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Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Disney
EAN: 0786936233810
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Label: Walt Disney Video
Languages: EnglishOriginal Language
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
MPN: DISD33598D
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Walt Disney Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: June 01, 2004
Running Time: 172 minutes
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Theatrical Release Date: 1967
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 06/01/2004
Amazon.com:
Reportedly the last feature to be personally shepherded by Walt Disney himself, The Happiest Millionaire is a stubbornly old-fashioned musical intended to build on the success of Mary Poppins, relying on songs and score from Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman, the studio's resident songwriting team responsible for the hits of Poppins. Despite that pedigree, and a cast headlined by Fred MacMurray, Greer Garson, Tommy Steele, Geraldine Page, and, in their screen debuts, Lesley Anne Warren and John Davidson, the would-be successor wound up a white elephant.
Released in 1967, a watershed year for youth culture and social upheaval, The Happiest Millionaire romanticizes Philadelphia's upper crust circa 1916. Its title character, Anthony J. Drexel Biddle (MacMurray), is a militant industrialist urging America's mobilization against Germany, and noteworthy for an eccentric lifestyle that includes his own bible study classes, martial arts training, and (in a lone nod toward any remotely modern social values) a readiness to empower his lovely, headstrong daughter, Cordelia (Warren).
Under Norman Tokar's busy but routine direction, the project does muster moments of charm, and packs its story line with enough twists to partly explain its excessive 144-minute length. But the unintended irony of paeans to capitalism and conservative politics in an era of Sgt. Pepper isn't masked by the Shermans' music, which is eminently forgettable, despite the game mugging of Tommy Steele as an immigrant Irish butler. Equally game is MacMurray, but as a singer, he's no Rex Harrison. --Sam Sutherland
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
The Happiest Millionaire! What an appropriate name for this wonderful movie! You too will be happy watching this charming, toe-tapping classic. This is the extended version which is quite a bit longer than the standard version, but very enjoyable indeed. I recommend it as a movie for all ages, a true classic. Don't miss it, especially if you have children.
Rating: -
There are actually quite a bit of vintage Disney films I have ever yet to see, mostly because I was a very young kid at the time and was occupied with other affairs. However, some of the big hits I managed to see first hand, and this isnt one of them. The Happiest Millionaire I saw thru previews, trailers, outakes, etc. but never the whole film, until now. Wow, I was actually impressed because I knew that this was Mr. Disney's last effort to capture the Mary Poppins crowd, and it didnt completely work at the time. That I knew. I think the bad thing was that the songs werent exciting as Mary Poppins, and many other fine Disney productions. I think, however, that the songs are actually secondary to the pretty good story involving Lesley Ann Warren and handsome John Davidson. Then there's the over the top upper crust stigma dripping wildly from Miss Geraldine Page as John Davidson's overwhelming mother. Wow, again. The songs are forgettable, except for Tommy Steele's opening number, and the interior mansion sets are Disney dazzling. I am very glad that the Disney studios are supplying hungry audiences with dvd updates to many of their films giving a chance for those once loved these films, and those who finally wish to see them in their entirety. Keep it up Disney, I shall be back for more!
Rating:  -
This movie has added footage that was not in the one that I orginally viewed. I prefered the other one. The theatorical version of this movie is better because the added stuff is plain stupid. It did not add anything of value to the film. I bought this version then sold it again. I would buy the old one if it was available.
Rating: -
You could rate this four stars for the edition; I gave it five for the show. The edition would be helped by remastering the film; the color is washed out, the sound could be remixed. That would happen were this a "Disney Classic" and not a Vault Disney style budget release. But that would also price it out of its market. What of the show? This film is hurt by the comparisons with Mary Poppins, a film in which many viewers feel Walt got everything right. On it's own, however, it stands up quite well.
It's a film from a musical from a book, and hearkens back to a nearly forgotten time when kids could buy books in school for 50 cents from little newspapers by Scholastic Book Services circulated on Weekly Reader day. One of these was a skinny b&w photo story from this movie. Live action Disney films were just as anticipated as the animated features. How happy they are again being released in affordable versions. The flyer in this DVD case lists three more Fred Mac Murray films: Son of Flubber, Follow Me, Boys, and the even less seen Bon Voyage.
This film was poised at the cusp, as it were, of what may be seen as the end of classic Disney or the rise of a shift in entertainment, as its release coincided with the Summer of Love and the Beatles' Sgt Pepper album. Everything before that time was effectively buried and is only now being unearthed.
This film was directed by Norman Tokar, with Pat Paulsen from The Donna Reed Show in a minor role. It marked the film debut of John Davidson, who would become a household name and have his own variety TV show. The film's tone is hundreds of times more optimistic than anything now. If it won't win Best Musical, the songs are nevertheless quite stick-in-your head memorable. If the acting seems damped and restrained, it's somewhat due to the subdued "millionaire" setting, amid which MacMurray and the Biddles stand out as non-conformists or rugged individualists. But there are plenty of action scenes: boxing, bar fights, live alligators, and Tommy Steele as the indefatigable Irish butler. Films like this were made for the big screen, for the Saturday afternoon matinee. That's their true home, where they play best.
The "Restored Roadshow Edition" is, frankly, odd. Having not seen the shorter version, I have no idea how much this 172 minute cut exceeds it in length, but there are title cards reading "Overture" at the beginning, "Intermission" in the middle, and "Exit" at the end, clearly meant for theater-going crowds. These add a bit of time on their own. In sum, I think any fan of early Disney would like this film. It would qualify for the way overused term "Disney Classic" not by being splashy and lavish, but because it likely fulfill's Walt's vision for his films. It's odd and unique, and may leave you wondering, as it did me, why can't they make films like this today?
Rating: -
This movie was a favorite of mine as a child. I was so excited to see that it was on DVD. They have extended some of the songs and added a couple of scenes, but it's just as fun as I remembered from when I was a kid. My sister and I even remembered the words to the songs! The characters are wonderful, the songs are great, and the story is charming! Tommy Steele steals just about every scene that he's in. They don't make movies like this anymore!
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