Movie Poster:  Warner Brothers

Jackie Chan's next movie is a remake of the classic film which won the Best Picture Oscar in 1956. Jackie will play the role of "Passepartout" in Around the World in 80 Days. The movie will be directed by Frank Corcasi. Click here to read a great article about Frank Corcasi and the work he's doing to prepare for directing the movie.

Around the World in 80 Days is based on the novel by Jules Verne which you can read online thanks to Project Gutenberg™. If you like you can rent the video (1956 version) but be warned: it's over three hours long! It's a really fun movie, though, and if you have a chance you should see it. This movie was originally made in 1914 and it was a silent film. It was made again in 1956 when it won the Academy Award. In 1989 it was made into a mini-series for American television. In 1998 it was made into an animated movie (a cartoon).

The role that Jackie is playing was originally played by Mexican actor Cantinflas. Cantinflas, whose real name was Mario Moreno Reyes, was a gifted physical comedian much like Jackie and guess what? He did his own stunts! He was well known for talking a lot and saying nothing; he was a genius at the art of speaking nonsense. In fact, the word "cantinflas" had no meaning. But Cantinflas had such an effect on the Spanish-speaking world that his name became recognized by linguists. The noun cantinflada is now defined in Spanish dictionaries as a long-winded, meaningless speech, and the verb cantinflear means to talk too much but say too little.

If you watch the 1956 Around the World in 80 Days, you will have no problem imagining Jackie in the role of Passepartout. It is a part that seems to be custom made for him. In the movie, Passepartout hangs from a hot-air balloon, fights a bull, performs a flamenco dance, and rides an old fashioned bicycle, amongst other adventures.

Around the World in 80 Days is well known for featuring many cameo appearances by some of Hollywood's most famous personalities. A cameo appearance is a very small, uncredited role in a film by a celebrity. Amazingly, Jackie's hero, Buster Keaton, plays a small role as a train worker. Click here for a complete list of cameo appearances. Email the webmaster with your idea of who should make a cameo in the new movie and she'll make a list with all the celebrity names and post it here!

When Around the World in 80 Days was released in 1956, Jackie Chan was only 2 years old! Who would have imagined that over 40 years later, Jackie would reprise the role of Passepartout in a remake of this classic film?

 

Shirley McLain, David Niven, and Cantinflas in a scene from Around the World in 80 Days (Source)

Cantinflas

(Mario Moreno Reyes)

www.busterkeaton.com

Buster Keaton in "The General"

 

Click here for more Around the World in 80 Days news!

Poster:  Katharine Schroeder

 

 

KIDS CORNER FRONT PAGE / LATEST JACKIE NEWS / TOTALLY FUN JACKIE STUFF / OFFICIAL SITE HOME PAGE

©2003 Katharine Schroeder/Jackie Chan Kids Corner

No part of this website may be reproduced or distributed without permission