Around the World in 80 Days (1989)

Phileas Fogg (Pierce Brosnan) is an English gentleman who lives his life by a strict schedule.  He arrives daily at the Reform Club at noon and the wait staff are never in doubt of what he will order on any given day.  He plays whist with fellow club members (Christopher Lee, Patrick Macnee, Simon Ward), generally discouraging idle chitchat.  However, the topic of traveling around the world is mentioned and he matter-of-factly states that it would take 80 days to circumnavigate the globe.  His fellow club members are aghast and dare him to prove it.  He readily agrees, staking 30,000 pounds as a wager.  That evening, he and his new manservant, Jean Passepartout (Eric Idle) set out to circle the globe.  As coincidence would have it, the Bank of England was robbed and Fogg's sudden departure is viewed as a sign of his guilt.  The bank president (Robert Morley) hires Detective Wilbur Fix (Peter Ustinov) to capture the fugitive!  Though Fix manages to travel with Fogg from Italy, he is never able to secure an arrest warrant before Fogg moves on to another jurisdiction.

As this was a TV miniseries, it has plenty of time to delve into each facet of the journey.  Their travels take them through Paris, Rome, Bombay, the hinterlands of India - where they rescue Princess Aouda (Julia Nickson) - to Burma, through China, to Japan, San Francisco, the American West, New York City, and finally across the Atlantic.  Along the way, they meet a variety of guest stars: Jack Klugman, Pernell Roberts, Darren McGavin, Lee Remick, Robert Wagner, Jill St. John, John Hillerman, and others.  The long runtime also provides the opportunity for Fogg to transform.  His fastidiousness is chipped away thanks to the needs of travel.  Also, he finds himself increasingly attracted to Princess Aouda though likewise feeling that such is inappropriate.  Should life be nothing more than a well-organized schedule for attending the Reform Club and playing whist?  Has he wasted his life so far?

Ustinov is, as always, quite entertaining.  His Detective Fix is both endlessly determined and also somewhat oafish.  He owes his life to Fogg but also views it as his duty to apprehend the man.  There is an entertaining exchange that goes entirely over Fogg's head as Fix explains that he should not take it personally.

This is an excellent adaptation of the story.  Definitely recommended.  Great popcorn fun.