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Around the World in 80 Days (1956) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Around the World in 80 Days (1956) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
1956 · 167 min · English
Directed by
John Farrow, Michael Anderson
Starring
John Gielgud, Robert Morley, Basil Sydney, Finlay Currie, Trevor Howard, David Niven
Budget
$6M

Driven by a wager, wealthy inventor Phileas Fogg accepts the challenge of circumnavigating the globe in just 80 days. Accompanied by his resourceful valet and an adventurous French police detective, he faces numerous obstacles and perilous situations as they journey through diverse cultures and landscapes. Along the way, they encounter unexpected romance and thrilling chases, all while racing against time and a relentless pursuit.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (3)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (2)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 The book behind the movie
  7. 7 Movie threads
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Around the World in 80 Days (1956)

Where can you watch Around the World in 80 Days? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Kanopy, Plex and Tubi TV: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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3 main characters · contains spoilers

Around the World in 80 Days Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Around the World in 80 Days (1956), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Phileas Fogg

    played by David Niven

    Fogg is a determined and methodical Englishman whose confidence drives him to attempt a perilous journey. Despite facing various hurdles, his intelligent and composed nature allows him to navigate challenges efficiently. His character evolves from a solitary gentleman to one who values love and companionship.

    • 🕴️ Gentleman
    • 🌐 Determined
    • 🤔 Adventurous
  • Passepartout

    played by John Gielgud

    Passepartout serves as Fogg's loyal French valet, bringing humor and resourcefulness to the journey. His contrasting temperament offers comedic relief, while his quick wit and creativity help tackle unexpected situations. He grows from being an employee to becoming a crucial companion.

    • 🤵 Loyalty
    • 🎭 Comical
    • 🚶‍♂️ Resourceful
  • Aouda

    Aouda is a courageous and beautiful widow who becomes a key figure in Fogg's adventure. Rescued from a dire situation, she demonstrates strength and agency, impacting Fogg deeply. Her presence adds emotional depth to the narrative, illustrating themes of love and sacrifice.

    • 👩‍❤️‍👨 Love Interest
    • 🌺 Resilient
    • 🎇 Inspiring

Last updated: January 18, 2025 at 14:35

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Setting

Where and When Does Around the World in 80 Days Take Place?

The setting of Around the World in 80 Days (1956): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

1872

The story unfolds in the Victorian era, a period marked by rapid industrialization and expanding global trade. This time saw significant advancements in technology and transportation, making the ambitious journey Fogg undertakes possible. It was also a time when exploration and adventure were highly celebrated themes in literature and society.

Location

London, Paris, India, Hong Kong, Yokohama, San Francisco, New York

The movie takes place across multiple iconic locations around the world. London serves as the starting point for Phileas Fogg's adventure, while Paris serves as the first European stop. The diverse settings, including the vibrant streets of Hong Kong, the cultural backdrop of India, and the Wild West of San Francisco, showcase the varying customs and landscapes that Fogg encounters on his journey.

  • 🏙️ City
  • 🌍 Global Adventure
  • 🗺️ Travel

Last updated: January 18, 2025 at 14:35

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2 major themes

Around the World in 80 Days Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Around the World in 80 Days (1956) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Adventure

    The film encapsulates the essence of adventure through Phileas Fogg's daring journey around the globe. His quest not only tests his resolve but also leads him to unexpected encounters and challenges. The theme of exploration reflects humanity's yearning to discover new worlds and experiences.

  • Love

    Love emerges as a central theme as Phileas Fogg develops feelings for Aouda during the journey. His willingness to risk everything for her demonstrates that the journey is not just about winning a bet but also finding genuine connection and companionship along the way.

Last updated: January 18, 2025 at 14:35

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Character & theme questions

Around the World in 80 Days Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Around the World in 80 Days (1956): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where does Around the World in 80 Days take place?

The movie spans multiple iconic locations around the world. The journey begins in London and includes stops in Paris, India, Hong Kong, Yokohama, San Francisco, New York, and other destinations. Each location showcases different cultures and landscapes that Phileas Fogg encounters during his 80-day adventure.

  • locations
  • travel
  • global journey
  • cities
Q2

What time period is depicted in the film?

The story takes place in 1872 during the Victorian era, a period marked by rapid industrialization and expanding global trade. This era saw significant advancements in technology and transportation, which made Fogg's ambitious journey possible. The time period also reflects the cultural celebration of exploration and adventure that was prominent in 19th-century literature and society.

  • victorian era
  • 1872
  • historical period
  • 19th century
Q3

What is the adventure theme in Around the World in 80 Days?

The film encapsulates the essence of adventure through Phileas Fogg's daring journey around the globe. His quest tests his resolve and leads him to unexpected encounters and challenges. The theme reflects humanity's yearning to discover new worlds and experiences, with the journey itself becoming a transformative adventure that changes Fogg as a person.

  • adventure
  • exploration
  • journey
  • discovery
Q4

How is love portrayed in Around the World in 80 Days?

Love emerges as a central theme as Phileas Fogg develops feelings for Aouda during the journey. His willingness to risk everything for her demonstrates that the journey is not just about winning a bet but also finding genuine connection and companionship. The love story adds emotional depth to the narrative, illustrating themes of sacrifice and partnership.

  • love
  • romance
  • Aouda
  • relationship
  • companionship
Q5

Who is Phileas Fogg?

Phileas Fogg is a determined and methodical Englishman whose confidence drives him to attempt the perilous 80-day journey around the world. Despite facing numerous hurdles, his intelligent and composed nature allows him to navigate challenges efficiently. His character evolves from a solitary gentleman focused on rules and precision to one who values love and companionship.

  • Phileas Fogg
  • protagonist
  • gentleman
  • character
Q6

Who is Passepartout?

Passepartout serves as Phileas Fogg's loyal French valet, bringing humor and resourcefulness to the journey. His contrasting temperament offers comedic relief, while his quick wit and creativity help tackle unexpected situations. He grows from being an employee to becoming a crucial companion who is essential to the success of the adventure.

  • Passepartout
  • valet
  • servant
  • comic relief
Q7

Who is Aouda?

Aouda is a courageous and beautiful widow who becomes a key figure in Fogg's adventure. Rescued from a dire situation, she demonstrates strength and agency throughout the journey. Her presence adds significant emotional depth to the narrative, transforming Fogg's quest from a purely competitive challenge into a story about love and partnership.

  • Aouda
  • heroine
  • love interest
  • widow
Q8

What drives Phileas Fogg to attempt the journey?

Fogg is driven by a wager to circumnavigate the globe in just 80 days. This challenge, born from his confidence in his abilities and the precision of his calculations, sets the entire adventure in motion. The wager creates both the stakes and the ticking clock that propels the narrative forward.

  • wager
  • bet
  • challenge
  • challenge motivation
Q9

How do the different locations reflect the story's themes?

The diverse settings, from the streets of London and Paris to the vibrant markets of Hong Kong, the cultural backdrop of India, and the Wild West of San Francisco, showcase the varying customs and landscapes that Fogg encounters. These contrasts emphasize the adventure theme by highlighting the diversity of the world and the challenges of navigating different cultures during the Victorian era.

  • cultures
  • diversity
  • travel
  • global
  • contrast
Q10

Why is the Victorian era significant to the story's feasibility?

The Victorian era of 1872 was a time of significant technological advancement, particularly in transportation and communication. Steam ships, railways, and other innovations made rapid global travel achievable for the first time. This historical context makes Fogg's ambitious journey plausible and adds authenticity to the adventure, while also reflecting the era's spirit of progress and exploration.

  • technology
  • transportation
  • victorian
  • industrial revolution
  • steam

Movie threads

More Movies Like Around the World in 80 Days, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Around the World in 80 Days tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Global Race Against Time Movies like Around the World in 80 Days

Thrilling journeys where the clock is ticking and the world is the obstacle course. If you enjoyed the frantic travel and time-sensitive wager in Around the World in 80 Days, explore these movies featuring similar high-stakes global races. These films capture the same exciting sprint against the clock, with characters facing perilous situations and cultural challenges on a worldwide scale.

  • race against time
  • adventurous
  • sprint
  • hopeful
  • global
  • thrilling
  • Tone: hopeful, adventurous, optimistic
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a linear, goal-oriented structure. A protagonist, often driven by a bet, duty, or personal mission, must traverse great physical distances within a strict timeframe. The plot is a series of sequential challenges set in diverse locations, testing the characters' resourcefulness and resolve as they push toward a definitive finish line.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a ticking clock as the primary narrative engine, a globe-trotting or large-scale journey as the setting, and a tone that mixes peril with a sense of assured, fun-filled adventure rather than grim survival.

Whimsical Journey Movies like Around the World in 80 Days

Joyful expeditions where the journey itself is the reward, filled with wonder and humor. Fans of the lighthearted, comical, and uplifting spirit of Around the World in 80 Days will enjoy these whimsical journey films. Discover similar movies where the adventure is filled with hopeful discovery, charming mishaps, and a focus on the joyous experience of travel and cultural exploration.

  • whimsical
  • optimistic
  • comical
  • uplifting
  • hopeful
  • discovery
  • Tone: whimsical, light, uplifting
  • Pacing: fast, playful
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative is an episodic travelogue where each new location offers a self-contained, often comical, challenge or cultural interaction. Character growth comes from exposure to new ideas and people, with conflicts resolved through ingenuity and humor rather than violence. The journey transforms the characters through positive experiences.

Why they belong together: This thread groups movies that share a light emotional weight, a consistently whimsical or comical tone, and a central theme of optimistic discovery. The viewing experience is defined by its uplifting spirit, low stakes for true peril, and emphasis on the fun and wonder of the adventure itself.

Every angle

Around the World in 80 Days (1956) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Around the World in 80 Days in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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