Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

George Roy Hill

Writer:

Richard Morris (written by)

Release Date:

21 March 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Tagline:

Julie as you love her... in the happiest motion picture hit of the year!

Plot:

Millie comes to town in the roaring twenties to encounter flappers, sexuality and white slavers.

Plot Keywords:

Flapper | Multi Millionaire | Acrobatics | Hiding Under Bed | Human Cannonball

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 5 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Julie Andrews	...	Millie Dillmount
James Fox	...	Jimmy Smith
Mary Tyler Moore	...	Miss Dorothy Brown
Carol Channing	...	Muzzy
John Gavin	...	Trevor Graydon
Jack Soo	...	Asian #1
Pat Morita	...	Asian #2
Philip Ahn	...	Tea
Anthony Dexter	...	Juarez
Cavada Humphrey	...	Miss Flannery
Herbie Faye	...	Taxi driver
Michael St. Clair	...	Baron Richter
Lisabeth Hush	...	Judith Tremaine
Ann Dee	...	Singer
Beatrice Lillie	...	Mrs. Meers

Runtime:

138 min | 153 min (roadshow version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (Westrex Recording System) (70 mm prints) | Mono (35 mm prints) | 4-Track Stereo (35 mm magnetic prints)

Certification:

UK:PG | Australia:G | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:Btl | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Film debut of Pat Morita.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Although the song tells us "this is 1922," all of Millie's post-transformation fashions are from 1927. Her seamless stockings first appeared in the 1950s.

Quotes:

Jimmy: "She doesn't want to see me!" Banana oil!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Biography: Mary Tyler Moore: All American-Girl (1995)" (????)

Soundtrack:

Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life (The Dream Melody)

A Showcase for Julie

Hard for me to be objective, here, since I've been madly in love with Julie Andrews since being first exposed to her crystalline voice when I was three.

But I'll try: "Millie's" first half is, to quote the screenplay, "Delish," with Andrews vamping and camping throughout. I am unable to take my eyes off her as she clowns, flirts, cavorts, and also sings and dances (getting her hotel elevator to work results in a showstopper). The vehicle--a pastiche of 1920s conventions (including "moderns") and filmgoing techniques (including iris-outs and title cards)--is the frothy light story of a British import who comes to America and finds true love.

The second half gets bogged down in the overwrought script, with all the machinations of a white slavery plot and a pair of "inscrutible" Orientals who, in this day and age of racial sensitivity, get far worse than they deserve.

Some history: Ross Hunter, the producer, wanted to film "The Boy Friend," the Broadway musical that had introduced Andrews to the U.S. stage. When the rights were unavailable, he devised his own script, using the same setting--the 1920s. A "small" musical evolved.

Then Julie's star went through the stratosphere. And the Universal "suits," smelling another payday, insisted that the movie be a road-show presentation--with a road-show running time(and at which road-show prices could be charged). Little "Millie" had an intermission added, and her running time was increased considerably.

The movie's still a lot of fun and definitely recommendable (especially to Andrews fans), but let's just say that, at times, it more than shows its stretchmarks!