The fishing port mockup with farm animals, cats and period dressed locals is so quaint and lovely looking, probably lots of droppings everywhere but hey come on! different times they were. Unfortunately they had to use sets eventually down to the locals not liking what was happening to their little home but I don't see the issue really. The village scenes filmed in Wiltshire, UK are absolutely gorgeous to look at they really are, if ever you wanted to see the perfect little olde worlde English hamlet then voila. It didn't help that Disney's 'Jungle Book' came out around the same time of course. The movie didn't perform too well upon release which really amazed me frankly as I personally think this is way better than say.'Mary bloody Poppins'. Where to begin?! I was virtually raised with this film (amongst other classics), as a kid I hated it truth be told, probably down to forced repeat viewings but as I have matured I can see what a fantastic picture it really is. The third part of movie would involve the crew getting shipwrecked but finding land, land that conveniently happens to harbour the Pink Sea-Snail. Eventually the second leg of the movie kicks in as the trio and the obligatory beautiful female set sail into the unknown. From there on we watch the trio get stuck in various ordeals involving various animals as they try to raise money to go on a voyage to find the Giant Great Pink Sea-Snail. Once we the audience are acquainted with this cute couple its off to see the doctor in his typically traditionally beautiful little English cottage on the hill. The film feels like its set in stages, first off we meet Matthew Mugg and Tommy Stubbins in the whimsical little English port town of Puddleby-on-the-marsh. This film is actually based on three of the Dolittle novels, all fused together, but you'd never have guessed that. Thankfully, by his next film, Planet Of The Apes, the monkeys spoke English.Yes that's right kids, that hideous Eddie Murphy movie is actually based on a very famous set of children's novels by Hugh Lofting and before the modern revamp came this far far superior children's movie. Richard Fleischer was a consummate craftsman of big budget fantasy adventures after 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea and Fantastic Voyage, but is less sure how to combine his exotic style with a burlesque musical. Although, too many of the animal scenes revert to a chaotic slapstick as they try to cram as many furred and feathered friends into them as possible. And there is a mild appeal in watching Harrison’s deadpan boffin blow bubbles to converse with goldfish and invent eyeglasses for a myopic horse. It’s a green dream, with songs and giddy children. With Mary Poppins a recent hit, the idea clearly is a lighthearted not-to-say lightheaded parable of a man who understand animal and therefore is much more in-tune with what the world needs. The biggest burden Dolittle faces is to raise the finance for is latest expedition – not the stuff of ripe drama. Washed in Technicolor, the film is as bright as a button, but its lack of any great peril - it is a buoyant picaresque, globe trotting in search of rare species - leaving it a matter of whimsy rather than thrill. The wan, meandering storytelling hampers the escapist slant, while Harrison’s smoothness, not even stirring himself to vigour for the Oscar wining song, Talk To The Animals (as with playing Higgins, he talks his way through his songs rather like The Pet Shop Boys), is too distant to give the film a strong centrepiece. With Rex Harrison lightly reworking his Professor Higgins routine from My Fair Lady as the upper-crust vet with a knack for animal linguistics, the film takes a leisurely tone of voice, relying on a procession of rather flat songs and good animatronics, as well as animal training, to carry it. A hugely expensive (for its time) and overly lengthy family adventure based on Hugh Lofting’s treasured series of novels, that emerges, just, as an adequate genial diversion.
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