Around the World in 80 Days (1972-1973 cartoon)
Encyclopedia
Around the World in 80 Days is an animated cartoon for television, lasting only one season of sixteen episodes covering 1972 and 1973, which the NBC
television network transmitted during that season. The cartoon, all of whose sixteen episodes Leif Gram directed, was loosely based on the novel written by Jules Verne
, which Chester "Chet" Stover adapted.
, the cartoon followed a similar course to it, but the motives of this Phileas Fogg
differed somewhat from those of his literary forerunner.
provided, was passionately in love with Belinda Maze. (Janet Waldo
provided Belinda's voice.) Belinda's uncle, Lord Maze, whose voice Owen Weingott provided, was the villain of the cartoon--an evil British aristocrat who sternly disapproved of the idea of the commoner Fogg being his nephew-in-law. But Fogg provided a gentleman's solution: If he could go around the world in eighty days, then Lord Maze would give him Belinda's hand in marriage; Lord Maze reluctantly agreed. To keep it interesting, Lord Maze wagered ₤20,000 that Fogg would fail, and Fogg counter-wagered the same sum that he would NOT fail.
), and Passepartout's pet monkey, to accompany him. The three employed all the methods of transportation the late 19th Century provided to travelers, e.g., balloons, trains, elephants, and steam ships, in the course of crossing through the wilds of several continents. As they so traveled, Fogg and Passepartout gave tidbits of geographical knowledge to audiences with each of their stops. (The program was intended primarily for an audience of children.)
detective attempting to arrest Fogg on suspicion of bank robbery. (The Australian actor Max Osbiston provided Fix's voice.) Fix's plots gave Fogg and Passepartout little time for the geography lessons written into the episodes.
composed (set to the tune of Mademoiselle from Armentières
), had lyrics, the writer of which was unknown as of early December of 2010.
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television network transmitted during that season. The cartoon, all of whose sixteen episodes Leif Gram directed, was loosely based on the novel written by Jules Verne
Jules Verne
Jules Gabriel Verne was a French author who pioneered the science fiction genre. He is best known for his novels Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea , A Journey to the Center of the Earth , and Around the World in Eighty Days...
, which Chester "Chet" Stover adapted.
The synopsis
More comedic in overall tone than Verne's original novel, Around the World in Eighty DaysAround the World in Eighty Days
Around the World in Eighty Days is a classic adventure novel by the French writer Jules Verne, first published in 1873. In the story, Phileas Fogg of London and his newly employed French valet Passepartout attempt to circumnavigate the world in 80 days on a £20,000 wager set by his friends at the...
, the cartoon followed a similar course to it, but the motives of this Phileas Fogg
Phileas Fogg
Phileas Fogg is the main fictional character in the 1873 Jules Verne novel Around the World in Eighty Days.Fogg attempts to circumnavigate the late Victorian world in eighty days, or less, for a wager of £20,000 with members of London's Reform Club. He takes the wager and leaves with Passepartout,...
differed somewhat from those of his literary forerunner.
The stakes
The cartoon Phileas Fogg, whose voice Alastair DuncanAlastair Duncan
Alastair Neil Duncan is a Scottish television, film and stage actor. He is sometimes credited as Neil Duncan.-Career:Duncan's breakout role was as side-kick DS Peter Livingstone to Mark McManus's Taggart in Scottish television's eponymous detective series.Leaving the show after the first two...
provided, was passionately in love with Belinda Maze. (Janet Waldo
Janet Waldo
Janet Waldo is an American actress and voice artist with a career encompassing radio, television, animation and live-action films. She is best known in animation for voicing Judy Jetson, Penelope Pitstop and Josie McCoy in Josie and the Pussycats...
provided Belinda's voice.) Belinda's uncle, Lord Maze, whose voice Owen Weingott provided, was the villain of the cartoon--an evil British aristocrat who sternly disapproved of the idea of the commoner Fogg being his nephew-in-law. But Fogg provided a gentleman's solution: If he could go around the world in eighty days, then Lord Maze would give him Belinda's hand in marriage; Lord Maze reluctantly agreed. To keep it interesting, Lord Maze wagered ₤20,000 that Fogg would fail, and Fogg counter-wagered the same sum that he would NOT fail.
The journey
Fogg recruited his manservant, Jean Passepartout(voiced by Ross HigginsRoss Higgins
Ross Higgins is an Australian actor, best known for his role as Ted Bulpitt in the television situation comedy series Kingswood Country....
), and Passepartout's pet monkey, to accompany him. The three employed all the methods of transportation the late 19th Century provided to travelers, e.g., balloons, trains, elephants, and steam ships, in the course of crossing through the wilds of several continents. As they so traveled, Fogg and Passepartout gave tidbits of geographical knowledge to audiences with each of their stops. (The program was intended primarily for an audience of children.)
The complication
Being evil as he was, Lord Maze hired a saboteur, called Mr. Fix, to stop Fogg, Passepartout, and their journey. This Mr. Fix, unlike his counterpart in Verne's novel, was NOT a Scotland YardScotland Yard
Scotland Yard is a metonym for the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London, UK. It derives from the location of the original Metropolitan Police headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place, which had a rear entrance on a street called Great Scotland Yard. The Scotland Yard entrance became...
detective attempting to arrest Fogg on suspicion of bank robbery. (The Australian actor Max Osbiston provided Fix's voice.) Fix's plots gave Fogg and Passepartout little time for the geography lessons written into the episodes.
The result
Though he needed an entire season's run of the sixteen episodes to do it, Fogg managed to complete his journey, winning Belinda Maze's hand with little time to spare. Since the two were not keen on repeating his global circumnavigation, there was no second season of the show.Known production history
The cartoon was produced through Australian Air Programmes International, one of whose staff producers, Walter J. Hucker, served as the showrunner. NBC transmitted the sixteen episodes in the United States on its Saturday-morning schedule during the 1972-1973 season.The theme
The cartoon's theme, whose music John SangsterJohn Sangster
John Sangster was an Australian jazz composer, arranger, drummer, cornettist and Vibraphonist born in Melbourne, most well known as a composer though also a gifted multi-instrumentalist...
composed (set to the tune of Mademoiselle from Armentières
Mademoiselle from Armentières
"Mademoiselle from Armentières" was a song that was sung during World War I. It is also known by its ersatz French line, Hinky Dinky Parley Voo . It was considered a sexy song, and when sung on the radio and TV, as in The Waltons, typically only the first verse was sung...
), had lyrics, the writer of which was unknown as of early December of 2010.