gkeith_1
Spoilers ahead:I am giving this film a 10. It is totally delightful. I feel that all of the actors did excellent jobs. I always love song and dance movies, as you well know. Some of my observations: I thought Jimmy with his red roadster would really be the owner of the insurance company. That did not quite happen. He wasn't really into paper clips so much as being an executive of a steel company. He was even the stepson of Muzzy, that madcap character portrayed by that wonderful Carol Channing. Beatrice Lillie did an excellent job. She had perfect timing. I especially liked her old fashioned shoes, as well as her quirky hairstyle. I was wondering who would get even with her near the end, and it was none other than Muzzy with her rope tricks. Julie Andrews and Mary Tyler Moore were excellent, in their costuming as well as their dancing in the elevator. James Fox and John Gavin were wonderful. They did great acting jobs in this film, in my opinion. 10/10Applause. Smashing. Wonderful.
wes-connors
Decked out in old-fashioned curls and high-buttoned shoes, husband-hunting Julie Andrews (as Millie Dillmount) arrives in 1920s New York City. After looking around at the competition, Ms. Andrews cuts her hair and gets some more modern "flapper" clothing. Andrews finds her apartment and meets dainty aspiring actress Mary Tyler Moore (as Dorothy Brown), from California. Their housemother (landlady) is sneaky Beatrice Lillie (as Mrs. Meers), who is in cahoots with an Asian "white slavery" crime ring. They think Ms. Moore would make a great sex slave. Andrews is attracted to blond paper-clip salesman James Fox (as Jimmy Smith), but doesn't think he's rich enough to marry. She'd rather be a secretary and make her marital "services" available for handsome boss John Gavin (as Trevor Graydon)...As intended, there isn't much "modern" about this film. Too bad there weren't more forward-thinking messages herein, regarding gender and ethnicity - these two areas are involved in some main story points, and both can be seen as regressive. That aside, there is fun to be had. It's nice to see Ms. Lillie on screen again, as well as great character players like Cavada Humphrey (perfect as a rival secretary). All goes well for the first 45 minutes, give or take a scene or two. Around then, you do get the feeling producer Ross Hunter might have put director George Roy Hill on a runaway train. When you reach intermission, you're faced with an uncomfortable realization - it's only half over...The familiar "high rise building" danger is a lift, but look for Mr. Fox to lean too far into the special effect screen and lose part of his head while sitting on the ledge with Andrews. Getting most of the positive reviews, supporting actress Carol Channing (as Muzzy) is definitely a show-stopper - alas, the story needed to move along, not stop. Andrews trades her Mary Pickford curls for her regular Julie Andrews hair-do, but just doesn't capture that Colleen Moore look. However, Mr. Hunter's team has her looking great in her 1920s hat and make-up - especially when walking and outfitted in black-and-white. "Thoroughly Modern Millie" (by Sammy Cahn & Jimmy Van Heusen) is befittingly the most memorable song and Elmer Bernstein's soundtrack complements it well. This should have come in under two hours, but give it a whirl.******* Thoroughly Modern Millie (3/21/67) George Roy Hill ~ Julie Andrews, James Fox, Mary Tyler Moore, Carol Channing
rps-2
This is one my favourite movies of all time so I was DEE-lighted to see that Turner Classic had programmed it. I had my DVD recorder churning away and my eyes glued to my flat screen TV. 1967 is a long time ago. There were no flat screen TV's or DVD's in those days. Not even any Turner Classic Movies or home satellite dishes. Yet this movie is as relevant and as much fun now as it was then. Silly, extravagant, over the top and who cares that some of the buildings and the cars in the shots were wrong because Julie Andrews, Mary Tyler Moore and Jamie Fox are so right! As were Beatrice Lillie and Carol Channing. Whadda cast!!! There is a boisterous, tongue in cheek, satirical,refreshing energy that pervades every scene. Even the nasty business of white slavery is made a basic part of the plot without in any way trivializing the problem although I wonder if the producers would get away with their oriental stereotypes had the film been made today. No message, No serious stuff. No humping scenes or gun battles.Not even any F words! Just a lot of laughs and a lot of great toe tapping twenties music.
