Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)

In the early 1920s, a young woman (Julie Andrews) transforms herself into a "modern" flapper. Staying at a hotel for young ladies, she befriends a wealthy but innocent girl (Mary Tyler Moore) who lives across the hall and wants to be an actress. What they don't know is that the hotel manager (Beatrice Lillie) uses the hotel as a front for a white slavery ring. This musical satire of 1920s conventions retains its charm for most of the film but ultimately descends into silliness. It tries too hard and nudges you to appreciate its cleverness. None of the film's flaws can be blamed on the committed cast who overact perfectly. The film's main asset is a spunky Julie Andrews (giving us a glimpse of what she might have been like in THE BOY FRIEND). She looks great in Jean Louis' 20s attire and is fine voice singing several numbers including the Oscar nominated title tune. Carol Channing (Oscar nominated for her work here) gets a part that perfectly matches her outsized personality and since it's a supporting role, one doesn't tire of her as one might if she were playing a leading part. The Asian stereotypes are problematic but not overtly offensive. Curiously, Elmer Bernstein's forgettable incidental music won him his only Oscar. Directed by George Roy Hill. With James Fox, that handsome piece of wood John Gavin aptly cast as a handsome piece of wood, Pat Morita, Jack Soo, Philip Ahn, Anthony Dexter and Lisabeth Hush.