Thoroughly Modern Millie
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Carol Channing, James Fox, John Gavin, Julie Andrews, Mary Tyler MooreBrand: Universal Studios
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; Spanish (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; Spanish (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 152 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-06-03
Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
Studio: Universal Studios
Movie Reviews of Thoroughly Modern Millie
Movie Review: Thoroughly Delightful And Totally Terrif !!
Summary: 5 Stars
There are not enough stars in any rating system to fully do justice to this wonderfully fun musical that spoofs the 1920s and much else as well. Made in 1967 just as the age of movie making innocence was sadly drawing to a close this film is as fresh and sparkling today as it was at its first release. Blessed with a wonderful cast headed by the legendary Julie Andrews and a group of supporting players second to none, the film also boasts a memorable musical score, lavish costumes and a vivid 1920's period recreation all courtesy of that master of movie gloss Producer Ross Hunter. Nominated for a stunning 7 Academy Awards, (strangely though not for Julie Andrews as Best Actress),the film ended up only winning one for Best Musical Score. The recent Broadway show sadly altered much of this delightful story, music and characters from the original movie supposedly so that it would not "offend", modern audiences whatever that means, but this 1967 movie is the original, unaltered and greatly entertaining version of this story unfettered by stifling 2004 sensibilities.
"Thoroughly Modern Millie", stars Julie Andrews as Millie Dillmount, a young naive girl who comes to New York to find a job as a stenographer and hopefully marry her boss. Her criteria for taking a job is that her boss has to be rich and handsome and above all else SINGLE!! To achieve her aim Millie becomes what is called a "modern", complete with flapper clothes, bobed hair, and of course the essential flat bustline!. At her hotel (For single young ladies!!)Millie makes the acquaintance of new arrival Miss Dorothy (Mary Tyler Moore), a naive girl from California. The two strike up a friendship under the eagle eye of Hotel Proprieteress Mrs Meers (Beatrice Lillie), who uses the hotel as a front for a white slavery ring and preys on all the single women with no families that take up residence there. Millie finds a job at an accounting firm run by Trevor Graydon (John Gavin), who fits all her specifications. Trevor however only views Millie as his ever reliable assistant, nicknames her "John", and is seemingly blind to Millies repeated attempts to seduce him (like any "modern" girl would!). Meanwhile Millie has aroused the attention of fun loving Jimmy (James Fox), who sells paper clips for a living. Jimmy is funny and affectionate and takes the two girls on an extravagant weekend to the Long Island Mansion of ecentric Muzzy Van Hossmere (Carol Channing). Muzzy is very much a free spirit and taking Millie under her wing urges her to simply "follow your heart". Much to Millie's distress however real love blossoms between Miss Dorothy and "her Trevor". Millie continues to be dogged by a besotted Jimmy and when Miss Dorothy disappears from the hotel suspicion falls on Mrs. Meers as the leader of something no good. Millie, Jimmy and Trevor embark on a scheme to not only rescue Miss Dorothy from the clutches of the White Slavery group but turn in Mrs Meers and her gang to the authorities. Jimmy dresses as a woman and pretends to be checking in as a single young woman who is, to quote Mrs Meers, "all alone in the world". The scheme backfires when Jimmy is drugged by some spiked ink and is carried away by Mrs. Meers' Chinese assistants (Jack Soo and Pat Morita),to the opium den in Chinatown to await transportation as a white slave. After Millie sets off a factory full of fireworks a rescue of both Miss Dorothy and Jimmy is made and they escape to Long Island. However they are pursued by Mrs Meers and her men and its through Muzzy's quick thinking that the trio are brought to justice. Millie then learns the "real identitites", of Miss Dorothy and ardent paper clip salesman Jimmy which results in not just one wedding, but three!!
"Thoroughly Modern Millie", is a totally charming film that never fails to fill me with a great feeling with each screening. Julie Andrews had her last big success with this film which became Universal Studios biggest hit that year and rarely has she been better cast. The terrific musical numbers like the Tapioca, and the unforgettable tap number in the hotel's uncooperative lift provide her with just the right avenues for her multi talents and she makes the most of each of these opportunities. As Millie she is both sweet and wacky at times which beautifully shows off her often overlooked talents as a comedian. The supporting cast of Mary Tyler Moore ideally cast as the naive Miss Dorothy who never goes anywhere without her cheque book, and the zany jazz baby Carol Channing in a role ideally suited to her larger than life personality make a viewing of this film a treat. Special mention in the acting stakes however must go to the brilliant Beatrice Lillie in a rare film appearance as the deliciously evil Mrs Meers. I find myself missing her when she is not on screen. Great homage to everything that was distinctive from the twenties is made in this film from the mention of Rudolph Valentino as a great lover, to the obvious tribute to the comic genius of Harold Lloyd in the scenes where Millie and Jimmy are suspended in mid air outside the office building. Universal went all out in their attention to detail on recreating the twenties music, dance, costumes, and cars and have come off with one of the best looking musicals from the 1960's decade. Director George Roy Hill who had guided Julie Andrews through her performance in "Hawaii", the year before does an admirable job of amazingly keeping all of this together in an admittedly long two and a half hour running time.
A fun filled nostalgic journey back to another time is guaranteed in "Thoroughly Modern Millie", which only came about when the rights to "The Boyfriend", could not be purchased. It was a blessing really as what was created from scratch is one of the best original musicals to come from the 1960's. To quote Millie herself it's totally "terrif", "bonzer", and "swell" and makes highly recommended viewer to all lovers of fun filled, tuneful musicals that recall happier simpler times. Enjoy!
Summary of Thoroughly Modern Millie
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