days but they’re hotly pursued by the dogged Detective Fix (Peter Ustinov).

A superlative cast of vintage Brit and American worthies supports the stars. Anna Massey enjoys herself as Queen Victoria. Morley is in the same role in both this version and producer Mike Todd’s 1956 five-Oscar-winning original. Ian McNeice is in both this version and the 2004 remake.

Also in the cast are Christopher Lee, Patrick Macnee, Lee Remick, Robert Wagner, John Mills, Julia Nickson, Jack Klugman, Roddy McDowall, Darren McGavin, Stephen Nichols, Jill St John, Arielle Dombasle, Gabrielle Ferzetti, Henry Gibson, John Hillerman, Rick Jason, Pernell Roberts, James B Sikking, Simon Ward, John Abineri, Jean-Pierre Castaldi, Julian Curry, Don Ferguson and Victor Maddern.

It was originally in three parts, with a massive 266-minute running time.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2454

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com