The Happiest Millionaire (1967)

Director:

Norman Tokar

Writers:

AJ Carothers (screenplay)
Kyle Crichton (play)

Release Date:

7 December 1967 (Australia)

Genre:

Family | Romance | Comedy | Musical

Tagline:

So Big!... So Romantic!... So Full of Life!

Plot:

A happy and unbelievably lucky young Irish immigrant, John Lawless, lands a job as the butler of an unconventional millionaire...

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Kids And Family | Based On Book | Based On Play

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Fred MacMurray	...	Father
Tommy Steele	...	John Lawless
Greer Garson	...	Mother
Geraldine Page	...	Mrs. Duke
Gladys Cooper	...	Aunt Mary Drexel
Hermione Baddeley	...	Mrs. Worth
Lesley Ann Warren	...	Cordy
John Davidson	...	Angie Duke
Paul Petersen	...	Tony Biddle
Eddie Hodges	...	Livingston Biddle
Joyce Bulifant	...	Rosemary
Sean McClory	...	Police Sgt.
Jim McMullan	...	Lt. Powell
William Wellman Jr.	...	Lt. Grayson
Aron Kincaid	...	Walter Blakely

Runtime:

141 min | Sweden:118 min | USA:159 min (re-release) | USA:164 min (original version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:G

Company:

Walt Disney Productions

Trivia:

This marks the final film appearance of actress Greer Garson.

Goofs:

Continuity: When John and Angie are at the bar, the amounts of Stout in the two glasses change between frames.

Quotes:

[first lines]
John Lawless: [singing] Well now, ain't this an elegant neighborhood, all the residents dressed so fine! One day off the boat am I, with a job that's near, an' mine! 'Tis a job with an elegant millionaire, and his elegant family! Today I move from immigrant - to high society!

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Age of Believing: The Disney Live Action Classics (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

STRENGTHEN THE DWELLING

A DELIGHT

I am not sure why some of the people disliked the film so much. The musical score by the Sherman Brothers is first class, the casting excellent, and the story moving. It seems to me those who review films like this in the negative really can't sit down and be entertained for a few hours. One doesn't always need a deep movie....a person can watch this film and feel good when it's over, and to me, that's what film is best at.

I just watched for the 6th time the dvd of the roadshow edition, and it is much better than the edited version. The ending was too abrupt before, and now we have not only an extra song, but a much better climax, that of a grand musical.

Leslie Ann Warren and John Davidson make their screen debut, and both are perfectly cast. The soundtrack on the dvd has been restored and sounds wonderful, especially in scenes with an orchestra, and the picture quality is very good for the period.

The best thing about this film is the score of the wonderful Sherman Brothers. Songs like FORTUOSITY,ARE WE DANCING, I'LL ALWAYS BE IRISH, DETROIT, NO DILLY DALLY, THERE ARE THOSE are much under-rated. This is an excellent original musical score.

Highly recommend for kids, families, and grown ups with a child still within.