After the tremendous success of "Mary Poppins", the musical writing duo of the Sherman Brothers were on top of the world. Their songs were truly memorable and the film a huge hit. But, amazingly, just a few years later, the duo tried again to have a hit musical...only to have it flop miserably. There were two main problems...the quality of the songs in "The Happiest Millionaire" simply wasn't there (such as the oft repeated "Fortuosity") AND a few of the singers had no right to ever sing a note in any musical. Perrenial game show guest Joyce Bulifant was godawful in the film when she sang....and Fred MacMurray wasn't much better nor was Gladys Cooper. Why they would have any of them sing is beyond me. No wonder the film did poorly simply because of these two big problems.
You also know that the film was a troubled project when it clocked in at nearly three hours but the studio chopped it down several times to shorter lengths in an attempt to gain traction. And traction is something the film just couldn't establish.
The story is about an eccentric rich guy (MacMurray) and his family, in particular, his comely daughter (Leslie Ann Warren). It's on the eve of the US entry into WWI and although life seems sweet, problems are on the horizon. Anthony Biddle (MacMurray) operates a strange Bibile school, which is like a combination of a Bible program and YMCA...stressing exercise and manliness. He also keeps pet alligators for some inexplicable reason. In the midst of this manliest of households is Biddle's youngest daughter, Cordelia (Warren)...a tom-boy who wants to go away to college and live like a normal lady. And, in the process, she falls in love...which means a lot of singing. Unfortunately, the boyfriend's family, though rich, is nothing like Cordelia's and it threatens their pending nuptuals.
Overall, this is NOT a bad film...though a disappointing one. The story itself is good...the songs, certainly, are not. And, since there are so many forgettable songs, it makes the story drag. Worth seeing but considering the film's length, you might just want to pass on this one.
You also know that the film was a troubled project when it clocked in at nearly three hours but the studio chopped it down several times to shorter lengths in an attempt to gain traction. And traction is something the film just couldn't establish.
The story is about an eccentric rich guy (MacMurray) and his family, in particular, his comely daughter (Leslie Ann Warren). It's on the eve of the US entry into WWI and although life seems sweet, problems are on the horizon. Anthony Biddle (MacMurray) operates a strange Bibile school, which is like a combination of a Bible program and YMCA...stressing exercise and manliness. He also keeps pet alligators for some inexplicable reason. In the midst of this manliest of households is Biddle's youngest daughter, Cordelia (Warren)...a tom-boy who wants to go away to college and live like a normal lady. And, in the process, she falls in love...which means a lot of singing. Unfortunately, the boyfriend's family, though rich, is nothing like Cordelia's and it threatens their pending nuptuals.
Overall, this is NOT a bad film...though a disappointing one. The story itself is good...the songs, certainly, are not. And, since there are so many forgettable songs, it makes the story drag. Worth seeing but considering the film's length, you might just want to pass on this one.