From childhood poverty to Broadway acclaim, then winning Best Picture Oscar for Around the World in 80 Days, this is the improbable Horatio Alger story of the man Elizabeth Taylor called "the love of my life."

SYNOPSIS:

Time Period:

Post-Great Depression era – Late 1950’s Settings:

Story commences in Wicker Park section of Chicago’s north side, traversing to Broadway and

culminating in Hollywood Characters

Mike Todd is the central character throughout. Elizabeth Taylor, his third wife, was his chief

love interest. His son Mike Jr. is a major supporting character. During the post-Depression era

Bill “Bojangles” Robinson plays a major role, while in the 1950’s singer Eddie Fisher and wife,

actress Debbie Reynolds play major roles. First wife Bertha Freshman and second wife Joan

Blondell are minor characters. Other minor characters include his parents, his sister and brother

in-law, various employers, employees, producers, one-time girlfriend, actress Evelyn Keyes, and

others. Why Mike Todd matters

Mike Todd is a larger-than-life, charmingly captivating character, possessing ample degrees

of bold moxie, boundlessly energetic ambition, and an uncanny ability to pursue a goal until it is

achieved; while never allowing the seemingly impossible obstacles deter him in

any capacity. How he managed to cast 60 of the world’s greatest actors to appear in Around the

World in 80 Days speaks to this audaciousness.

Whether landing a helicopter on a barge off the Louisianna coast to beg a friend for

financing, enabling him to complete production of his epic film, or renting a yacht to impress

Elizabeth Taylor, Todd always found a way when there was no way. His artistic integrity demanded he not cheat the audience of the imagery Jules Verne's classic portended as he and Mike Jr. truly did

travel the world to film the masterpiece that would be his one and only feature film.

Mike Todd's contribution to film is historically significant and immense in scope. He bested 35MM

Cinemascope with the multi-lens 70MM Todd-A-O process providing a larger, clearer print, and

eradicating the once-visible seam in close-ups, thus allowing for the intimacy vital to love

scenes. Todd also revolutionized the American movie theater as well as theater-going experience

by ostensibly creating surround sound intended to augment the newer picture mode, thereby

modernizing the 19th century opera houses that once hosted silent films.

TODD