The Happiest Millionaire
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| The Happiest Millionaire | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Norman Tokar |
| Produced by | Walt Disney Bill Anderson |
| Written by | Cordelia Drexel Biddle(book) AJ Carothers |
| Starring | Fred MacMurray Greer Garson Tommy Steele Lesley Ann Warren |
| Music by | Robert B. Sherman Richard M. Sherman |
| Distributed by | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Release date(s) | June 23, 1967 |
| Running time | 144 Min 164 Min Theatrical 172 Min Director's Cut |
| Country | US/Canada |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
The Happiest Millionaire is a 1967 musical film, based upon the true story of Philadelphia millionaire Anthony J. Drexel Biddle. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Costume Design by Bill Thomas. The musical song score is by Robert and Richard Sherman. The Screenplay is by AJ Carothers. This was the last live-action musical comedy film produced by Walt Disney, who died during its production.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
The story follows an Irish immigrant named John Lawless (Tommy Steele) as he applies for a butler position with eccentric Philadelphia millionaire Anthony J. Drexel Biddle (Fred MacMurray). Even though the family is a bit strange, Lawless soon learns that he fits right in. Mr. Biddle takes a liking to him immediately and "hires" him. For the rest of the film, Lawless serves as the narrator/commentator.
Mr. Biddle busies himself with his Biddle Boxing and Bible School (located in his garage) and his alligators in the conservatory. His wife, Cordelia (Greer Garson), stands by, accepting his eccentricities with a sense of pride and class. The two sons, Tony and Livingston (Paul Petersen and Eddie Hodges, respectively) are headed off to college, never to be seen in the film again. The daughter, Cordy (Lesley Ann Warren, in her film debut), is a tomboy of sorts that had knocked out all of her potential suitors with a single punch. She tires of her father's eccentric house and wishes to see what's beyond the Biddle manor.
Biddle lets Cordy go to a boarding school (after some prodding), where her roommate teaches her how to lure men with her feminine wiles, known as "Bye-um-pum-pum". At a social dance, Cordy meets Angier Duke (John Davidson, in his film debut) and falls in love with him. He tells Cordy that he is fascinated with the new automobile and wants to head to Detroit, Michigan to make his fortune separate from his family's fortune.
Cordy comes back to her parents' home and tells them that she is getting married to Angie. At first, this is a difficult thing for Mr. Biddle to take. He does not want to give up his little girl. After meeting Angie, and sampling his Jiu Jitsu fighting skills, Biddle takes a liking to him and accepts the proposal. The family then makes arrangements for a very grand wedding.
The stress of the wedding plans and disapproving remarks from Angie's mother (Geraldine Page) cause Cordy to get lost in the fray. Not surprisingly, Angie feels the same way. But their ways of dealing with the stress differ, which leads them to fight and call off the wedding. This sends the entire family into upheaval. Biddle sends John Lawless after Angie.
John finds Angie at the local tavern, contemplating what he will do next. During a rousing song-and-dance sequence, John tries to convince Angie to go back to Cordy. At first, Angie is stubborn and thinks of other ways to get out of his fix, saying that he wants to join the Foreign Legion. A bar fight breaks out and Angie is hauled off to jail.
In prison, Biddle comes to bail Angie out. He then reasons with Angie and gets him to understand how much Cordy cares for him. Angie decides to marry Cordy after all. But, he becomes forceful, and elopes with Cordy to Detroit.
[edit] Songs
- "Fortuosity"
- "What's Wrong with That?"
- "When a Man Has a Daughter"
- "I'll Always Be Irish"
- "Are We Dancing"
- "Strengthen The Dwelling"
- "Watch Your Footwork"
- "I Believe in This Country"
- "There Are Those"
- "Valentine Candy"
- "Bye-Yum Pum Pum"
- "Let's Have A Drink On It"
- "Detroit"
- "It Won't Be Long 'Til Christmas"
[edit] Production Notes
- This was the last live-action feature film that Walt Disney saw completed before his death in December 1966. He never saw the film released to the public.
- The phone booth Mrs. Worth uses to make a call still exists. It is kept inside Club 33 at Disneyland Park. Guests of the Club can use it to make phone calls.
- Some of the décor and set pieces from the "Let's Have a Drink on It" bar set were salvaged and placed into the Café Orleans restaurant in Disneyland's New Orleans Square.
- The song "Detroit" contains the lyric "Detroit F.O.B." (freight on board). According to the Shermans, Walt Disney was walking down the hall of the studio animation building and overheard the Shermans singing the song. Walt misinterpreted the phrase as "S.O.B." Walt immediately went into their office and scolded them for using such offensive language in a Disney movie. The Shermans explained Walt's misinterpretation and they all had a good laugh about it.
- Steve Bartek, composer for Disneyland's short-lived "Rocket Rods" attraction, created a special arrangement of the Sherman brothers' "Detroit" song as part of the waiting area entertainment.
[edit] Different Versions
The film previewed at the length of 172 minutes, which included overture, intermission music, entr'acte, and exit music. However, the studio decided to shorten the film to 160 minutes soon afterwards for its premiere. In the face of mixed reviews and low box-office returns, the studio cut it to 144 minutes. Again failing to stem the tide, they cut it to 118 minutes. The complete 172 minute version was restored for the Disney Channel, and has been released on DVD, as have shorter versions. The full-length version has been called the "Roadshow" edition.
