Precisett This movie is magnificent!

Lovesusti The Worst Film Ever

Smartorhypo Highly Overrated But Still Good

CommentsXp Best movie ever!

bmbdsm A young Irish man, fresh off the boat, immediately scores a job as the butler in the home of millionaire Anthony J. Drexel Biddle. The Biddle home is no ordinary home- Biddle runs Bible classes in his home, keeps alligators in the conservatory, and is preparing to help with the war. His lovely young daughter, concerned that the goings-on in the home are keeping her from finding a beau, announces her desire to go to boarding school; reluctantly, Anthony lets her go. She comes back with a fiancée-Angier Duke, of the New York Dukes. Biddle gradually warms up to the engagement, and make plans for an elaborate wedding. But the young lovers didn't count on their families having a bitter argument between them. Will they ever find happiness amidst the troubles? This fine musical (somewhat reminiscent of "You Can't Take It With You", IMO) is known for being the last film produced by Walt Disney before his death. With the success of MARY POPPINS, Disney decided to gather some of the POPPINS team to try and recreate it's success. Unfortunately, the film didn't do as well as hoped, and the film was cut to try and make it more popular (the complete roadshow print is available on DVD). That is unfortunate, because the film is a pure delight from start to finish. The score by the Sherman Brothers is a lovely one, full of showstoppers (my personal favorite being the love song "Are We Dancing?"). An all-star cast delivers great performances, including Fred MacMurray, Greer Garson, energetic and ever-grinning Tommy Steele, Geraldine Page, and Lesley Ann Warren (CINDERELLA) and John Davidson in their film debuts. The production and costume design is impeccable, and remind one of the classic MGM musicals of the day. Check this one out; it is fun for the family, and you are guaranteed a great time! Recommended. 10/10.

bkoganbing Live Disney musicals that were made after Mary Poppins had an almost impossible standard to meet. Even with a lot of the same talent that brought us Mary Poppins, The Happiest Millionaire falls well short of the accolades that Mary Poppins won.Not that it's a bad film by any means, just not an outstanding one. Uncle Walt once again made use of the Sherman Brothers to write the score. Their best number is right at the beginning of the film and sung by Tommy Steele, Fortuosity.The film is based originally on a book of memoirs that Cordelia Biddle Duke wrote about growing up in Philadelphia with her eccentric father. The book was co-authored with Kyle Crichton who also authored a Broadway play The Happiest Millionaire which ran a respectable 271 performances in 1956-57 and starred Walter Pidgeon.Taking Pidgeon's place for the screen is Disney's favorite star Fred MacMurray. The story takes place 1916-17 in Philadelphia where we meet Anthony Drexel Biddle a man who keeps pet alligators he captured in the Everglades and believes that Christianity should walk hand in hand with pugilism. He gives both Bible and boxing classes in the stately Biddle manor.Although she did television through the next decade occasionally The Happiest Millionaire marked the farewell big screen appearance of Greer Garson. Greer's fine in the part as the ever patient wife, but I see traces of that other perfect wife of the big screen, Myrna Loy in the part.Although daughter Cordelia wrote the book, the film is really seen through the eyes of the newly hired butler, who himself is newly arrived from Ireland. My favorite in this film is Tommy Steele as John Lawless the butler who just fits right into the general zaniness of things. And Steele has the best song.Lesley Ann Warren and John Davidson make an appealing pair of young lovers as Davidson is quite intimidated by the eccentric MacMurray. Others in the cast are Geraldine Page as Davidson's grand dame of a mother, Gladys Cooper as an even grander dame as MacMurray's aunt and Hermione Baddely as a maid who lets nothing faze her.The Happiest Millionaire is not Mary Poppins, but it's still contains it share of magic from the Magic Kingdom.

vminniear This one has it all! We have alligators for the boys, gorgeous turn of the century fashion for the girls, singing and dancing for those of us who love musicals (my husband hated musicals and he loved this movie), a great barroom brawl, historical accuracy, excellent performances by all (neat to see John Davidson and Lesley Ann Warren at the beginning of their careers and Greer Garson at the end as well as the historical significance that it is Walt Disney's last). It is a great story of a girl who is trying to find her place in the world ("Are You Valentine Candy or Boxing Gloves?") with the contrast of old money and nouveau riche ("There are Those" - rewind frequently - this is the best song!!!)set in the fascinating era of early 20th century ("Byum Pum Pum" - you gotta see Warren's high kick in this one!) Great love story with plenty of action. The only sad part is that the marriage between Cordelia Drexel Biddle and Angier Duke didn't last. I saw it in 1967 on vacation in St Louis and we recorded it on a PBS special 30 years later. Our tape is worn out and I have been looking for a copy of this movie for a year!! I do have the video of my son at age 4 dancing Tommy Steele's "Fortuosity" on our bed. I need a new copy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

phillindholm Yes, "The Happiest Millionaire" was Walt Disney's last film. Yes, it was obviously made to top "Mary Poppins" and yes, like many late-sixties musicals, it flopped at the box office. But the fact remains that it is a glowing, beautifully made musical (with songs by the Sherman Brothers who were responsible for "Poppins") and it never got the recognition it truly deserved. The cast, headed by Disney Stalwart Fred MacMurray and legendary star Greer Garson (in her last film appearance) is excellent. The musical numbers are fun and engaging and the players do them well. Both Lesley Ann Warren and John Davidson were introduced in this film and proved an ideal pair of romantic leads. Warren, who became an overnight star courtesy of her delightful performance as Cinderella in the 1965 Rodgers and Hammerstein television musical, literally shines as Cordelia Drexel Biddle. Many scenes are stolen by Geraldine Page playing Davidson's haughty mother, and Tommy Steele can sing and dance with the best of them. There is also a grand performance from Gladys Cooper as the family matriarch. And, for "Poppins" fans, Hermione Baddely appears as the Irish housekeeper. There is also a brief bit by Joan Marshall, the star of William Castle's "Homicidal" (billed as Jean Arless) as a maid. The fact that this story is (loosely) based on the prominent Biddle family of Philadelphia, adds to the fun. Because the film was released after Disney's death and exhibitors complained about its long running time, it was drastically edited, shortening and removing several scenes, as well as one musical number ("It Won't Be Long Till Christmas"), and here is where the controversy comes in. Garson was originally cast as Mrs. Duke, after the part was turned down by several actresses, including Geraldine Page. Just before filming began however, Page changed her mind, and Greer ended up as Mrs. Biddle. (a part she was not anxious to play). She agreed to the switch when she heard the score--especially "It Won't Be Long Till Christmas" which was her one musical number. Indeed she COULD sing, and she did so in a few of her '40's films. Because her song was subsequently cut from the film (after it's Hollywood world premiere) she declined to attend any further premieres, though she had been at the Hollywood opening. Thanks to the newly restored roadshow edition, the song has been restored, and Garson and MacMurray perform it to perfection, truly the highlight of a warm and wonderful story that makes for perfect holiday viewing.