Truly Dreadful Film

Simply A Masterpiece

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

I love the father in this movie. He cares about his family. He cares about religion. He cares about the safety of his nation. Is there anything that he doesn't care about? As with most people who care deeply about things, he has a passionate personality and makes mistakes along the way. But you can tell that the mistakes he makes is not because he loves too little, but too much. Along the way there is a fun romance. **Talking points - What should married people do when they disagree? Is it hard for parents to let children grow up and away? What's the best way to handle a snobbish person? What are the best ways to attract people of the opposite gender? Do we own any duty to our country? If so, what? Is it good for both males and females to know how to defend themselves? If you could keep an exotic animal at your house that was harmless, what would it be? If you could choose between a cook or a maid which would you choose? Is it hard to follow your dreams in life? What things distract you or dissuade you from them?

This movie is for true fans of musicals only, numerous songs popping up unexpectedly followed by numerous dance sequences and daydreaming characters. This is one of the final motion pictures Walt Disney produced, a story about a happy Irish immigrant, John Lawless (Tommy Steele), who lands a job as the butler to millionaire Biddle (Fred MacMurray). His daughter, Cordy (Leslie Ann Warren) meanwhile falls in love with Angie (John Davidson), to the dismay of her parents.While I am sure many people like the romance, music and comedy of this movie, it was too carefree and light-hearted for me. Everybody looked too happy and spirited, like there is not a care in the world, and many of the characters seem to sing their way out of their problems. Tommy Steele's character, while classic I'm sure, was very annoying and irritatingly cheerful. The pace of this movie's plot was pretty slow as well - not very suspenseful or intriguing. The saving grace of the movie was Leslie Ann Warren.Overall, not a very good movie due to the slow plot, overzealous characters and overly-exerted musical numbers. I also wished the overly-cheerful acting was toned down a bit.Grade D+

The Sherman brothers did their best..... (trying to copy the sound and atmosphere of "Mary Poppins" as much as they could) and Uncle Walt did what he could, I do understand that this movie never became popular and the big hit.Where "Mary Poppins" or "The Sounds of Music" are still a joy and good stories, this one leads to nowhere. Scenes with Alligators and all the boxing that make no sense, songs in every place to prolong the movie into an almost 3 hour drama/sit.The only interesting and -really- humorous scene is the first meeting of Mrs. Duke (Geraldine Page) and Aunt Mary Drexel (Gladys Cooper). And that is it....I wish I had seen the Swedish copy, as it has only 118 minutes runtime. Probably the film would have been a little bit more to my liking..... and at least an hour shorter!!

I am not sure why some of the people disliked the film so much. The musical score by the Sherman Brothers is first class, the casting excellent, and the story moving. It seems to me those who review films like this in the negative really can't sit down and be entertained for a few hours. One doesn't always need a deep movie....a person can watch this film and feel good when it's over, and to me, that's what film is best at.I just watched for the 6th time the dvd of the roadshow edition, and it is much better than the edited version. The ending was too abrupt before, and now we have not only an extra song, but a much better climax, that of a grand musical.Leslie Ann Warren and John Davidson make their screen debut, and both are perfectly cast. The soundtrack on the dvd has been restored and sounds wonderful, especially in scenes with an orchestra, and the picture quality is very good for the period.The best thing about this film is the score of the wonderful Sherman Brothers. Songs like FORTUOSITY,ARE WE DANCING, I'LL ALWAYS BE IRISH, DETROIT, NO DILLY DALLY, THERE ARE THOSE are much under-rated. This is an excellent original musical score.Highly recommend for kids, families, and grown ups with a child still within.