Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining, but Flawed - Buy it for Barbra
Review: Hello Dolly: musical masterpiece, or irrelevant fluff? It depends on what you're expecting from it. People who love this movie, love Barbra Streisand. And what's not to love? She sings the score magnificently. She is funny, engaging, and, in my opinion, the only reason to watch the movie. The film dies when Barbra leaves the screen and comes back to life when she returns (to paraphrase critic Pauline Kael). The paradox is that her very presence makes nonsense of the plot. She's returning to the Harmonia Gardens after fourteen years? How old was she when she got married? 11? And why is she marrying Horace? Money? Security? Panic? Boredom? (It's pretty clear she's not in love with him.) How much can the parade be passing her by at the ripe old age of 26? (I think the reviewer who saw Dolly as a feminist example needs to reexamine the character.) And as entertaining as Striesand is in the movie ' great acting this is not. One minute she's Fanny Brice ('Irene, darling ' the place is crawling with men!'), the next minute she's Mae West ('And on a cold winter night, Horace, you can snuggle up to your cash register!'). Barbra is obviously trying hard to make this theatrical anachronism work, but the material is pushing against her. (So who else should have been cast? I agree that Channing was wonderful on stage, but just too grating on film. It's too bad that Judy Garland was in such bad shape in 1967 ' this would have been a great comeback film for her. Imagine the emotion of her coming down the Harmonia Gardens staircase ' 'It's so nice to have you back where you belong''.) Gene Kelly isn't helping Barbra much, either. His direction is flat and dated. The film looks like an old MGM musical. Which is OK, as far as that goes. But you have to wonder what this could have been if it had been given to someone like Richard Lester, fresh off 'Hard Days Night' and 'Oh, What a Lovely War'. A little irreverence might have helped. All in all, this is an entertaining film ' as long as you don't expect too much. Buy it to hear Barbra sing those songs, and to see what 20 million dollars of movie money could buy in 1967. Back stage note: Contrary to what you might think from watching the movie, the shoot was a pretty unpleasant experience for all concerned. Matthau and Streisand hated each other. (Years later they reconciled.) He thought she was an untalented newcomer who was always making suggestions and prematurely acting like a star. She hated his crass jokes, often made at her expense. The day after Bobby Kennedy was killed, tensions were high on the set. They were in upstate New York shooting in the little town that was filling in for turn-of-the-century Yonkers. It had been raining all week, and filming was constantly being stopped. (Next time you watch the movie notice all the muddy Yonkers streets in the background.) During the filming of the scene with Dolly and Horace talking in the buggy outside the hay and feed store, Barbra and Walter finally exploded at each other. A huge verbal fight ensued with Barbra walking off the set in tears. It took hours for Kelly to get them both back together and to try to hide the damage to her makeup. (Look carefully and you'll see bags under her eyes in several shots.) Matthau complained to the producers, who replied 'Look, the movie's not called 'Hello, Walter!''
Rating: 
Summary: Hello Dolly
Review: Casting was outstanding. Selection of songs & singers could not have been better. My son (43 yrs old & disadvantaged)has worn out 2 VHS tapes of "Hello Dolly" he watches other movies but returns to this great musical comedy continually. I believe Barbra Striesand is one of the greatest singer of songs in our time (or any time) and if possible, she outdid herself in this wonderful movie.Walter Matthau is a truly funny guy, I've seen every movie he ever made from comedy to dramatic and the same goes for Barbra Striesand. What a wonderful, joyous, comedic musical movie, it's a forever movie for any age.
Rating:
Summary: Barbera is like butter!
Review: This is one of Barbera Streisand's best movies. She is absolutely perfect for the role as Dolly Levi. She just shines in this movie:her acting is amazing, her singing just takes my breath away and she is just gorgeous."Hello gorgeous!" I love musicals because I have been in musicals my whole life and musicals just amaze me as did this movie. The costumes and sets were gorgeous,the dance numbers were done to perfection, the singing and harmonies blended so well together and besides romance it had humor. Walter Matthau was made for the role of Horace Vandergelder, no one could have done it better. He is an amazing actor and although he can't sing that great his superb acting and delightfully sarcastic humor makes up for it. Michael Crawford as Cornelius Hackel is so hilarious and amazingly adorable. His character is so lovable and the movie would not be funny without him.Hello Dolly is not just a movie for adults but for all ages and I love it so much that even after watching it over and over I never get tired of it. Hello Dolly is a classic movie and is one that should be cherished for many years and even centuries to come.
Rating:
Summary: Far Superior to Funny Girl
Review: Hello Dolly was far superior to Barbra Streisand's primary star vehicle, Funny Girl. The latter perpetuated the concept of second-class citizenship for females, dependence upon "my man" and a woman's subjugation of her own life to the weaknesses and insecurities of a ne'er-do-well husband. Hello Dolly championed a woman's independence and self-direction, adducing a couple of take-charge entrepreneurs in the two main female roles, two strong ladies who called their own shots. Anyone who considers Funny Girl a good movie has serious internal guidance deficiencies.
Rating:
Summary: Love Barbra
Review: I like this movie more each time I see it. Barbra may be miscast, but she's hilarious and sings the score better than anyone else can. The rest of the cast is fabulous too. Message to the reviewer John in Portland: "The Music Man" beat "West Side Story" for the Tony in 1957; "Dolly" won the Tony in 1964 (and Carol Channing in Dolly beat Barbra in Funny Girl for Best Actress in a musical).
Rating:
Summary: The Perfect Movie!
Review: I first saw this movie when I was six years old. Now I'm twelve. I think that this movie is simply wonderful. Back when I was six, and I saw this movie, I decided that Barbra Streisand was my idol. And she is til this very day. The movie is beautiful, and has catchy songs. The scenes are beautiful, and Cornelious and Barnaby are hilarious. Walter Matthau is the usual grump, but that makes him even more delightful. This movie deserves more than a ten.
Rating:
Summary: Still not sure about this one...
Review: The first time I saw this, I thought it was terrible. I have never been a Barbara Streisand fan, and this era of musicals was very hit or miss. However, I was able to see the theatre production a few times and my opinion was changed. I guess I just got used to it, and was able to appreciate it's peculiar flavor. "Hello Dolly" is a bit silly, with a few catchy tunes. Some of the tunes were more fleshed out in "Mame." It has some great moments that have been strung together and are worth watching the movie for. The Louis Armstrong scene is one of the best. He brings an instant smile to the movie. Michael Crawford is a real scene stealer as Cornielius Hackle. He and his friend Barnaby are the most entertaining of the sub plots. They also get one of the best songs, "Elegance." All of the romances are mismatched, in age, style, and sheer scale. Spider-legged Tommy Tune towers over Ermagarde in the dance scenes, while Cornelius hooks up with a much older/more mature woman. Walter Mathew is gruff and likeable. Everything is just a little bit off, which helps contribute to the quirky nature of the film. At the end of the day, the only disappointment is Dolly herself. Barbara Streisand is annoying as the fast talking matchmaker. It is really the supporting characters that carry this musical. But they do so very well.
Rating:
Summary: The BEST musical EVER
Review: This is one of the best musicals ever made. Barbara Streisand's voice is incredible and is what made me love performing. Every time this movie comes on TV i cancel everything for the rest of the day so i can watch it. Her quick whit and sassy combacks make the movie so enjoyable. Many times i can't stop laughing especially during the first song " Just Leave Everything to Me". She talks so fast it's fun just to try and keep up. See this movie at least once in your life, you will love it if you Barb.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best... Where's the DVD?
Review: As a musical theatre fan, the film version of Hello Dolly! is one of my favorites. This grand movie musical is incredible both because of the massive scope of the production and the performances of its stars. So much attention is given to the fact that Barbara S. was "too young" to play the role of Dolly Levi. Let me say this: I've seen Carol Channing do the part on stage...and the movie would have been ENTIRELY different with her on the screen. Barbara adds some incredible energy and fun that I don't believe Channing would have carried on-screen. I'm just waiting for the DVD version to become available to purchase this CLASSIC must-have film. Did you know Hello Dolly! beat out WEST SIDE STORY for the Best Musical Tony? I don't know why that happened.. but I do know that this is one of the most entertaining films EVER.
Rating: 
Summary: Hello Dolly is a very Good Movie
Review: Hello Dolly is a very good movie. Barbra Streisand is perfect as Dolly Levi she might be too young but she fit the part.I think she is a good singer... I think Is a nice story. It Not one of my favorite movie...... rated a 4
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