Hello Dolly Film Version

I caught the film version of Hello Dolly for the first time on TV this morning and had some qualms about it. Does anyone have any opinons on the film, positive or negative? I'd love to hear them.

---

Yeah thats pretty much my opinion. Some of the script changes were also interesting such as everytime Dolly pulled out a card it would say "Ms. Dolly Levi 28 3/4....". The whole Barbra playing Dolly seemed really pushed. I wonder if Herman had any objections.

---

Updated On: 10/3/06 at 05:40 PM

agreed. but i did like it :) though it's weird to hear the new arrangments of the songs

It's really long. I think that it's actually longer than the stage version. And Streisand, although in tip top shape vocally, is too young for the part. Visually, it's quite stunning, if overblown at times.

Don't hold back Elmore - say what you think

---

The pace is too slow. The sets are overly elaborate (was that Mrs. Malloy's hatshop or a roccoco ballroom?) The choreography was wrong for the period. Matthau looked bored. Crawford was a nasal geek. That Streisand Woman was WAY too young to be worrying about the parade passing her by and she forgot that her character was Dolly GALLAGHER Levi--an Irish lass who'd married a Jewish merchant. She played the role as Dolly LEVI Gallagher.

The movie was a mess. It disgusts me. I wish they'd destroy every exisiting copy of it. I wish they'd destroy That Streisand Woman. I HATE THIS FILM. It makes me puke.

I HATE MOVIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

---

Updated On: 10/3/06 at 07:00 PM

I was waiting for you to come in with your usual critique, Dollypop :)

Updated On: 10/3/06 at 07:04 PM

Feel free. I'm proud of my Barbra nose!

I love the stage show and I love the film. It needs to be seen in Todd-AO or 70mm to truly appreciate the visual splendor. I saw it as a kid at the Rivoli on Broadway in Todd-AO. I went to Garrison (stand in for Yonkers) to see the set and the opening where Dolly waves on the train was filmed at the Poughkeepsie Rail Road Station. I didn't really care for Walter Matthau and his "singing" and Babs and Walter seem to be playing Mae West and W.C. Fields in some scenes, but I enjoyed it anyway. No one else can sing those songs like Barbra. That's not demeaning Ethel or Carol or Pearl or any of the stage Dolly's. They all were great.

---

I saw HELLO, DOLLY!, nine times during its original release, in 70MM Todd-AO. I love it; but I pretty much hate the cast, with the exception of Barnaby Tucker. I love the production design and the choreography; and much prefer Streisand in this role (although, she doesn't get 1/4 of the laughs that Channing did)to her annoying turn in FUNNY GIRL, which I saw her do, both on stage and in the film.

Updated On: 10/3/06 at 08:13 PM

I forgot about Michael Crawford. In fact, I try forgetting about him in that film every day. He wasn't much of an asset.

Michael Stewart, the librettist of the original stage musical, told me once as he was shaving that, out of all the Dollys who had ever appeared in the show, Streisand was his favorite.





Jerry Dodge
Yonkers, New York

Streisand is too young to be playing opposite Matthau. Her performance is fine, it just belongs in a different production of that show. A now elderly former hippie friend went to this on it's Road Show Premiere down in Texas - apparently a really big deal - on acid and said she frightened him so badly in close up his friends had to take him out of the theatre.

Having played both Ambrose and Barnaby in my youth, I don't mind it as a record of the show. I do wish Gene Kelly had gone more out on a limb with the dancing. He was such a wonderful and innovative choreographer in his day and to just, basically, mimic Gower Champion's work was distressing. Not that I wanted Xanadu or anything . . .

I've always loved the woman who played Irene. And they should have cut It Takes A Woman - I hate that number.

---