History and Review by Michael J. Ruhland
Michael's Movie Grade: B
Year Released: 1967
History
The Happiest Millionaire marked the last feature length movie that Walt Disney would produce. Though this was not planned as Walt's last film, it only seems right that he should end his movie career with such an ambitious picture.
After Mary Poppins (1964) was a major hit, Walt wanted to make another live action musical. At this time the studio had already had a movie adaption of the 1956 Broadway hit, The Happiest Millionaire in development. Walt decided that this story would work perfectly to turn into a musical. Wanting to hopefully recapture the magic of Mary Poppins, Walt assigned Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman to write the songs for this film as well. The brothers wrote 12 songs for the movie. As well as the Sherman Brothers, Walt also put chorographers Marc Breaux and Dee Dee Wood (both of whom worked on Mary Poppins) to work on this film as well.
Before moving on to Broadway (and then the movies), this story started out as a book titled, My Philadelphia Father. That book was written by Kyle Crichton and Cordelia Drexel Biddle Robertson. It was based on Cordelia's childhood with her father, an eccentric billionaire named Anthony J. Drexel Biddle. The 1956 Broadway play would be written by Crichton and star Walter Pigeon.
Production for this film began in May 1966. Though Walt had been diagnosed with lung cancer, he still oversaw the making of the film. Though he never saw the movie fully finished, he did see a rough cut before passing away on December 15, 1966.
The cast features many familiar faces. Fred MacMurray was of course by this time period associated with Disney films having appeared in quite a few of the studio's movies. Greer Garson was a major actress that many fans of classic Hollywood are very familiar with. Her filmography includes such prestige films as Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939), Pride and Prejudice (1940), Mrs. Miniver (1942) (for which she won an Oscar), Random Harvest (1942), Madame Curie (1943), Mrs. Parkington (1944) and Julius Caesar (1953). This was her only Disney film. This film also marked the feature film debut for Lesley Ann Warren. Warren would go on to play an important role in another Disney film, The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band (1968). Her later movies would include Victor/Victoria (1982), Clue (1985), Life Stinks (1991) and Pure Country (1992). She also played main or reoccurring roles in the TV series Mission: Impossible, 79 Park Avenue, Family of Spies, Will & Grace and Desperate Housewives. This also marked the film debut of John Davidson, who would later co-star with Lesley Ann Warren again in the Disney film, The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band. However, he is probably best known for hosting the TV shows, That's Incredible!, Time Machine, and Hollywood Squares. Tommy Steele was a popular British pop star at this time. Geraldine Page would later voice Madame Medusa in the Disney animated movie, The Rescuers (1977). Hermione Baddeley who had previously acted in the Disney films, Mary Poppins and The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin (1967) makes her last appearance in a live action Disney film though she would later voice Madame Adelaide Bonfamille in the animated Disney feature, The Aristocats (1970).
The movie would have a $100,000 premiere at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood on June 23, 1967. Variety would call this, "the granddaddy of Hollywood premieres." As well as just premiering the film, this premiere also served as a tribute to Walt Disney. This premiere began with a parade. This was followed by dinner at the famous Brown Derby, a party, a stage show, a champagne intermission and a two-block walk on a closed off street that was filled with Disneyland entertainers. The Hollywood Palladium was converted into basically looking the Biddle mansion in 1916 seen in the film. The stars arrived at the premiere in cars appropriate to the time period the movie takes place in. Author Cordelia Drexel Biddle Robertson was accompanied by California's then-first lady, Nancy Reagan. According to a newspaper story of the time, the premiere ended with "thousands and thousands of balloons soaring into the sky."
The original cut of this film ran 172 minutes including an overture, intermission and exit music. However, it proved hard to book such a long movie. New York City's Radio City Music Hall agreed to add it to their holiday bill beginning on November 30th. They did have one stipulation though. The runtime would have to be cut to at least 159 minutes. The studio cut the film losing the song number, It Won't Be Long 'Til Christmas. After poor critical reviews the film was cut to 144 minutes and then 118 minutes. The movie still proved to be both a box office and critical disappointment. The movie remained out of the public eye for many years. Probably due at least in part to its length, this film never aired on the Disney anthology TV show. In 1984, the film was almost restored to its original length (with just a few lines of dialogue being lost). That year it aired on the Disney Channel and was released on VHS.
Review
A very charming musical.
For much of the runtime this film is simply one song after another. Therefore, it is important that the songs are simply wonderful. This movie features some of my favorite Sherman Brothers songs. Songs like Detroit, Bye-Yum Pum Pum, I'll Always Be Irish, Fortuosity and Let's Have a Drink On It (which constantly lives in my head) are all truly wonderful. They are very catchy, fun and clever. The lyrics feature many clever plays on words in a way few songwriters can do as well as the Sherman Brothers. The storyline in this movie is rather light with not a whole lot happening. For most of the film we are simply watching this eccentric family live their lives. Luckily though these characters are delightful and a lot of fun to spend time with. Like many of the best movies of this kind, the film often feels simply like visiting with friends having the same warm feeling. Delightful performances by Fred MacMurray, Lesley Ann Warren and the rest of the cats add to the likability. Though the daughter's love interest is a very simplistic character, the romance between the two is very charming. This is helped by the chemistry between John Davidson and Lesley Ann Warren. Like all the Disney films of this era, this is a very handsome looking movie. The sets are simply beautiful and have the type of larger than life feel that fits this type of movie very well. This movie also has a very emotional and touching ending that always moves me every time I watch it. This scene is somehow made even more moving with the absolutely beautiful song; It Won't Be Long Til Christmas (one of the most moving songs the Sherman Brothers ever wrote).
The humor in this film is often more the type that would make you smile than laugh out loud. There are a few truly funny moments here, mostly involving the alligators that the father keeps for pets. Yet these moments are outnumbered by the comic moments that are more charming than actually funny. The fourth wall jokes involving the butler often come off as distracting and feel like they should be in a different movie.
The main problem with this movie though is its overlength. With such a smaller scale story, there is simply no reason for this film to be nearly three hours. Because of this there are some moments in this film that can kind of drag.
This is a truly charming movie. It may have its flaws, but its charms make this a delightful end to Walt Disney's movie career.
Film Credits
Director: Norman Tokar.
Writer: AJ Carothers.
Based on a book by Cordelia Drexel Biddle and Kyle Crichton.
History
The Happiest Millionaire marked the last feature length movie that Walt Disney would produce. Though this was not planned as Walt's last film, it only seems right that he should end his movie career with such an ambitious picture.
After Mary Poppins (1964) was a major hit, Walt wanted to make another live action musical. At this time the studio had already had a movie adaption of the 1956 Broadway hit, The Happiest Millionaire in development. Walt decided that this story would work perfectly to turn into a musical. Wanting to hopefully recapture the magic of Mary Poppins, Walt assigned Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman to write the songs for this film as well. The brothers wrote 12 songs for the movie. As well as the Sherman Brothers, Walt also put chorographers Marc Breaux and Dee Dee Wood (both of whom worked on Mary Poppins) to work on this film as well.
Before moving on to Broadway (and then the movies), this story started out as a book titled, My Philadelphia Father. That book was written by Kyle Crichton and Cordelia Drexel Biddle Robertson. It was based on Cordelia's childhood with her father, an eccentric billionaire named Anthony J. Drexel Biddle. The 1956 Broadway play would be written by Crichton and star Walter Pigeon.
Production for this film began in May 1966. Though Walt had been diagnosed with lung cancer, he still oversaw the making of the film. Though he never saw the movie fully finished, he did see a rough cut before passing away on December 15, 1966.
The cast features many familiar faces. Fred MacMurray was of course by this time period associated with Disney films having appeared in quite a few of the studio's movies. Greer Garson was a major actress that many fans of classic Hollywood are very familiar with. Her filmography includes such prestige films as Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939), Pride and Prejudice (1940), Mrs. Miniver (1942) (for which she won an Oscar), Random Harvest (1942), Madame Curie (1943), Mrs. Parkington (1944) and Julius Caesar (1953). This was her only Disney film. This film also marked the feature film debut for Lesley Ann Warren. Warren would go on to play an important role in another Disney film, The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band (1968). Her later movies would include Victor/Victoria (1982), Clue (1985), Life Stinks (1991) and Pure Country (1992). She also played main or reoccurring roles in the TV series Mission: Impossible, 79 Park Avenue, Family of Spies, Will & Grace and Desperate Housewives. This also marked the film debut of John Davidson, who would later co-star with Lesley Ann Warren again in the Disney film, The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band. However, he is probably best known for hosting the TV shows, That's Incredible!, Time Machine, and Hollywood Squares. Tommy Steele was a popular British pop star at this time. Geraldine Page would later voice Madame Medusa in the Disney animated movie, The Rescuers (1977). Hermione Baddeley who had previously acted in the Disney films, Mary Poppins and The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin (1967) makes her last appearance in a live action Disney film though she would later voice Madame Adelaide Bonfamille in the animated Disney feature, The Aristocats (1970).
The movie would have a $100,000 premiere at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood on June 23, 1967. Variety would call this, "the granddaddy of Hollywood premieres." As well as just premiering the film, this premiere also served as a tribute to Walt Disney. This premiere began with a parade. This was followed by dinner at the famous Brown Derby, a party, a stage show, a champagne intermission and a two-block walk on a closed off street that was filled with Disneyland entertainers. The Hollywood Palladium was converted into basically looking the Biddle mansion in 1916 seen in the film. The stars arrived at the premiere in cars appropriate to the time period the movie takes place in. Author Cordelia Drexel Biddle Robertson was accompanied by California's then-first lady, Nancy Reagan. According to a newspaper story of the time, the premiere ended with "thousands and thousands of balloons soaring into the sky."
The original cut of this film ran 172 minutes including an overture, intermission and exit music. However, it proved hard to book such a long movie. New York City's Radio City Music Hall agreed to add it to their holiday bill beginning on November 30th. They did have one stipulation though. The runtime would have to be cut to at least 159 minutes. The studio cut the film losing the song number, It Won't Be Long 'Til Christmas. After poor critical reviews the film was cut to 144 minutes and then 118 minutes. The movie still proved to be both a box office and critical disappointment. The movie remained out of the public eye for many years. Probably due at least in part to its length, this film never aired on the Disney anthology TV show. In 1984, the film was almost restored to its original length (with just a few lines of dialogue being lost). That year it aired on the Disney Channel and was released on VHS.
Review
A very charming musical.
For much of the runtime this film is simply one song after another. Therefore, it is important that the songs are simply wonderful. This movie features some of my favorite Sherman Brothers songs. Songs like Detroit, Bye-Yum Pum Pum, I'll Always Be Irish, Fortuosity and Let's Have a Drink On It (which constantly lives in my head) are all truly wonderful. They are very catchy, fun and clever. The lyrics feature many clever plays on words in a way few songwriters can do as well as the Sherman Brothers. The storyline in this movie is rather light with not a whole lot happening. For most of the film we are simply watching this eccentric family live their lives. Luckily though these characters are delightful and a lot of fun to spend time with. Like many of the best movies of this kind, the film often feels simply like visiting with friends having the same warm feeling. Delightful performances by Fred MacMurray, Lesley Ann Warren and the rest of the cats add to the likability. Though the daughter's love interest is a very simplistic character, the romance between the two is very charming. This is helped by the chemistry between John Davidson and Lesley Ann Warren. Like all the Disney films of this era, this is a very handsome looking movie. The sets are simply beautiful and have the type of larger than life feel that fits this type of movie very well. This movie also has a very emotional and touching ending that always moves me every time I watch it. This scene is somehow made even more moving with the absolutely beautiful song; It Won't Be Long Til Christmas (one of the most moving songs the Sherman Brothers ever wrote).
The humor in this film is often more the type that would make you smile than laugh out loud. There are a few truly funny moments here, mostly involving the alligators that the father keeps for pets. Yet these moments are outnumbered by the comic moments that are more charming than actually funny. The fourth wall jokes involving the butler often come off as distracting and feel like they should be in a different movie.
The main problem with this movie though is its overlength. With such a smaller scale story, there is simply no reason for this film to be nearly three hours. Because of this there are some moments in this film that can kind of drag.
This is a truly charming movie. It may have its flaws, but its charms make this a delightful end to Walt Disney's movie career.
Film Credits
Director: Norman Tokar.
Writer: AJ Carothers.
Based on a book by Cordelia Drexel Biddle and Kyle Crichton.
Cast: Fred MacMurray (Anthony J. Drexel Biddle), Greer Garson (Mother), Gladys Cooper (Aunt Mary), Geraldine Page (Mrs. Duke), Tommy Steele (John Lawless), Hermione Baddeley (Mrs. Worth), John Davidson ( Angier Duke), Lesley Ann Warren (Cordy), Paul Petersen (Tony), Eddie Hodges (Livingston), Joyce Bulifant (Rosemary), Sean McClory (Police Sgt.), Jim McMullan (Lt. Powell), William Wellman Jr. (Lt. Grayson), Aron Kincaid (Walter Blakely), Larry Merrill (Charlie Taylor), Frances Robinson (Aunt Gladys).
Conductor: Jack Elliott.
Producers: Walt Disney, Bill Anderson.
Conductor: Jack Elliott.
Music Editor: Evelyn Kennedy.
Staging for Musical Numbers: Marc Breaux, Dee Dee Wood.
Songwriters: Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman.
Editor: Cotton Warburton,
Cinematographer: Edward Colman.
Art Directors: Carroll Clark, John B. Mansbridge
Set Decorators: Emile Kuri, Frank R. McKelvy.
Costume Designer: Bill Thomas.
Costumers: Chuck Keehne, Neva Rames.
Makeup Artist: Gordon Hubbard.
Hair Stylist: Vivienne Walker.
Sound Artists: Robert O. Cook, Dean Thomas, Lyndsey Schenk.
Special Effects: Eustace Lycett, Peter Ellenshaw.
Title Designer: Alan Maley.
Resources Used
The Disney Film by Leonard Maltin
https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/77315/the-happiest-millionaire#articles-reviews
http://www.thedisneyfilms.com/search/label/Happiest%20Millionaire%20%28The%29
https://d23.com/a-to-z/happiest-millionaire-the-film/
Title Designer: Alan Maley.
Resources Used
The Disney Film by Leonard Maltin
https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/77315/the-happiest-millionaire#articles-reviews
http://www.thedisneyfilms.com/search/label/Happiest%20Millionaire%20%28The%29
https://d23.com/a-to-z/happiest-millionaire-the-film/
