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

Michael Crawford, who plays Cornelius Hackl, also played the Phantom in the original 1986 West End stage production of "The Phantom of the Opera" and also in its 1988 Broadway production.

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Goofs

Near the finale of "Dancing," the female dancers leap forward over a park bench via a low platform behind it. In the following wide shot, this riser has disappeared.

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Quotes

Ambrose Kemper: If you're going to spend the whole evening acting like a scared rabbit, maybe I'd better order some lettuce.

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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 Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (2003)

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Soundtracks

Main Titles (Overture)
(uncredited)
Written by Jerry Herman

User Reviews

possibly the last great Hollywood musical

perfectly directed by the wonderful and legendary gene kelly, with a note perfect cast. i was 20 years old when i first saw this film, beforehand, i had no desire to see it as i really did not like streisand. but having seen all the new releases that week, a friend pushed and shoved my into the theatre to see this. after the film we came out floating and dancing and singing, i have since seen it countless times, many times in glorious 70mm. the songs the dances the amazing sets and productions, all have gained in stature and enjoyment. yet again the public and quite a few critics got it so wrong, the film alas sank at the box office, and killed off an uplifting genre. sad also to see junk like chicago get kudos and box office, a film that is so cynical, tuneless and full of noise and empty bombast. performed by people who cannot sing or dance.bring back the old style Hollywood musical i say