After what seemed like a long, long week...between the weather, a death in the family and a relative in the hospital...it was time to watch something light-hearted and frothy. The film du jour is that snazzy, jazzy Thoroughly Modern Millie starring Julie Andrews, Mary Tyler Moore, Carol Channing, James Fox and the delightfully "evil" Beatrice Lillie. Truly one of the last musical films from the 60s that was meant to entertain.
Julie portrays Millie Dilmount, a young girl in the big city looking for work and living at a hotel, The Priscilla- Residence for Women. The opening scenes have her transforming herself into a snazzy flapper of the early 1920s. Truly, a fun time before the Depression. Incidentally, the title song was nominated for a Best Song Oscar; it was sung by Angela Lansbury, as I recall on the telecast. But, as usual, I digress. Mary Tyler Moore, Miss Dorothy Brown, comes to the big city to become an actress. At the registration desk we meet Mrs. Meers, the house mother, devilishly portrayed by Beatrice Lillie. She is a villainess that, in my opinion, has been overlooked. By the way, she is in cohoots with a big crime syndicate. She is apparently looking for young, orphaned girls. Miss Dorothy falls into that category.
Once registered, Miss Dorothy and Millie ascend to the 12th floor in an elevator that won't move unless you dance to make it move. Couldja just die?! Later we meet James Fox, as Jimmy Smith, a paper clip salesman. He is smitten with Millie and together they invent a new dance, The Tapioca. We also learn that Millie is looking for a job- she can type forty words per minute ("I'm in demand)- a stenographer. And her goal is to marry her boss.
Her boss is the irresistibly handsome John Gavin, as Trevor Graydon. Millie literally swoons. Jimmy, though, still likes Millie and invites her to an outting on Long Island, to the home of his late father's employer, Mrs. Muzzy van Hossmere, deliciously portrayed by Carol Channing. She even got an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actress. Also, it was the only time she was not in Hello, Dolly! on Broadway. She never missed a performance save for this time of filming.
This synopsis could go on forever and you wouldn't want to see the flick. It is a feel good movie; a film you can watch on a cold and rainy day. Warning- it is not politically correct in its portrayal of Chinese. Mrs. Meers speaks in a child like garble that is supposed to be Chinese. And the two Chinese characters who portray Mrs. Meers henchmen are supposed to be "idiots." They did go on to better things...Jack Soo and Pat Morita. Just remember that the film came out in 1967; there was a war in Viet-Nam and political correctness was probably being conceived. If it does not bother you, watch the film and enjoy. NB- the film was adapted for a Broadway incarnation and was most politically correct. It won Best Musical in the early 00s.
There are those
I suppose
Think we're mad
Heaven knows
The world has gone to rack and to ruin
What is chic
Unique and simply quite adorable
They think it odd and
Sodom and Gommorahble
from the title song Thoroughly Modern Millie by Jimmy van Heusen and Sammy Kahn.
