Thoroughly Modern Millie (B+ or 3/4 stars)
'Thoroughly Modern Millie' (a 1967 musical directed by George Roy Hill) is a perfect star vehicle for the 'thoroughly' captivating Julie Andrews as Roaring Twenties flapper, Millie Dillmount. A fearless, feisty woman from Salina, Kansas ... Millie arrives in NYC with high spirits, a love of life, & grand plans to marry a wealthy employer {"I've taken the girl out of Kansas. Now I have to take Kansas out of the girl!"}. Though quite fond of devil-may-care penniless paper-clip salesman, Jimmy Smith (boyishly blonde James Fox), she looks to marry company man, Trevor Graydon (strapping John Gavin). Problem is: self-absorbed Trevor already loves Millie's pal & roommate, the sweet & innocent Dorothy Brown (lovely Mary Tyler Moore).
As all 4 main characters try to find love {and singing copious songs along the way}, Millie & Dorothy's no-good landlady at the Priscilla Hotel, Mrs. Meers (Beatrice Lillie), gleefully schemes to sell orphaned, naive Dorothy into white slavery {yes, you read that correctly}; something she is wont to do with her more wide-eyed, lonely tenants. Wistfully, Mrs. Meers tells Dorothy that it is "sad to be all alone in the world". To avert this, Jimmy takes the two girls out to Long Island, where they meet eccentric rich widow, Muzzy Van Hossmere (Carol Channing). Light comedy & genial music ensues.
I know what you're thinking: a movie musical containing white slavery!? Whattt!?!? Odd as it is, the movie works despite that bizarre subplot. Instead, it is best to focus on Millie's madcap adventures in her plan to marry Trevor. Hot on the heels of Julie Andrew's Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, and Hawaii ... she made this film be a huge hit, as well; making some $40 million worldwide on a $6 mill budget. That $$ success + its 7 Academy Award nominations, put this film in the upper echelon of 1967 releases; even if other 'classics' are better remembered; like In The Heat of the Night, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, The Graduate, Bonnie & Clyde, In Cold Blood, The Dirty Dozen, The Good, the Bad & the Ugly, and many more.
George Roy Hill directs this larky musical with verve and, he gets some wonderfully comedic turns from Julie Andrews {luminous as ever}, Mary Tyler Moore {a doll}, the male stars, devilish Beatrice Lillie, & especially Oscar-nommed Carol Channing as the quirky avante-garde aviatrix. The 1920s period set designs by Alexander Golitzen & George C. Webb are great; ditto Jean Louis' vibrant costumes. Cinematographer Russell Metty makes everything gleam. I highly enjoyed the dance choreography. And the musical offerings by Elmer Bernstein, Andre Previn & Joseph Gershenson are fairly infectious; while not being overly memorable. 'TMM' is overlong and, sometimes weird, but I 'thoroughly' enjoyed the frothy quirk of it all.
As all 4 main characters try to find love {and singing copious songs along the way}, Millie & Dorothy's no-good landlady at the Priscilla Hotel, Mrs. Meers (Beatrice Lillie), gleefully schemes to sell orphaned, naive Dorothy into white slavery {yes, you read that correctly}; something she is wont to do with her more wide-eyed, lonely tenants. Wistfully, Mrs. Meers tells Dorothy that it is "sad to be all alone in the world". To avert this, Jimmy takes the two girls out to Long Island, where they meet eccentric rich widow, Muzzy Van Hossmere (Carol Channing). Light comedy & genial music ensues.
I know what you're thinking: a movie musical containing white slavery!? Whattt!?!? Odd as it is, the movie works despite that bizarre subplot. Instead, it is best to focus on Millie's madcap adventures in her plan to marry Trevor. Hot on the heels of Julie Andrew's Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, and Hawaii ... she made this film be a huge hit, as well; making some $40 million worldwide on a $6 mill budget. That $$ success + its 7 Academy Award nominations, put this film in the upper echelon of 1967 releases; even if other 'classics' are better remembered; like In The Heat of the Night, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, The Graduate, Bonnie & Clyde, In Cold Blood, The Dirty Dozen, The Good, the Bad & the Ugly, and many more.
George Roy Hill directs this larky musical with verve and, he gets some wonderfully comedic turns from Julie Andrews {luminous as ever}, Mary Tyler Moore {a doll}, the male stars, devilish Beatrice Lillie, & especially Oscar-nommed Carol Channing as the quirky avante-garde aviatrix. The 1920s period set designs by Alexander Golitzen & George C. Webb are great; ditto Jean Louis' vibrant costumes. Cinematographer Russell Metty makes everything gleam. I highly enjoyed the dance choreography. And the musical offerings by Elmer Bernstein, Andre Previn & Joseph Gershenson are fairly infectious; while not being overly memorable. 'TMM' is overlong and, sometimes weird, but I 'thoroughly' enjoyed the frothy quirk of it all.