Doctor Dolittle (1967)

Dr. Dolittle (Rex Harrison) is a veterinarian (or an animal doctor as he prefers to be called) in a small English village in the late 19th century who talks to animals. But in this case, he speaks their language and they talk to him. Based on the Doctor Dolittle books by Hugh Lofting and directed by Richard Fleischer (20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA). This perfectly charming musical has an inexplicably bad reputation. It was poorly reviewed and was a box office flop. Certainly it’s no SINGIN' IN THE RAIN or GIGI or even a CHICAGO but it’s got a first rate tuneful Leslie Bricusse score and there’s an unforced sweetness about the whole thing, not at all cloying. Rex Harrison plays the title role like a second cousin to Henry Higgins. The special effects are a bit crude by today’s standards but that only adds to the charm of the film. Future film director Herbert Ross (STEEL MAGNOLIAS) staged the musical numbers and the impressive Oscar nominated art direction is by Mario Chiari, Ed Graves and Jack Martin Smith. With Samantha Eggar, Anthony Newley, Richard Attenborough, Norma Varden, Peter Bull and Charlie Dix.