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Thoroughly Modern Millie

Thoroughly Modern Millie

List Price: $14.98
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Guilty pleasure
Review: Sure it's silly...sure it's long...but this is a great movie. I've loved this movie for years. Julie Andrews is hysterical in her attempts to be a "modern", especially when trying to find the right boss to marry. Mary Tyler Moore is the best as the rich girl trying to make it in the real world (taxis don't take checks?) Come on, how can you not love a movie about white slavery in the '20s with singing and dancing! This movie really is a guilty pleasure.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: CAROL CHANNING IS WONDERFUL!!!!!
Review: The movie is great, a terrific spoof on the 1920's,really funny and with some great songs.As for acting,Julie Andrews and Mary Tyler Moore are SO GOOD! And Bea Lillie is,as always,brilliant. She was a comic genius.I don't see why some person complained about Jimmy Fox.He was perfect as Julie's boyfriend.And you can't compare this movie to "The Sound of Music".Two completely different kinds of film.Any perceptive person could see that.And now to answer the unfair criticism of Carol Channing.Sure,her acting was over-the-top,but the character of Muzzy IS over the top.Her singing is great,and she dances up a storm.A wonderful performance! To appreciate the artistry of Channing you must see her in person.She can enchant and hold an audience better than anyone I have ever seen on the stage.Her "Dolly" is sublime.She is one of the greats.I recommend this video to anyone who loves great fun,great songs,and smashing performances from all involved.Buy it,you won't be disappointed.


Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A thoroughly modern, teriff and delish epic
Review: The only thing wrong with this somewhat "unique" cinematic masterpiece is that it has not received the critical appreciation and acclaim it deserves. Flawless casting, a swinging soundtrack and dazzling dance routines combine to make this a truly unforgettable experience which will change your humdrum existence into something undeniably magical and musical.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Carol Channing Fans really need this one.
Review: The whole cast of this toe-tapping film is strong, but Carol Channing is the cement. She lights up the screen just as much as the stage. The entire movie is loads of fun, and the tunes are great.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Absolutely Terrif!
Review: The Whole stunning cast works together to give a great movie. It is so funny! "Oh! There's nice Mrs. Meers, perhaps she would like a ride?"

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Thoroughly Delightful And Totally Terrif !!
Review: There are not enough stars in any rating system to fully do justice to this wonderfully fun musical that spoofs the 1920s and much else as well. Made in 1967 just as the age of movie making innocence was sadly drawing to a close this film is as fresh and sparkling today as it was at its first release. Blessed with a wonderful cast headed by the legendary Julie Andrews and a group of supporting players second to none, the film also boasts a memorable musical score, lavish costumes and a vivid 1920's period recreation all courtesy of that master of movie gloss Producer Ross Hunter. Nominated for a stunning 7 Academy Awards, (strangely though not for Julie Andrews as Best Actress),the film ended up only winning one for Best Musical Score. The recent Broadway show sadly altered much of this delightful story, music and characters from the original movie supposedly so that it would not "offend", modern audiences whatever that means, but this 1967 movie is the original, unaltered and greatly entertaining version of this story unfettered by stifling 2004 sensibilities.

"Thoroughly Modern Millie", stars Julie Andrews as Millie Dillmount, a young naive girl who comes to New York to find a job as a stenographer and hopefully marry her boss. Her criteria for taking a job is that her boss has to be rich and handsome and above all else SINGLE!! To achieve her aim Millie becomes what is called a "modern", complete with flapper clothes, bobed hair, and of course the essential flat bustline!. At her hotel (For single young ladies!!)Millie makes the acquaintance of new arrival Miss Dorothy (Mary Tyler Moore), a naive girl from California. The two strike up a friendship under the eagle eye of Hotel Proprieteress Mrs Meers (Beatrice Lillie), who uses the hotel as a front for a white slavery ring and preys on all the single women with no families that take up residence there. Millie finds a job at an accounting firm run by Trevor Graydon (John Gavin), who fits all her specifications. Trevor however only views Millie as his ever reliable assistant, nicknames her "John", and is seemingly blind to Millies repeated attempts to seduce him (like any "modern" girl would!). Meanwhile Millie has aroused the attention of fun loving Jimmy (James Fox), who sells paper clips for a living. Jimmy is funny and affectionate and takes the two girls on an extravagant weekend to the Long Island Mansion of ecentric Muzzy Van Hossmere (Carol Channing). Muzzy is very much a free spirit and taking Millie under her wing urges her to simply "follow your heart". Much to Millie's distress however real love blossoms between Miss Dorothy and "her Trevor". Millie continues to be dogged by a besotted Jimmy and when Miss Dorothy disappears from the hotel suspicion falls on Mrs. Meers as the leader of something no good. Millie, Jimmy and Trevor embark on a scheme to not only rescue Miss Dorothy from the clutches of the White Slavery group but turn in Mrs Meers and her gang to the authorities. Jimmy dresses as a woman and pretends to be checking in as a single young woman who is, to quote Mrs Meers, "all alone in the world". The scheme backfires when Jimmy is drugged by some spiked ink and is carried away by Mrs. Meers' Chinese assistants (Jack Soo and Pat Morita),to the opium den in Chinatown to await transportation as a white slave. After Millie sets off a factory full of fireworks a rescue of both Miss Dorothy and Jimmy is made and they escape to Long Island. However they are pursued by Mrs Meers and her men and its through Muzzy's quick thinking that the trio are brought to justice. Millie then learns the "real identitites", of Miss Dorothy and ardent paper clip salesman Jimmy which results in not just one wedding, but three!!

"Thoroughly Modern Millie", is a totally charming film that never fails to fill me with a great feeling with each screening. Julie Andrews had her last big success with this film which became Universal Studios biggest hit that year and rarely has she been better cast. The terrific musical numbers like the Tapioca, and the unforgettable tap number in the hotel's uncooperative lift provide her with just the right avenues for her multi talents and she makes the most of each of these opportunities. As Millie she is both sweet and wacky at times which beautifully shows off her often overlooked talents as a comedian. The supporting cast of Mary Tyler Moore ideally cast as the naive Miss Dorothy who never goes anywhere without her cheque book, and the zany jazz baby Carol Channing in a role ideally suited to her larger than life personality make a viewing of this film a treat. Special mention in the acting stakes however must go to the brilliant Beatrice Lillie in a rare film appearance as the deliciously evil Mrs Meers. I find myself missing her when she is not on screen. Great homage to everything that was distinctive from the twenties is made in this film from the mention of Rudolph Valentino as a great lover, to the obvious tribute to the comic genius of Harold Lloyd in the scenes where Millie and Jimmy are suspended in mid air outside the office building. Universal went all out in their attention to detail on recreating the twenties music, dance, costumes, and cars and have come off with one of the best looking musicals from the 1960's decade. Director George Roy Hill who had guided Julie Andrews through her performance in "Hawaii", the year before does an admirable job of amazingly keeping all of this together in an admittedly long two and a half hour running time.

A fun filled nostalgic journey back to another time is guaranteed in "Thoroughly Modern Millie", which only came about when the rights to "The Boyfriend", could not be purchased. It was a blessing really as what was created from scratch is one of the best original musicals to come from the 1960's. To quote Millie herself it's totally "terrif", "bonzer", and "swell" and makes highly recommended viewer to all lovers of fun filled, tuneful musicals that recall happier simpler times. Enjoy!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: My, Oh my
Review: This film is well interesting. Julie Andrews played the role the best she could, however I don't think it is close to her at her best...(Her best was Sound of Music, by far). Yet, she did excellent and as always her voice is lovely.

I thought Mary Tyler Moore did a fine job as Miss Dorothy. The trouble with the movie comes with Carol Channing. She played this role so annoyingly I almost wanted Mrs. Meers to knock her over the head when they were fighting, I mean how did this girl make it? She can't sing, can't dance and can't act...a triple blow.

Also James Fox was a mess. There was absolutely no chemistry between him and Julie. (Don't watch Sound of Music before this movie because after watching Julie and Chris Plummer you won't be able to believe that Millie and Jimmy are in love.)

Another thing that bothered me was there was a lot of mind singing, so the thoughts were sung in the background while things happened. The opening number was great, yet it would have been even better if it was a big number sung by everyone.

I guess the reason I am hard on this movie is because the new stage production is a million times better. The Muzzy we saw was African American and totally right for the role...inspiring not obnoxtious. Millie and Jimmy were convincing and the new and improved songs were not my favorite, but pretty good. There were showstopping numbers and it was never boring. So see the new TMM!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Silly and Fun
Review: This film represents Julie Andrews at the height of her popularity before the disasterous "Star" which almost brought an early end to her career. Directed by George Roy Hill, who also directed, "The Sting", 'Millie' is a film that has its tongue firmly implanted in the cheek from start to finish. Full of on camera asides, the film was actually shot like an old fashioned mellowdrama, complete with villians, heroes, and plot twists galore. Julie Andrews play our heroine out to prove she can hold her own with any man, only to fall apart in front of a handsome one, who mistakes her name as 'John'. ("Ok, John, pull up a chair and show us your goods!) The film is filled with one liners that will leave you breathless with laughter.

The cast is absolutely delightful in their contributions to the fun: Carol Channing coming fresh from "Hello Dolly" on Broadway is full of mirth. Mary Tyler Moore had just finished the Dick Van Dyke show on television and was known for her comic timing. James Fox had just completed another film comedy called, "Those Magnificent Men and their Flying Machines". John Gavin plays the handsome "straight" man. And who can forget Bea Lillie stumbling through a phoney "chinese" accent.

This movie's release on DVD is long overdue. I only regret that many of the cast members have since passed away, making the supplemental material rather sparse. The songs by Jay Thompson are hilarious, and the production by Ross Hunter was one of the best that Hollywood ever had to offer. Don't forget to bring your check book! Those rich will nickle and dime you to death!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: DON'T WAIT FOR THE CHRISTMAS PARTY! GET IT TODAY!
Review: This has to be one of the most fun movies of all time. The music is GREAT! The acting is GREAT! The singing is GREAT! In a word, it's GREAT!!! The way such strong talent as Julie Andrews, Mary Tyler Moore, Carol Channing and Beatrice Lillie all mesh is amazing. No upstaging.. no trying to steal the show. Just working together to make non-stop, glorious entertainment. Too long? Not a chance. How can something so fun, visually and audibly pleasing, and well-crafted be too long. Many of my friends who aren't fond of musicals really like this one! GET IT!!!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: GREAT VIEWING !!!!
Review: This is a great DVD. Wonderful color and finally a widescreen version of the movie. Julie, Mary and Carol at their funniest. The only complaint I have is that it is a bare bones disc (otherwise it would get 5 stars). NO EXTRAS. While we still have almost the whole cast still around it would be great if they had an audio commentary with about 5 or 6 people reminiscing about the film. Maybe a suggestion if they put out a delux version in a few years. Other than that, you will love this movie. Just get some popcorn and sit back and enjoy.


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