Matcollis This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

Solidrariol Am I Missing Something?

Humbersi The first must-see film of the year.

Roman Sampson One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

HotToastyRag Just as if you have a bad Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire, the entire play will fall flat, if you have a bad Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly, the musical won't be any good. This Broadway musical is a highly sought after role for middle aged women, a tour-de-force they hope to play, usually to warm up for or coast after playing Mama Rose in Gypsy. Barbra Streisand would have been an excellent choice for the famous matchmaker, except in 1969 she was too young. Dolly Levi is supposed to be a middle-aged widow who sings the show-stopping song "Before the Parade Passes By" because it's a metaphor for her life, not a twenty-seven-year-old woman with impeccable makeup and a hair color that's as flattering as her clothes.Unfortunately, the lack of a gray wig on Babs is not the only flaw in Hello, Dolly! Michael Crawford plays Cornelius, and it takes an enormous amount of suspension of disbelief to buy into the love story between him and Marianne McAndrew. In the original film The Matchmaker, starring Shirley Booth, the young romantic leads were played by Shirley MacLaine and Anthony Perkins. Anthony is handsome and sweet, so it makes sense that Shirley M considers giving up a fortune for true love. Michael Crawford is bumbling, gangly, and almost acts like he's mentally off. Plus-sorry Phantom of the Opera fans-but his voice leaves much to be desired. Ironically, his romantic companion did have her voice dubbed! Walter Matthau plays Babs's love interest, and there's no feasible reason why she would ever want him, let alone when she's so young and still could have any number of men she wanted. He's unattractive, incredibly grumpy, walks through his song like it's the last thing in the world he wants to be doing, and acts like he hates the very sight of his pursuer-which, he actually did. Rumor has it that he hated Barbra Streisand so much he actually refused to kiss her! So, my great question, as it seems to be with everyone in this movie, is why was he cast? Gene Kelly directed this movie, and while he had enormous attention to detail in the costumes, production designs, and choreography, he didn't seem to have a great eye for his cast. Why didn't he pick his old sailor-suit buddy Frank Sinatra for Walter Matthau's part? He would have been the right age, he could sing without making audiences cringe, and Jerry Herman could have written him a couple of extra songs-as he did for Barbra. It would have been totally believable why Babs moves Heaven and Earth to be with him, and when he sings his song "It Takes a Woman" it would have been incredibly cute for the Guys and Dolls star to sing another ode to the fairer sex.I know I've been dissing this movie adaptation quite a bit, but there are some good parts to it. Obviously, if Hello, Dolly! is one of your favorite musicals, you're going to want to rent the movie. Barbra Streisand in her gold dress during the title song is a pretty famous image. And Barbra does have a wonderful voice, so it's fun to watch her take control of the screen, especially in the show-stopping "So Long Dearie". Also, if you're a fashion fanatic, you'll probably want to rent this one just to look at Irene Sharaff's gorgeous dresses. Besides that, this is one of those movies you'll watch once to say you did and then not really want to show your friends.

moonspinner55 Rip-snorting musical from 20th Century-Fox, turning its backlot into New York City, circa 1890 while telling the tale of widow Dolly Levi, an indefatigable meddler and matchmaker who hopes to deliver herself into the arms of an eligible storekeeper from Yonkers. Producer Ernest Lehman adapted his screenplay from the popular stage musical with a book by Michael Stewart, based on Thornton Wilder's "The Matchmaker" (itself filmed without music in 1958). Director Gene Kelly attempts a breathless pace right from the start, which leaves the early scenes feeling rushed and hyperactive. Professional critics in late 1969, perhaps put off by the unimaginable-for-its-time $25 million budget, complained that the picture was overblown; however, in hindsight, this is inconsequential, as the scenario begs for a huge presentation...and a huge star in the lead. Barbra Streisand (deemed too young to be portraying a widow) is a marvelous Dolly: a firebrand (and a firecracker) who knows nothing of subtlety, she goes for the gut, as the role requires. As her reluctant intended, Walter Matthau looks unhappy and seems stuffy, but repeat viewings reveal this to be the character and not necessarily Matthau's disposition at the time (he and Streisand failed to get along while filming). The song numbers, particularly "Just Leave Everything To Me", "Before The Parade Passes By" and the celebrated title tune, are joyous, and Michael Kidd's line-'em-up choreography is often stunning in widescreen. The film does run too long, and it loses some vitality whenever Streisand is busy and the pixilated juveniles take over, but Kelly is determined to give his audience a showcase--a slam-bang, old-fashioned musical parade with pearls and feathers and floor-length gowns. At that, he succeeded. *** from ****

bear1955 I just watched watch the 2nd part on TCM "now". I have never seen the whole movie in one sitting and I do not care. Why'd they get Fanny Brice to play Dolly? 'She' and 'Horace' are on same screen but might as well be in 2 different movies. The only scene that draws me fully in is the parade. It has enough Hollywood 'magic' to being me to a 'good old days' time in NYC and the U.S. - let's say it's the same period as "Meet Me in St. Louis" is supposed to be in and "Meet Me.." outdoes "Hello Dolly" a hundred times better at a wishful, wistful period re-creation! Streisand is fine enough to me in *that* scene of all in the movie. The rest of the time I don't care. But then, I did not enjoy The Matchmaker with S. Booth very much either. Oh, Ms. Channing, if only.

wes-connors In 1890 New York City, well-dressed young widow Barbra Streisand (as Dolly Levi) sings along city streets while soliciting customers for her job as a marriage broker. As "matchmaker" business dictates, she is off to beautiful uptown Yonkers, where wealthy older client Walter Matthau (as Horace Vandergelder) desires a wife to help with housework. She may not be interested in cooking and cleaning, but Ms. Streisand is aware of Mr. Matthau's great wealth. Streisand secretly schemes to make Matthau her husband...Twentieth Century Fox gambled on the casting of Streisand in "Hello, Dolly!" and we lost. At times, Streisand is clearly doing an impression of Mae West. She's also photographed most attractively. Matthau is grumpy in his funny way, but has zero chemistry with Streisand. At least she can sing, though lyrics in the title song ("Look at the old girl, now") and "Before the Parade Passes By" betray the ruse. The new movie star demanding, "Don't Rain on My Parade" in "Funny Girl" (1968) more accurately captured Streisand...There are other reasons to watch. Witness how director Gene Kelly guides the supporting cast through heavily produced numbers. Michael Crawford (as Cornelius Hackl) and Danny Lockin (as Barnaby Tucker) have all the "Elegance" (a highlight) you need. While obviously dubbed with "Ribbons Down My Back", Marianne McAndrew (as Irene Molloy) is lovely. E.J. Peaker (as Minnie Fay) and others contribute a stage aura nicely. And, hearing Louis Armstrong sing a few lines of his great hit is cause for applause.***** Hello, Dolly! (12/16/69) Gene Kelly ~ Barbra Streisand, Walter Matthau, Michael Crawford, Danny Lockin