Hello Dolly Film Version

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 5:31pm

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.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 5:36pm

Most people don't like it because they say that Babs is to young to play Dolly. While I do agree with that, it is still one of my favorite movie-musicals.

What were your thoughts Gypsy?

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 5:40pm

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

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 5:49pm

Nowhere near as bad as people say it is but not as good as it should have been. The main reason is Babs was miscast. She sings devinely but she is way to young especially playing against Matthau

[folkyboy]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 5:50pm

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

[Funny Face]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 5:56pm

Maybe it's because I don't have anything to compare it to, but I adore that movie, and mostly because of Barbara. I know there are a lot of Carol Channing shoulda, coulda, woulda Bellyachers, but I think Babs has sooo much charm, comedic timing and screen precense that, besides her age, she was kind of perfect for that role, and she played it remarkably well. That's just my opinion

[jv92]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 6:03pm

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.

[elmore3003]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 6:05pm

One of the most inflated and horrific of 1960s film musicals: ugly designs, poor performances of what was a stylish piece of art onstage.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 6:15pm

Don't hold back Elmore - say what you think

[luvliza89]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 6:19pm

First off, it's Barbra.

And second, Streisand may have been too young, but her performance was far from "poor".

And I think "Just Leave Everything To Me" is one terrfic song.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 7:00pm

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

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 7:04pm

Am I correct when I say you did not care for Dolly Dolly ?

[luvliza89]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 7:04pm

I was waiting for you to come in with your usual critique, Dollypop :)
Updated On: 10/3/06 at 07:04 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 7:08pm

Now that I've started, should I do a critique of LuvLiza89's avatar?

[luvliza89]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 7:09pm

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

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 7:14pm

While I totally disagree with Dollys vehement dismissal of the movie, we can agree she is miscast.

I cannot believe I agree with Dolly on anything. I guess now Mideast peace is possible

[jimnysf]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 7:28pm

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.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 7:33pm

Ah the Rivoli theater. Spent many a day there enjoying the treat of epics in the 60's. I probably saw it there as well

It is now a monstrous ugly skyscraper with a comedy club with a Ruby Foo's restaurant

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 8:13pm

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

[bschneid76]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 8:19pm

I find the film charming, but it is way overblown. But it's fun to watch. Even if Matthau and Striesand didn't get along, they still do well for their given roles. I wish Tommy Tune had had more to do in the film. The pacing of the film goes on forever and it seems ages before we make it to Hermonia Gardens. All is all is pleasent entertainment, and at least Striesand can sing (compared to others who tried to do musicals). I think Channing would have been a better choice.

[jv92]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 8:47pm

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

[Julian2]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 8:58pm

I love it. And as far as being too young for the part, I have a friend who saw it wothout knowing it was supposed to be played by an older woman (a fellow theatre queen) and he thought nothing of it. But I do agree that there is deffinitly a layer of meaning lost with a younger woman. As far as I go, I love it.

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 9:04pm

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

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 9:12pm

Wow. There's just no accounting for people's tastes. I find it hard to believe that he had no issue with all the lost laughs (uncountable), with her performance. But then, they were really written by Thorton Wilder, not Michael Stewart. And, didn't you pass away in 1974?
Updated On: 10/3/06 at 09:12 PM

[OtherDaryl]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 10:07pm

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.