Around the World in 80 Days

Fogg is arrested because Inspector Fix mistakenly believes he is the bank robber who stole £55,000 from the Bank of England. Fix has been pursuing Fogg across the globe, convinced of his guilt. However, once in Liverpool, Fix soon learns the real culprit was caught in Brighton, realizing he apprehended the wrong man. Despite being released, this delay nearly costs Fogg his chance to win the wager.

Earlier in the story, Fix begins his investigation in London after the bank robbery is discovered, setting his sights on Fogg as the prime suspect.

Fogg wins by realizing he has actually gained a day. By traveling eastward toward the rising sun and crossing the International Date Line, he has accumulated an extra day that he didn't account for. When Passepartout discovers it is actually Sunday rather than Monday, Fogg understands he has until Monday evening to reach the Reform Club, allowing him to arrive just in time for the 8:45 PM deadline.

Fogg's route deliberately takes him eastward around the globe, which foreshadows the time zone advantage he would gain.

Inspector Fix believes Fogg is the man who embezzled £55,000 from the Bank of England. After the robbery occurs in London, Fix becomes convinced that Fogg's sudden departure and the large sum he carries for his journey are suspicious. He obtains a warrant and pursues Fogg from Suez through India, Hong Kong, Japan, America, and finally to Liverpool, where he makes the wrongful arrest.

Back in London, tensions rise as investigators piece together the timeline of the robbery and Fogg's departure, planting suspicion in Fix's mind.

When they discover a tunnel blockage beneath the Alps in Paris, Fogg and Passepartout find a Thomas Cook agent who offers a hot air balloon for hire. Rather than waiting for an alternative route, Fogg impulsively purchases the balloon, allowing them to soar over the Alps while sipping champagne, continuing their journey by air instead of land.

The blockage in the Paris tunnel creates an immediate problem that forces Fogg to find an unconventional solution.

Fogg and Passepartout stumble upon a funeral pyre where Aouda, a young widow, is about to be burned according to the custom of sati. Moved by her plight, they heroically intervene and rescue her from being sacrificed. This act of compassion transforms their journey, as Aouda subsequently joins them and eventually becomes a central figure in Fogg's life.

Their stop in India introduces an emotional challenge that tests their moral character beyond simply racing against time.

After securing passage on a cargo steamship to Venezuela, the vessel runs out of coal mid-journey, stranding them at sea. Rather than giving up, Fogg purchases the entire ship outright and orders the crew to burn anything non-essential as fuel. This drastic measure allows them to continue toward England, though it costs him financially and delays their journey.

Fogg's willingness to spend lavishly throughout the journey establishes his character as someone who will do whatever it takes to win the wager.

After Fogg believes he has lost the wager due to his arrest, he instructs Passepartout to prepare for a church wedding the following day, Monday. Fogg wants to marry Aouda because their journey together has deepened into genuine love and companionship. The wedding represents his commitment to her regardless of his financial loss, showing his romantic side beneath his seemingly cold exterior.

The rescue in India begins the romantic subplot, as Aouda's gratitude and admiration for Fogg grow throughout their adventures.

The Reform Club is depicted as a strictly male-only establishment in Victorian England. Women were traditionally excluded from such gentlemen's clubs, which were considered spaces for male-only social and business interactions. When Aouda accompanies Fogg into the club at the end, it causes a stir among the members, representing a significant social boundary being crossed in this historical context.

Victorian gender norms are established early in the film through the exclusive nature of the Reform Club and the bet's all-male participants.

Fogg, a wealthy and eccentric English gentleman, confidently declares he can circumnavigate the globe in just eighty days. To prove his claim and satisfy his own ambition, he wagers £20,000 (the equivalent of £2.3 million today) with four fellow members of the Reform Club. The challenge represents both a scientific assertion of technological possibilities and a test of his own determination and planning abilities.

Fogg's precise nature and belief in mathematical calculations establish him as a character who bets on logic and timing.

Passepartout is Fogg's French valet who joins him as his personal servant and travel companion. Though not a wealthy gentleman himself, Passepartout is described as clever and resourceful, making him an ideal partner for the demanding journey. His skills and quick thinking complement Fogg's planning throughout their adventure.

Fogg's need for a reliable servant is established early, setting the stage for Passepartout's introduction.