Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)

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

Director:

George Roy Hill

Writer:

Richard Morris

Stars:

Julie Andrews, James Fox, Mary Tyler Moore

Won 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Julie Andrews	...	Millie Dillmount
James Fox	...	Jimmy Smith
Mary Tyler Moore	...	Miss Dorothy Brown
Carol Channing	...	Muzzy Van Hossmere
John Gavin	...	Trevor Graydon
Jack Soo	...	Oriental #1
Pat Morita	...	Oriental #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

Storyline

In 1922 New York City, Millie Dillmount (Dame Julie Andrews) and Miss Dorothy Brown (Mary Tyler Moore) are just two of the girls living at the Priscilla Hotel for Single Young Ladies run by Mrs. Meers (Beatrice Lillie). Orphaned, Miss Dorothy, just recently arrived, is a naive, old-fashioned girl from a seemingly privileged background who has aspirations to be a stage actress. From more modest means, Millie, in New York City for three months, used to be old-fashioned, but now has a new modern sensibility and look to match, complete with bobbed hair and dresses with hemlines above the knee. Included in this new modern sensibility is Millie's goal of getting a job as a stenographer, with a quick promotion to being her wealthy boss' "Mrs." Love is not to factor into the equation. She believes she's found the right employer in the form of chisel-jawed Trevor Graydon (John Gavin) of the Sincere Trust Insurance Company. Millie's pursuit of Mr. Graydon is despite the fact that Mr. Graydon ...

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Plot Keywords:

stenographer | 1920s | character name in title | cocktail party | sprayed with water | 

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Taglines:

The happiest picture in years.

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

Anthony Dexter played a small role as a tango-dancing gigolo. He had made his theatrical movie debut in Valentino (1951), playing the title character in a similar style.

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Goofs

When Millie is about to drive away from the hotel with Trevor Graydon, she is wearing a black and white checkerboard hat. In the next shot as she is actually driving away, the person behind the steering wheel is not wearing a hat. In the next shot, she is once again wearing the hat.

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Quotes

Miss Dorothy Brown: Oh, I do hope he won't be an addict. I mean with all that dope.
Millie Dillmount: It didn't hurt Sleeping Beauty or Snow White.

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Alternate Versions

On some video releases of Thoroughly Modern Millie, the Overture is cut out.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Moon Zero Two (1990)

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Soundtracks

Baby Face
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Akst
Lyrics by Benny Davis
Sung by Julie Andrews

User Reviews

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!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish French German Italian Hebrew

Release Date:

22 March 1967 (USA)

Also Known As:

Thoroughly Modern Millie

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ross Hunter Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

138 min 153 min (roadshow)

Sound Mix:

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

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1