Doctor Dolittle (1967)

After the animal communicating veterinarian goes too far for his clientèle, he and his friends escape their hometown to the sea in search of the Great Pink Sea Snail.

Director:

Richard Fleischer

Writers:

Hugh Lofting (novels), Leslie Bricusse (screenplay)

Stars:

Rex Harrison, Samantha Eggar, Anthony Newley

Won 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Rex Harrison	...	Dr. John Dolittle
Samantha Eggar	...	Emma Fairfax
Anthony Newley	...	Matthew Mugg
Richard Attenborough	...	Albert Blossom
Peter Bull	...	Gen. Bellowes
Muriel Landers	...	Mrs. Blossom
William Dix	...	Tommy Stubbins
Geoffrey Holder	...	William Shakespeare X
Portia Nelson	...	Sarah Dolittle
Norma Varden	...	Lady Fetherington

Storyline

Dr. John Dolittle lives in a small English village where he specializes in caring for and verbally communicating with animals. When Dr. Dolittle is unjustly sent to an insane asylum for freeing a lovesick seal from captivity, his animals and two closest human friends, Matthew Mugg and Tommy Stubbins, liberate him. Afterward, they join Emma Fairfax and set out by boat to find a famed and elusive creature: the Great Pink Sea Snail.

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Plot Keywords:

veterinarian | england | 19th century | africa | 1840s | 

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Taglines:

You've never seen or heard anything like it in your life!

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 December 1967 (USA)

Also Known As:

Doktor Dolittle

Filming Locations:

Jungleland, Thousand Oaks, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$17,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$9,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

APJAC Productions, Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

152 min 145 min (FMC Library Print)

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Color by Deluxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Huston was considered as director, but Producer Arthur P. Jacobs nixed the idea. Vincente Minnelli and William Wyler were also considered. Minnelli was felt to be too "old-fashioned". Wyler's reputation for shooting far too many takes of a scene eliminated them from the running.

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Goofs

"Sea Star Island" is a floating island with an active volcano. To be active, a volcano must be connected to a source of magma.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Matthew: Will you stop your daydreaming, Tommy Stubbins.

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Alternate Versions

In the general release version of the film, the songs "Where Are The Words", sung by Anthony Newley, and "Something in Your Smile", sung by Rex Harrison, were omitted.

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Connections

Referenced in Ted 2 (2015)

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Soundtracks

My Friend The Doctor (Flight Of The Luna Moth Sequence)
Written by Leslie Bricusse
Performed by 20th Century Fox Studio Orchestra & Chorus, conducted by Lionel Newman

User Reviews

Not Just For Animal Lovers!

If the only "Dr. Dolittle" you've ever known is Eddie Murphy's rendition, you need to see Rex Harrison's original performance! The first "Dolittle" has the remake and its sequel beat by a mile! Sure, it has the look and feel of those campy 1960's movies, like "Mary Poppins" and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang." But it also has the same comfy and family-friendly appeal. The original movie best captures the image of Hugh Lofting's famous veterinarian, in 19th-century England, just as he should be! So never mind Eddie Murphy, and enjoy the real Dr. Dolittle!