Doctor Dolittle (1967)

Director:

Richard Fleischer

Writers:

Hugh Lofting (novels)
Leslie Bricusse (screenplay)

Release Date:

19 December 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

Ride across the sea inside the GIANT PINK SEA SNAIL!

Plot:

Doctor Dolittle is a world-renowned veterinarian who speaks a wide array of animal languages. He sets off from his home in Puddleby-on-the-Marsh...

Plot Keywords:

Moth | England | Snail | Veterinarian | North Atlantic

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Rex Harrison	...	Dr. John Dolittle
Samantha Eggar	...	Emma Fairfax
Anthony Newley	...	Matthew Mugg
Richard Attenborough	...	Albert Blossom
Peter Bull	...	General Bellowes
Muriel Landers	...	Mrs. Blossom
William Dix	...	Tommy Stubbins
Geoffrey Holder	...	William Shakespeare X
Portia Nelson	...	Sarah Dolittle
Norma Varden	...	Lady Fetherington

Runtime:

152 min | 145 min (FMC Library Print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Iceland:L | UK:U | Australia:G | Argentina:Atp | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Ranch, Malibu Creek State Park - 1925 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, California, USA

Company:

APJAC Productions

Trivia:

Producer Arthur P. Jacobs originally thought he could interest Sidney Poitier in the role of William Shakespeare X, even hiring Broadway actor Gilbert Price to provide Poitier's singing voice. Poitier turned the part down, explaining "I'm an actor not an entertainer". 'Sammy Davis Jr' was also briefly considered. In the finished film the character does not sing.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the Flounder is first seen "sailing," not only are the sails hanging limp but there is an obvious stirring behind the ship from its propeller, indicating that it's being powered by an engine.

Quotes:

Dr. Dolittle: If one place is as good as any other, it's high time we decided. Otherwise when we get there, we won't know we've arrived.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in En la cama (2005)

Soundtrack:

Overture

Rex makes it wonderful...

So attached am I to Rex Harrison's personage to the character of Doctor Dolittle, when I see copies of Hugh Lofting's books without the movie tie-in shots I actually feel cheated. There is no other Doctor Dolittle for me. Harrison is wonderful and regal amongst his animals and I love many of his lines (the spin he gives to his dialogue makes the words his own). My favorite: "When you say 'He can speak crab and pelican', they'll say 'Like hell he can!'" (cue parrot's ruffled reaction). Admittedly, "Doctor Dolittle" gets off to a clunky start with Anthony Newley telling of Dolittle's beginnings...and the film goes into stillborn flashback mode. I get defensive if a movie foists a flashback on me in the first 15 minutes (and this flashback is a long one, laden with silly slapstick). Why not start the story with Dolittle finding his voice, cut the introduction with Newley, and then get on with the plot? After this tiresome, talky opening, the pacing does pick up (right about the time Richard Attenborough enters as circus-owner Blossom). Harrison is on-target throughout but, story-wise, momentum doesn't build until the second hour, when Dolittle and his companions hit the South Seas in search of the Great Pink Sea Snail. Overall, the film simply LOOKS smashing, with marvelous locations in England's most beautiful city, Castle Combe. It is flawed (with that bad opening), but stick with it and see if you find Rex Harrison as charming as I did. **1/2 from ****