Doctor Dolittle (1967)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Edward Cast	...	Prison Guard (uncredited)
Judy Chapman	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Phyllis Coghlan	...	Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Gene Columbus	...	Circus clown (uncredited)
Cyril Cross	...	Charlie (uncredited)
Peter Crowcroft	...	Assistant Judge (uncredited)
John Dolan	...	Fisherman (uncredited)
Jesslyn Fax	...	Old Woman (uncredited)
Arthur Gould-Porter	...	Sir Rupert (uncredited)
Eric Heath	...	Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Kendrick Huxham	...	Elderly Man (uncredited)
Theron Jackson	...	Boy (uncredited)
Queenie Leonard	...	Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Lewis Loughran	...	Fisherman (uncredited)
Angela Miller	...	Child (uncredited)
Frank Radcliffe	...	Strong Man (uncredited)
Jack Raine	...	Vicar (uncredited)
Danny Rees	...	Juggler (uncredited)
Russell Robinson	...	Child (uncredited)
Angelo Rossitto	...	Dwarf (uncredited)
Wally Ross	...	Elephant Act (uncredited)
Ted Stanhope	...	Assistant Judge (uncredited)
Geoffrey Steele	...	Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Gilchrist Stuart	...	The Vicar (uncredited)
Olga Sutcliffe	...	Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Ginny Tyler	...	Polynesia (voice) (uncredited)
Frank Welker	...	Pushme-pullyu (voice) (uncredited)
Bob Winters	...	Juggler (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Fleischer

Writing credits
Hugh Lofting		(novels)
Leslie Bricusse		(screenplay)

Produced by
Mort Abrahams	....	associate producer
Arthur P. Jacobs	....	producer

Original Music by
Alexander Courage
Lionel Newman

Cinematography by
Robert Surtees

Film Editing by
Samuel E. Beetley
Marjorie Fowler

Production Design by
Mario Chiari

Art Direction by
Ed Graves
Jack Martin Smith

Set Decoration by
Stuart A. Reiss
Walter M. Scott

Costume Design by
Ray Aghayan

Makeup Department
Margaret Donovan	....	hair stylist
Ben Nye	....	makeup artist

Production Management
William Eckhardt	....	unit production manager
Jack Stubbs	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Lang	....	assistant director

Sound Department
James Corcoran	....	sound supervisor
Bernard Freericks	....	sound
Buddy Myers	....	sound (as John Myers)
Murray Spivack	....	sound supervisor
Douglas O. Williams	....	sound (as Douglas Williams)
Richard Sperber	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
L.B. Abbott	....	special photographic effects
Art Cruickshank	....	special photographic effects
Emil Kosa Jr.	....	special photographic effects
Howard Lydecker	....	special photographic effects

Stunts
Julie Ann Johnson	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Thomas Del Ruth	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Dave Friedman	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Robert Willoughby	....	special still photographer (uncredited)

Music Department
Alexander Courage	....	conductor
Ian Fraser	....	vocal supervisor
Robert Mayer	....	music editor
Lionel Newman	....	conductor
Herbert Ross	....	dances and musical numbers staged by
Bob Bain	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)
Alexander Courage	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Don Record	....	title designer
Ralph M. Leo	....	production accountant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• APJAC Productions (as An Arthur P. Jacobs Production)
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1967) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1973) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• CBS/Fox (video)
• Fox Video (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• Fox Video (1993) (USA) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• Pacific Title  titles

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:

Hugh Griffith was seriously favored for the part played by Richard Attenborough but the production team did not hire him because of his drink problem.

Goofs:

Factual errors: "Sea Star Island" is a floating island that moves around, yet it has an active volcano on it. This is impossible since, to be active, a volcano must be connected to a source of magma.

Quotes:

Emma Fairfax: If I were his nephew instead of his niece...
Dr. Dolittle: If you were his nephew, you'd hardly be called Emma Fairfax.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Tremors: The Sounds of Silence (#1.10)" (2003)

Soundtrack:

I've Never Seen Anything Like It

Not Just For Animal Lovers!

If the only "Dr. Dolittle" you've ever known is Eddie Murphy's rendition, you need to see Rex Harrison's original performance! The first "Dolittle" has the remake and its sequel beat by a mile! Sure, it has the look and feel of those campy 1960's movies, like "Mary Poppins" and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang." But it also has the same comfy and family-friendly appeal. The original movie best captures the image of Hugh Lofting's famous veterinarian, in 19th-century England, just as he should be! So never mind Eddie Murphy, and enjoy the real Dr. Dolittle!