In 1955, Michael Todd jumped from the Broadway stage to the big screen to take on an epic adaptation of the Jules Verne novel Around the World in 80 Days. Set in 1872, the story follows Phileas Fogg (David Niven), an English bachelor who bets his buddies £20,000 he can travel around the world in 80 days. Before Fogg and his valet Monsieur Passepartout (Cantinflas) reach Hong Kong, they’ve picked up some extra baggage: Aouda (Shirley MacLaine), a princess the duo rescues in Bombay, and Mr. Fix (Robert Newton), a Scotland Yard detective who’s mistaken Fogg for a thief. Boasting a cast of 68,894, the film made “extras” out of stars like Marlene Dietrich, Frank Sinatra, and Buster Keaton. The McNay screens the Oscar winner as part of its celebration of Cantinflas, a man Charlie Chaplin dubbed “the world’s greatest clown.” Free; 6:30pm Thu, Nov 29; Chiego Lecture Hall (McNay Art Museum), 6000 N New Braunfels, (210) 824-5368, mcnayart.org. Check out our full online calendar of upcoming events here: calendar.sacurrent.com.
