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"I've Never Seen Anything Like It In Me Life"

It wasn't until Eddie Murphy did his two versions of Doctor Doolittle acting as a straight man to some hip talking animals in a modern setting that Doctor Doolittle made some real money. I certainly suppose the film was done a bit too soon before the age of computer graphics.I remember the film flopped badly and was roasted by critics at the time of release. I saw it back in the day and have seen it a few times over the year on television. Maybe a simpler story of a Doctor in Puddlesby- by-the-Sea treating animals might have been better. Certainly computer graphics would have been easier than all the animals that director Richard Fleischer had to deal with and who ran the budget up so bad with their difficulties there was no way this film could have made money.Still Rex Harrison for all the difficulties encountered plays the fantasy doctor who's learned the animal languages and can speak with them plays it absolutely straight under some trying circumstances. Just read some of the trivia on the film and you'll see what he, Anthony Newley, young William Dix, and Samantha Eggar had to deal with.Anthony Newley and his song writing partner Leslie Bricusse contributed the score which included the Academy Award winning Talk to the Animals which Sammy Davis, Jr. enjoyed a hit record from. Rex sings it here in his talk/sing style perfected from My Fair Lady.However my favorite in the cast who is so infectious in his delivery of his one number, I've Never Seen Anything Like It In Me Life is Richard Attenborough. He plays the circus owner to whom Doctor Doolittle reluctantly parts with a two headed llama called a PushmePullyou to help pay the rent. Attenborough looks like he's having a ball doing this elaborate production number where in the end the whole circus is serving as his chorus. Doctor Doolittle might have been better done in the way it was done today. Still it does have some charm to it and more than little children might actually enjoy it now.

Talk to the animals?

Directed by the curiously untalented but always employed Richard Fleischer, DOCTOR DOLITTLE is a nerve numbing experience with Rex Harrison as a veterinarian who can literally talk to his patients. WHY would he WANT to? Harrison is fine, if a bit stodgy, as he sings/talks his way through a few innocuous faux-show-tunes. Unfortunately, he's surrounded by some pretty crude production values. The special effects are not very special but will likely thrill three year olds. The Push Me-Pull Me is not very convincing and frequently acts like a couple of drunken guests at a Halloween party. The giant snail is clearly some sort of motorized tug. Worst of all is the presence of the singularly untalented Anthony Newley. Proving definitively that he's the Donald O'Connor of England, the always annoying Newley doesn't fail to deliver...he's very annoying. 'Nuf said on that. Inexplicably, this thing was nominated for a slew of Oscars against such films as BONNIE AND CLYDE and THE GRADUATE!BIG QUESTION: WHAT is Samantha Eggar doing in this film? After making such a strong impact in THE COLLECTOR, Eggar is relegated to supporting Harrison and his motley, sometimes obviously fake, menagerie of animals. Her agent should have been fed to the giant snail.

Far better than given credit for....

The only thing that would make this movie a bit better would be if they would come out with an anniversary edition with ALL the scenes put back in. The release of this has cut out several songs and scenes which creates gaps in the story line. For those of us who grew up loving this movie, it is sad to see them cut it up. The original soundtrack keeps all the songs, "Something In Your Smile" which is when he realizes he loves Emma Fairfax, instead he awakens the next morning on the beach and off he goes. Terrible they cut it. Wish they would put out the anniversary edition UNCUT and with Deleted Scenes back in. Other than that, a timeless classic which does not get enough credit, specifically after Eddie Murphy ruined the overal charm of it.

Delightful Musical!!

This is not the Eddie Murphy movie, but a charming alternative which creates a wonderful world of endless imagination through music, dance, and special effects.

Rex Harrison stars as the madcap Doctor, who lives in the 19th century England, and he walks and talks and squawks with the animals. He gets himself into many predicaments in this fun family film, which also got the Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. It has terrific music, fine acting, and loveable creatures and it is a joyous tale.

Samantha Eggar and Anthony Newley are also in the ensemble cast, and their talents only add to the wonderful movie.

Highly recommended for all!!

A great family film for lovers of whimsy

I am convinced that whether or not you love this movie depends on how much you appreciate whimsical humor. There is no film more whimsical than Doctor Doolittle; but if you don't appreciate whimsical (odd, quaint, fanciful, eccentric) humor, you will find this movie simply silly and a bore. I for one love the spirit of whimsy that pervades this film, as well as the beautiful, memorable Leslie Briscusse score, and the lovely cinematography (As a child, I fell in love with the English countryside watching this film). So, check in your adulthood at the door, step back into the land of make-believe you once inhabited as a child, and you'll have a great time watching this film!

I love this film

I really do. It's simple, easy to watch, and younger kids seem to love it. It's just an entertaining film without over-the-top, in your face effects. Best for kids or adults in a mellow mood I would think. It works for me.

absolutely brilliant!!

This has got to be one of the best movies ever made. The many wonderful and most importantly, memorable songs and lively characters contribute to the exciting and magical nature of the storyline. Anyone who can not see the inherent brilliance of this movie within the constraints placed upon films from this era is clearly missing the point. The delightful characters each add their own individual ideas to a film which has touched the hearts of children and adults alike. Rex Harrison plays a wonderful Doctor, forever entertaining and much more convincing than Eddie Murphy in the tragic American remake. This film is brilliant in its own right, and is definitely one for the books.

Laborious

I can't be as kind as many of the other commenters. I didn't see it when it first came out, although, I was inundated with the "Talk With the Animals" song everywhere I turned. Seems like we even played it in our junior high band.I was under the impression that this was the most heralded musical in history with regard to the hype surrounding it. It was only recently that I realized that it was panned by the critics.I finally watched it on Turner Movie Classics and realized what a "snoozer" it was. I kept thinking there might be some romance between someone in the film - Samantha Eggar and Rex Harrison... Samantha Eggar and Anthony Newley... Samantha Eggar and Geoffery Holder... Samantha Eggar and the Push-Me-Pull-You... Anthony Newley and Geoffery Holder... anything that would give this story a little life.Rex Harrison is a great actor and carried this exhausting effort as bravely and heartily as he possibly could, however, in the end, it was a pointless story that dragged on and on and on."Talk to the Animals" was a reasonably good song for a musical, however, the rest of the songs rated "banal" in my estimation. Even Anthony Newly couldn't seem to pull it out of the fire with his pleasant voice and apt song styling.It seems that the only thing that might have held children (since it was a family movie) would have been the animals, which weren't really used all that dramatically.As much as I admire the actors who performed in this insipid tale, I have to say, it barely held my interest. My apologies to those who truly loved this movie.

Doctor Dolittle

Obviously I first saw the recreated film with Eddie Murphy, then I heard of this original from a short trailer. I decided to watch it both to see if it was any good, and I have grown quite fond of musicals over the last few years. Basically Golden Globe nominated Rex Harrison plays Dr. John Dolittle, a doctor veterinarian who has the ability to communicate with animals, difference with this to Murphy's version is the animals don't talk (apart from a parrot). The film mainly just shows his journey of communicating to animals, and a search for a giant snail. Also starring Samantha Eggar as Emma Fairfax, Anthony Newley as Matthew Mugg, a terrific Golden Globe winning Lord Sir Richard Attenborough as Albert Blossom and Geoffrey Holder as William Shakespeare X. I guess I can believe that this film nearly killed 20th Century Fox studios. It won the the Oscars for Best Special Effects (they were rubbish!) and Best Song for "Talk to the Animals" (also won the Golden Globe), and it was nominated for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Music, Original Music Score for Leslie Bricusse, Best Music, Scoring of Music, Adaptation or Treatment for Lionel Newman and Alexander Courage, Best Sound and Best Picture, and it was nominated the Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy and Best Original Score. It was number 85 on The 100 Greatest Family Films, and it was number 67 on The 100 Greatest Musicals. Worth watching!

Excellent

While the new Eddie Murphy versions of Dr. Doolittle are great, my wife and I still love this older version with Rex Harrison. It brings back memories of when I was reading the book as a child.

A step back in time

This is not Eddie Murphy's Doctor Dolittle! Its a step back to a simpler time. One of our old family favorites. My daughter wants to be a vet and absolutely loves this movie! She loves the music, the animals and, of course, Doctor Dolittle! Its a great family movie.

Criminally underrated

Movies that lost enormous amounts of money are often regarded as bad films, when often this is not the case. It's pretty easy to see why audiences who flocked to see 2001 and Rosemary's Baby did not take to Dr. Dolittle, but it is is a delightful film - I actually prefer it to My Fair Lady, and I like the songs better too. Of course my judgment is probably clouded by nostalgia (I watched this many times on video as a kid) but I still feel the film is unfairly maligned. It is a beautiful old-world adventure that hearkens back to a time that does not exist anymore. Rex Harrison is completely charming, the animals are all adorable, and Richard Attenborough's brief appearance is perhaps my favorite cameo of all time.

awesome!!!

This is THE most awesome movie ever!! I've been in love with this movie and Rex Harrison in a top hat since I was six and my older sister took me to see this movie.

Utterly delightful

Yes the movie has the world is a wonderful beautiful magical place feel, yes the premise is pretentious at best, yes, yes, yes, but I love it. I have bought it many times as a gift. I will continue to do so.Not only is this movie suitable for all the family even when the minister is in the room, but it is fun. The songs like Talk with the Animals and the song about the Pushme-Pullyou are sure to have your children singing and dancing, while other songs like Beautiful People (not the song by Melanie) will draw in even the most adult audience.This movies comes from a time when people hoped to be able to look to a future without the problems that plagued our past. To all the cynics out there, if you ever get tired of only looking at the bad side of life I strongly recommend this movie, it is food for the soul.

great family film

Eddie Murphy is no Dr. Doolittle. The original and only Dr. Doolittle is Rex Harrison. He never disappoints.

To Hell with Eddie Murphy

This is a great movie, Rex Harrison is a genius, and Eddie Murphy is an idiot. This is the original story the way it is supposed to be seen, as a musical. Dr. Doolittle 1998, and its subsequent sequals is a disgrace. I could go on all day about how much I think Eddie sucks for not having done the songs, but you can look to my other review for that.

As far as Rex is concerned, there's been no one like him since. All the classics are here, "If I Could Talk To The Animals," "I'm A Vegetarian," and my personal favorite "Why Must We Treat Animals Like Animals?" All sung by Harrison in his brilliant half-singing, half-speaking style that he innovated so well all the way up through My Fair Lady.


Great kid movie too, even if it is a little bit dated, buy hey, what's the alternative? To show a movie to your kids that stars a guy who once made a living for himself by screaming the F-Word at people through a stage microphone? The choice is yours, but if you are a decent parent, I think it's a no-brainer.

Awful

This is an incredibly slow, clunky, and plotless musical. I couldn't wait for it to end. Richard Fleischer definitely wasn't the right man for this movie. It was a big money loser when it first came out (only made half of its cost back), and it took over twenty years for it to make it all back - deservedly so. Even "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" was better than this.

Too many songs.

The film will be good for kids. too many songs for my liking. i had to keep forwarding the songs. do not expect much spectacular special effects. acting of rex harrison was the only thing that will stand out.

Sheer Annoyance or Theatrical Masterpiece

The movie begins in 1845 in Puddleby on the Marsh, England. Dr. John Dolittle is a physician with a love for animals from alligators to zebras. Both his career and reputation fall apart when he starts to pay more attention to the animals than his human patients. His talking parrot Polynesia gives him the idea of becoming a veterinarian. John thinks this is a good idea, because he feels he has nothing in common with the human race. Polynesia says she can teach the doctor to speak to animals, and she knows over 2,000 animal languages. John thinks this is a good idea because he feels he has nothing in common with the human race. Dr. Dolittle learns 498 languages from Polynesia and is busy learning two more. After he finishes learning these last two languages, he plans to go on a voyage to find the Great Pink Sea Snail. Dr. Dolittle chose to give up his human patients for animal patients. Before John can go on his voyage to find the Great Pink Sea Snail, he must learn to master speaking the last two languages. They are older languages such as the archaic languages of the goldfish and mackerel. John had sacrificed nearly all contact with people for his animals. Now he has decided to leave Puddleby on a voyage with his only friends to find the Great Pink Sea Snail. On his journey he uses his fish language to see if anyone knows the location of the Sea Snail, but to no avail. The movie had several annoying coincidences. Upon Dr. Dolittle's voyage to find the Great Pink Sea Snail, he is shipwrecked and finds Sea Star Island. This island is one that floats around in the ocean and has natives and animals on it. The storm that shipwrecked Dr. Dolittle blew the island off course and the colder weather is causing the animals to get sick. Dr. Dolittle then gets in contact with a whale and has it push the island away from the cold weather. The whale pushes the island so hard it finds the exact place where it broke off from the mainland and it rejoins. Come to find out, the Great Pink Sea Snail lives in an underground cave on Sea Star Island.

Hit-and-Miss Musical.

I do admit that I like "Dr. Dolittle" for the most part, but the film struggles with a sometimes silly story and unclear direction. The titled character (Rex Harrison) learns that dealing with animals is better for him than dealing with human beings. Thus he becomes a doctor for the animals and learns how to speak their various languages. He goes on a long and seemingly empty journey to find a giant pink snail and an equally over-sized moth. The screenplay is not too strong and most of the performances are sophomoric. However, Rex Harrison somehow makes it all work with an enthusiastic and very likeable performance. The songs are not bad either. In fact the "Talk to the Animals" is one of those few songs from a movie that just seems timeless for some reason. "Dr. Dolittle" did receive a Best Picture Oscar nod in 1967 along with much, much darker films like "In the Heat of the Night", "The Graduate", "Bonnie and Clyde" and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner". "Dr. Dolittle" was the beginning of the end for the Hollywood musical as it had been in the past. Overall the film stays above water, but do not expect a masterpiece. 4 stars out of 5.