Passepartout (character)

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Passepartout is a character in Jules Verne's novel, Around the World in Eighty Days. He is the French valet to the novel's English protagonist, Phileas Fogg.

At the beginning of the novel, Passepartout has just been hired by Phileas Fogg after Fogg's previous valet failed to meet his exacting standards. Passepartout, who has lived an irregular and well-travelled life, is looking forward to a restful employment, as Fogg is known for his regular habits which never take him farther afield than the Reform Club. Ironically, on Passepartout's first day at work, Fogg makes a bet with his friends at the Club that he can circumnavigate the world in no more than eighty days, and Passepartout is obliged to accompany him. In addition to the wager, the valet has an additional incentive to complete the journey quickly; he left a gaslight burning in his room and the resulting expense of wasted gas will be docked from his salary.

In the journey, Passepartout plays a critical role in Fogg's adventures such as rescuing Aouda from a forced sati, makes friends with the pursuing detective, Mr. Fix. Finally when the group arrives in London seemingly too late, it is Passepartout who discovers his employer actually still has time to complete his journey and win his wager.

The character of Passepartout serves several purposes in the narrative: as a point-of-view character for Verne's French readers, and as comic relief, both in his reactions to the strange places and events he encounters, and in a tendency to get trapped, abducted, or (on at least one occasion) left behind.

[edit] Movies

In the 1956 film version, Around the World in Eighty Days, Passepartout was played by the actor Cantinflas.

In the 1981 animated adaptation, Around the World with Willy Fog, which depicts the cast as anthropomorphic animals, Passepartout is renamed Rigadon, and is given an expanded backstory that establishes him as a former circus performer (hence, his desire to get away from a lifestyle that involves a lot of travel). This adaptation also graces Rigadon with a companion in the form of Tico, his circus partner, offering the character someone he can interact with on his own level. Rigadon was voiced by Cam Clarke.

In the 1989 television mini-series, Around the World in 80 Days, the role is played by Eric Idle.

In the more loosely-adapted 2004 film version, Around the World in 80 Days, Passepartout was a fugitive Chinese man played by Jackie Chan, who took the name to avoid custody by the French authorities.