johnstonjames "ain't dis uh eleegunt naybor-hooood..." coo coos the butler played by Tommy Steele. well i suppose. it kind of seems like it's populated by right wing Republican fanatics. for the rest of us who don't lean that far or those in the middle, this neighborhood can be a little off-putting.Republicans are always griping about how Hollywood is so far to the left and they never make fun films that glorify the Republican way of thinking. those people have obviously never seen 'The Happiest Millionaire' or know much about Disney's politics. Disney was a avid right wing Republican who loved Richard Nixon and was a personal friend of his. he also was rabidly anti-communist and hated labor unions. this was Disney's last film and was a true testament to what he believed. not to mention one of the most deeply right wing films i have ever seen from Hollywood.if you are even remotely skeptical, then maybe you should know the songs and see the movie. what other musical has the lead character pontificate fondly about "God, the Bible, the Marines and the flag above"? no joke. those are the lyrics. if that ain't right wing American politics...i'm no liberal and am hardly toward the left. but i'm no Republican either and am always suspicious that right wing politics really embodies any true values. not being a Republican, do i still like this movie commercial for the United State's Marine Corps.? well yeah. i hesitantly assert that and with some embarrassment. especially since i hate politics. especially in pure entertainment films. i also feel that politics has no place in a Disney film. but this was how Walt felt politically. no use in hiding it or making pretense about it. Disney was a hard core Republican. simple fact. deal with it or let it haunt you forever.i grew up loving this film and it's soundtrack. it was one of the first big, film musicals that i actually understood and liked outside of the lavish children's musical 'Mary Poppins'. i also happen to love the films that Fred MacMurray made for Disney and i happen to really, really, love the coupling of John Davidson and Lesley Ann Warren who are one of my favorite and one of cinema's most innocent romantic couples. they just generate a sweet, blissful, naiveté.i also am really fond of the songs. "Are We Dancing" is one of my favorite romantic duets in film musical history. and i've seen a lot. i also love the Tommy Steele musical number "Fortuosity" which is much the foundation of Disney's philosophy for America.it's also interesting to note, that in one of the film's best musical numbers, "I Will Always Be Irish", there is a lyrical nod to Democrat elect John Kennedy. the lyric is, "and i'll bet one day we have an Irish President!". the one single light for liberal Democrats in a film that is a sea of conservatism and Republican rhetoric.no i don't really support the politics in this film. i try not to be partisan or support anything so slanted toward one point of view. but i still continue to watch this film to this day. and probably always will. i don't like politics, but i love Disney. i also love Fred MacMurray, Greer Garson, Tommy Steele and John Davidson and Lesley Ann in this. and it is a very well made film.oh. and lets not forget the alligators. definitely the alligators were what attracted me to this most as a child. seeing Tommy Steele walk the alligator on a leash is, for me, a very memorable Disney moment.oh. and Fred MacMurray sings opera. for whatever that's worth.

bkoganbing Live Disney musicals that were made after Mary Poppins had an almost impossible standard to meet. Even with a lot of the same talent that brought us Mary Poppins, The Happiest Millionaire falls well short of the accolades that Mary Poppins won.Not that it's a bad film by any means, just not an outstanding one. Uncle Walt once again made use of the Sherman Brothers to write the score. Their best number is right at the beginning of the film and sung by Tommy Steele, Fortuosity.The film is based originally on a book of memoirs that Cordelia Biddle Duke wrote about growing up in Philadelphia with her eccentric father. The book was co-authored with Kyle Crichton who also authored a Broadway play The Happiest Millionaire which ran a respectable 271 performances in 1956-57 and starred Walter Pidgeon.Taking Pidgeon's place for the screen is Disney's favorite star Fred MacMurray. The story takes place 1916-17 in Philadelphia where we meet Anthony Drexel Biddle a man who keeps pet alligators he captured in the Everglades and believes that Christianity should walk hand in hand with pugilism. He gives both Bible and boxing classes in the stately Biddle manor.Although she did television through the next decade occasionally The Happiest Millionaire marked the farewell big screen appearance of Greer Garson. Greer's fine in the part as the ever patient wife, but I see traces of that other perfect wife of the big screen, Myrna Loy in the part.Although daughter Cordelia wrote the book, the film is really seen through the eyes of the newly hired butler, who himself is newly arrived from Ireland. My favorite in this film is Tommy Steele as John Lawless the butler who just fits right into the general zaniness of things. And Steele has the best song.Lesley Ann Warren and John Davidson make an appealing pair of young lovers as Davidson is quite intimidated by the eccentric MacMurray. Others in the cast are Geraldine Page as Davidson's grand dame of a mother, Gladys Cooper as an even grander dame as MacMurray's aunt and Hermione Baddely as a maid who lets nothing faze her.The Happiest Millionaire is not Mary Poppins, but it's still contains it share of magic from the Magic Kingdom.

vminniear This one has it all! We have alligators for the boys, gorgeous turn of the century fashion for the girls, singing and dancing for those of us who love musicals (my husband hated musicals and he loved this movie), a great barroom brawl, historical accuracy, excellent performances by all (neat to see John Davidson and Lesley Ann Warren at the beginning of their careers and Greer Garson at the end as well as the historical significance that it is Walt Disney's last). It is a great story of a girl who is trying to find her place in the world ("Are You Valentine Candy or Boxing Gloves?") with the contrast of old money and nouveau riche ("There are Those" - rewind frequently - this is the best song!!!)set in the fascinating era of early 20th century ("Byum Pum Pum" - you gotta see Warren's high kick in this one!) Great love story with plenty of action. The only sad part is that the marriage between Cordelia Drexel Biddle and Angier Duke didn't last. I saw it in 1967 on vacation in St Louis and we recorded it on a PBS special 30 years later. Our tape is worn out and I have been looking for a copy of this movie for a year!! I do have the video of my son at age 4 dancing Tommy Steele's "Fortuosity" on our bed. I need a new copy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mntwister 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.