Doctor Dolittle (1967) Link
Harrison essentially reprises his Henry Higgins persona from My Fair Lady . His half-spoken singing style and "haughty" screen presence can feel aloof rather than endearing.
The 1967 version of Doctor Dolittle , starring Rex Harrison, is a lavish, often overstuffed musical spectacle that serves as a fascinating time capsule of the "Old Hollywood" roadshow era. While it was a notorious box-office failure at the time, it remains notable for its charming premise, lush cinematography, and a massive menagerie of real animals.
“I still find it to be a great yet under-rated film... Timeless film” IMDb Doctor Dolittle (1967)
Viewed today, the film contains dated stereotypes and awkward romantic subplots that haven't aged particularly well. Community Perspectives
Despite critics' mixed feelings on the overall score, the song "Talk to the Animals" won an Academy Award and remains a beloved standard . The Bad: Pacing and Pomp Harrison essentially reprises his Henry Higgins persona from
At 152 minutes , the film is widely criticized for its meandering structure and slow first half, which can be a test of patience for modern viewers.
“Unconscionably long, but it has a certain charm nonetheless -- mostly because "they don't make them like this anymore."” Letterboxd · 3 months ago While it was a notorious box-office failure at
“I thought Doctor Dolittle was boring when I watched it as a kid, but when I watched it as an adult…it's still pretty boring. Here's the weird thing, though, my kids really liked it.” Rotten Tomatoes Doctor Dolittle (1967) Movie Review | Common Sense Media