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What we call event films today are really just boxoffice giants — nothing like Michael Todd’s AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, which premiered in New York City Oct. 17, 1956.

DAYS cost what was then an event-sized $6M to produce. Filming was done in 13 countries on 112 locations with 146 sets. In Hollywood, shooting took place at 20th Century-Fox, RKO, Universal-International, Warner Bros. & Columbia Pictures.

Todd, a born showman and the definition of a controlling producer, insisted that DAYS be released as a roadshow in Todd-AO, his own 70mm wide screen process. He told exhibitors to market DAYS like a Broadway show — with reserved seats, playbills handed out as people walked in and soundtrack LPs & souvenir programs on sale in lobbies. He also got exhibitors to remove theatre clocks and close concession stands to keep moviegoers seated until the 179 minute movie’s 3:27 intermission began two thirds of the way in.

After starting production with a $3M budget, Todd almost ran out of money. Fortunately, when he showed his existing footage to United Artists he got an immediate thumbs-up for additional funding & distribution. DAYS became a legendary event, playing from 1956-59 at Broadway’s 2,092 seat Rivoli Theatre. There were 1,564 performances with 2.2M moviegoers and $4.9M in ticket sales.

With the roadshows’ staggering success in major markets, DAYS didn’t go into general 35mm release until 1958. When Todd met an untimely death in a private plane crash March 22, 1958, his masterpiece had already grossed $33M. It went on to do $42M, an amazing number for its time.

DAYS starred David Niven, Cantinflas & Shirley MacLaine, but there also were over 50 cameo appearances by such A-Listers as Frank Sinatra, Sir John Gielgud, Marlene Dietrich & Buster Keaton. The closing credits, designed by Saul Bass (NORTH BY NORTHWEST titles), ran 6:21 and were shown after the movie. They were followed by nearly five minutes of exit music.

Niven, who played the lead character, Phileas Fogg, said this was his all-time favorite movie role. Todd originally wanted Cary Grant as Fogg, but cast Niven after six months of failing to land Grant. A week into production, Todd fired director John Farrow, realizing that only Todd could run a Michael Todd production. Farrow was also a co-screenwriter and later shared an adapted screenplay Oscar win.

At the 1957 Oscars, DAYS also won for best picture, film editing, cinematography & music score. Michael Anderson (LOGANS RUN), Todd’s replacement for Farrow, was nominated, but didn’t win. Neither did the art direction-set decoration nominees — one of whom, Ken Adam, would later make his mark as the production designer for many of the best James Bond films, including DR. NO, GOLDFINGER & THUNDERBALL.