Hello, Dolly! (1969)

Matchmaker Dolly Levi travels to Yonkers to find a partner for "half-a-millionaire" Horace Vandergelder, convincing his niece, his niece's intended, and his two clerks to travel to New York City along the way.

Director:

Gene Kelly

Writers:

Michael Stewart (book), Thornton Wilder (based on "The Matchmaker" by)

Stars:

Barbra Streisand, Walter Matthau, Michael Crawford

Won 3 Oscars. Another 1 win & 13 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Barbra Streisand	...	Dolly Levi
Walter Matthau	...	Horace Vandergelder
Michael Crawford	...	Cornelius Hackl
Marianne McAndrew	...	Irene Molloy
Danny Lockin	...	Barnaby Tucker
E.J. Peaker	...	Minnie Fay
Joyce Ames	...	Ermengarde
Tommy Tune	...	Ambrose Kemper
Judy Knaiz	...	Gussie Granger
David Hurst	...	Rudolph Reisenweber
Fritz Feld	...	Rudolph's Assistant
Richard Collier	...	Vandergelder's Barber
J. Pat O'Malley	...	Policeman in Park
Louis Armstrong	...	Orchestra Leader

Storyline

A matchmaker named Dolly Levi takes a trip to Yonkers, New York to see the "well-known unmarried half-a-millionaire," Horace Vandergelder. While there, she convinces him, his two stock clerks and his niece and her beau to go to New York City. In New York, she fixes Vandergelder's clerks up with the woman Vandergelder had been courting, and her shop assistant (Dolly has designs of her own on Mr. Vandergelder, you see).

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Plot Keywords:

matchmaker | new york city | widow | year 1890 | 19th century | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 December 1969 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ernest Lehman's Production of Hello, Dolly!

Filming Locations:

Metro-North Station, Poughkeepsie, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$33,136,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chenault Productions, Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

146 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) (Westrex Recording System) Mono (35 mm prints) DTS 70 mm (70mm re-release)

Color:

Color (Color by Deluxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There was a 22-year gap between Barbra Streisand and Walter Matthau, who played Dolly Levi and Horace Vandergelder, respectively. Streisand was 27, and Matthau 49 when the film was released.

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Goofs

The Budweiser Clydesdales and beer wagon appear in the 14th street parade. They were not formed until 1933, well after the period in which Hello Dolly is set.

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Quotes

Dolly Levi: [after Cornelius attempts a dance lesson from Dolly] Oh, that's just absolutely wonderful, Mr. Hackl. When I think of the lucky women who'll find Heaven in your arms... I think we'll go back to Lesson One. Shall we?

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Alternate Versions

There are two alternate takes during the number Before The Parade Passes By. They occur as Dolly Levi (played by Barbra Streisand) is running down the garden path to see the parade and is singing the line "Before the Parade Passes by".In the 35mm prints which were sent to movie theaters after the roadshow engagements, Dolly almost loses her hat while running. This was used for the home video version. The 70mm prints have a different take, in which Dolly did not have any hat problems. This was used for the DVD version.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Brute Man (1996)

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Soundtracks

So Long, Dearie
(1964) (1964) (uncredited)
Written by Jerry Herman
Performed by Barbra Streisand with Walter Matthau

User Reviews

SIMPLY STUNNING STREISAND

Forget the stories about miscasting and squabbles on the set. This production of HELLO, DOLLY! is big and bright and brassy with Barbra Streisand taking center stage as Dolly Levi, the matchmaker with a mind to marry a crusty "half-a-millionaire" from Yonkers.

The story line is familiar. The musical is based on Thornton Wilder's play THE MATCHMAKER and was a Broadway sensation for Carol Channing in 1964. This film version trims the story, drops a couple songs, and adds a new one ("Love Is Only Love"). Directed by Gene Kelly and choreographed by Michael Kidd, the film makes good use of location shooting around New York State.

Streisand, in only her second film, is in great voice and shows a nice comic touch. Yes, Dolly is supposed to be "middle aged," but it really doesn't matter. And with those turn-of-the-century hair styles and clothes, you can't tell anyway.

Walter Matthau is good as crusty Horace (though his accent wanders) and Michael Crawford makes for a delightful Cornelius Hackl. Marianne McAndrew is Irene, E.J. Peaker is Minnie, and Danny Lockin is Barnaby. Others in the cast include Judy Knaiz as Gussie, Tommy Tune as Ambrose, Joyce Ames as Ermengarde, David Hurst as Rudy, and Louis Armstrong as the bandleader.

The songs by Jerry Herman are wonderful and have witty lyrics. Two huge production numbers dominate the film. In the first half, "Before the Parade Passes By" is a stunner, sung by Streisand, it turns into a gigantic parade beneath a summer sky and it's as big and brassy a musical number as you'll ever see.

Of course the title song is a show stopper and well staged in the Harmonia Gardens on 14th Street. Streisand makes her famous entrance (and return to life after a period of widowhood) down a grand staircase. She wears a glittering gown of gold as she sings and dances with a battery of waiters. She also does a memorable duet with Armstrong (in his final film appearance).

Yes, it's old fashioned. But the film is so bright and tuneful, it never lags. It was the #4 box-office hit of 1969.

Bottom line: Streisand makes for a great Dolly, and this is a great film musical.