Based on the book my philadelphia father, by kyle chrichton. The film, scored by the sherman brothers, received an academy award nomination for costume design by bill thomas. The year is 1916, and in the busy household on rittenhouse square each of the family members has hopes and dreams. But when walt passed away on december 15, 1966, the film was in still very much in flux. The happiest millionaire movie posters from movie poster shop.
Please see all pictures and visit our ebay store and other ebay auctions. Based on a true story fred mcmurray plays the role of an outrageously eccentric millionaire. His daughter, cordelia drexel biddle, tires of the unusual antics of her fatherespecially since the. The overall effect, however, is one of pleasure and the movie is ideal family entertainment. The screenplay is by aj carothers based on the play that was based on the book my philadelphia father. The happiest millionaire, the last film walt disney oversaw, is a grandscale production in the style of the classic musicals of the day. This was the very last film with personal involvement from walt disney who died during its production. Dec 28, 2011 pet alligators roaming the conservatory, a bibleandboxing school in the stables, and a delightfully eccentric millionaire make for unrestrained pandemonium in this musical extravaganza. The happiest millionaire 1967 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Like disneys previous mary poppins, the happiest millionaire is decked out with a vibrant. Happiest millionaire walt disney film soundtrack lp ebay. Father, this disney musical entertains in a flick full of charming characters. Unfortunately, millionaire onscreen lacks the charm and more importantly the focus. The happiest millionaire broadway play original ibdb.
In the film, cordelia drexel biddle is from philadelphia, pennsylvania and angie duke is from new york city. Along toward the third hour of the happiest millionaire, you begin to suspect its a fully automated smile that pops open and snaps shut in response to a transistor concealed somewhere in greer garsons hair. Drexel biddle, and his unusual philadephia family, seen through the eyes of their new to the u. It essentially offers everything the better of the two. Sep 19, 20 the film ends with ending credits and exit music. His daughter, cordelia drexel biddle, tires of the. The complete lack of extras is disappointing, as even a classic trailer would have put some context to the film. The happiest millionaire 1967 the movie database tmdb. The happiest millionaire yes that really is an alligator. On paper, the happiest millionaire must have seemed like a surefire musical hit in the profitable mary poppins vein. The film is truly a disney musical with lighthearted humor and drama. Tommy steele has just about the widest, toothiest smile ive ever seen. The happiest millionaire is a pleasant, tuneful, tasteful musical that is also overlong and uneven.
Shooting was completed on the happiest millionaire when walt disney died in december 1966, but the editing dragged on as you can imagine from all the different versions. Based on the musical of the same name, fred mcmurray my three sons plays mr. Pet alligators roaming the conservatory, a bibleandboxing school in the stables, and a delightfully eccentric millionaire make for unrestrained pandemonium in this musical extravaganza. From the film starring fred macmurray, tommy steele, greer garson, geraldine page, lesley ann warren and john davidson. It is too much of a smile even for a walt disney movie. Pet alligators roaming the conservatory, a bibleandboxing school in the stables, and a delightfully eccentric millionaire make for unrestrained pandemonium in. Pet alligators roaming the conservatory, a bibleandboxing school in the stables, and a delightfully eccentric millionaire make for unrestrained pandemonium in this musical disney extravaganza. The happiest millionaire is undeniably a childrens film, and it should suite any child or young teenager that likes the musical genre e. Douglas believes the happiest millionaire is much better than what the critics declared 32 years ago. The happiest millionaire original, play, comedy, broadway opened in new york city nov 20, 1956 and played through jul, 1957. A disney film about a newly immigrated lad who finds a job as butler in the home of an eccentric millionaire. Cast and crew credits for the happiest millionaire, 1967, directed by norman tokar, with fred macmurray, tommy steele, greer garson, at turner classic movies. This was the last film walt disney had anything to do with. Brooke shields will help lesley ann warren bring happiest millionaire to.
Mcmurrays character teaches boxing and keeps a gang of alligators as pets. The happiest millionaire a happy and unbelievably lucky. Brooke shields will help lesley ann warren bring happiest. Drexel biddle, an eccentric millionaire and boxing enthusiast whose chief pastimes are raising alligators and teaching the members of his bible class the art of selfdefense, the virtues of. That may be the real key to the happiest millionaire wound up being such a bore. My daughter age 14 loves musicals such as 7 brides for 7 brothers, thoroughly modern millie, and the sound of music, so i tried her with this ntsc region 1. The happiest millionaire 1967 approved 2h 21min comedy, family, musical 7 december 1967 australia a happy and unbelievably lucky young irish immigrant, john lawless, lands a job as the butler of an unconventional millionaire, biddle. Watch the happiest millionaire online 1967 movie yidio. How it gets there is what makes the happiest millionaire an all time classic to be viewed. The setting is the early years of the 20th century, prior to the debut of television and modern day electronics. The film received an oscar nomination for best costume design. Carothers and based on the play that was based on the book my philadelphia father by cordelia drexel.
In fact she rates the happiest millionaire as high as her all time fave calamity jane, hence our 5 rating. Sep 14, 2016 shooting was completed on the happiest millionaire when walt disney died in december 1966, but the editing dragged on as you can imagine from all the different versions. The happiest millionaire 1967 tommy steele in the happiest millionaire 1967 the happiest millionaire. A happy and unbelievably lucky young irish immigrant, john lawless, lands a job as the butler of an unconventional millionaire, biddle. The film was finally released in june, 1967, though it hit some major cities in december for christmas. The happiest millionaire 1967 the blonde at the film. The happiest millionaire is currently available on dvd, where its original roadshow length has been restored, intermission and all. Its 1916, and the wealthy drexelbiddle family is prominent in philadelphia. The happiest millionaire movie tv listings and schedule tv. Aug 21, 2012 to tell you the truth, i really thought this was a corny movie when i first saw it. Happiest millionaire, the film in words and music, this is the story of the happiest millionaire, nonconformist anthony j. Tradeshown at 164 minutes, later cut to 141 before release.
Since both anchor bay dvds of the happiest millionaire are long out of print and have been fetching high prices in online marketplaces, disneys dvd release is appreciated. The score was by the poppins boys, the milieu was populated by servants and their employees, and the cast included talented, appealing performers, both freshfaced and veteran. This was the last liveaction film to personally supervised by walt disney. Like disneys previous mary poppins, the happiest millionaire is decked out with a vibrant musical score by richard and robert sherman, but the magic is somehow lacking this time around. The happiest millionaire is a 1967 musical film starring fred macmurray, based upon the true story of philadelphia millionaire anthony j. Along toward the third hour of the happiest millionaire, you begin to suspect its a fully automated smile that pops open and snaps shut in response to a transistor concealed somewhere in greer garsons hair the smile, i think, is a symbol of whats wrong. Truly a disney musical movie with an allstar cast and a good feeling about it when it is over. His daughter, cordelia drexel biddle, tires of the unusual antics of her fatherespecially since the nice young men around town all fear him. This was the full 172 minute cut of the film, which included an overture, intermission, and exit music. The happiest millionaire is a 1967 musical film starring fred macmurray and based upon the true story of philadelphia main line millionaire anthony j. Wouldnt you fear a fatherinlaw that keeps alligators for pets and teaches boxing at his daily bible classes. The film received an academy award nomination for costume design by bill thomas. The biddle mansion is the gathering place for a pugilistic boxing class, pet alligators and wouldbe opera singers.
To tell you the truth, i really thought this was a corny movie when i first saw it. The happiest millionaire original cast soundtrack album. Fred macmurray, tommy steele, greer garson, geraldine page, lesley ann warren, john davidson. The film is presented in nonanamorphic widescreen 1.
The film may be too happygolucky for the average viewer, but should be required viewing for any disney fan. With fred macmurray, tommy steele, greer garson, gladys cooper. The musical song score is by robert and richard sherman. The film was released june 1967 a year after walts death. The misadventures of the biddle family of rich eccentrics in philadelphia are dramatized by kyle crichton from the book my philadelphia father, which he cowrote with daughter cordelia biddle.
Adapted from the book and play of the same name, the happiest millionaire is the mostly true story of eccentric philadelphia millionaire anthony j. Very near the end of his life, walt watched a rough cut of the happiest millionaire, and conferred with staff on how to edit into something below three hours in length. We are first introduced to this family through john lawless tommy steele, a slick, optimistic irish immigrant seeking the position of butler. Millionare has that polished, expensive disney feel of the mary poppinns period and the performers bring great joy. Biddle who is also the happiest millionaire in philadelphia, pennsylvania and perhaps the entire world. The happiest millionaire 1967 u 11967 us comedy, drama, family, music 2h 52m user score. Fred macmurray presides over a philadelphia mansion where just about anything can happen. The screenplay is by aj carothers based on the play that was based on the book my. The happiest millionaire 1967 norman tokar synopsis. The happiest millionaire movie tv listings and schedule. The film, featuring music by the sherman brothers, was nominated for an academy award for best costume design by bill thomas.
From the film starring fred macmurray, tommy steele, greer garson, geraldine page, lesley. Watch the happiest millionaire full movie video dailymotion. The critics kind of went after disney from 1967 through 1972. The happiest millionaire is a 1967 musical film starring fred macmurray and based upon the true story of philadelphia millionaire anthony j. The happiest millionaire premiered on june 23rd, 1967 in hollywood. See more ideas about disney live action films, classic films and happy. The happiest millionaire dvd, 2004 for sale online ebay. Norman tokar, cordelia drexel biddle, kyle crichton, a.
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