"I beg your pardon?"
"He says it's the perfect food, containing 'every essential element'."
John Lawless (Steele) just moved from Ireland and wants a job as a butler to high society. His first interview is at the home of eccentric millionaire Anthony J. Drexel Biddle (MacMurray). The Biddle's have trouble keeping household staff on hand, due to their pet alligators in the conservatory. John embraces the crazy and becomes the new butler.
Mr. Biddle built a boxing ring within the family stable and teaches "Biddle's Bible Class" as a cover for boxing practice. His best student is his daughter, Cordy (Warren). However, between her boxing skills and interference from her father and brothers, Tony (Petersen) and Livingson (Hodgens), she can't keep a guy. She decides to go to boarding school, and meets Angier "Angie" Duke (Davidson). Angie and Cordy fall in love, but can his socialite family and her family get along?
I grew up watching Disney movies, animated classics and the live-action family-friendly films. Because my grandparents and parents loved these movies, I assumed I had seen them all... and then I came across this film. I was intrigued, especially when it was featured in the documentary The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story, so I decided to give it a shot and I was not disappointed.
The film is a musical, with music and lyrics by Robert Sherman and Richard Sherman. The song "Fortuosity" is the catchy opener that sticks in your head and has achieved life outside the film through it's use on Main Street at the Disney parks. The infectious "Let's Have a Drink on It" is also used on Main Street. Both songs are performed with glee by John Lawless, who also performs "I'll Always Be Irish", and are the most memorable songs from the film. The duet "Are We Dancing" is a beautiful love song and "It Won't Be Long Till Christmas (Let Them Go)" is the emotional ender. The rest of the songs are forgettable, funny ditties that make you laugh in the moment but don't serve a greater purpose.
The film is based on the book "My Philadelphia Father", co-written by Cordelia Drexel Biddle about the life of her father (who sounds like an extremely interesting man). The story is entertaining and only feels slow in a few places. Disney regular Fred MacMurray is great as Anthony Drexel Biddle. Tommy Steele has great chemistry with MacMurray, and the alligators (as pictured above), and lights up the screen as John... while occasionally taking time to narrate to the audience. Lesley Ann Warren is a delight as Cordy and works well with John Davidson, in his screen debut (in fact they worked so well together that they were matched in another Disney film, The One and Only, Genuine Family Band).
Definitely a Disney classic that everyone should see!
The Happiest Millionaire (1967) 172 minutes
Director: Norman Tokar
Starring: Fred MacMurray as Anthony J. Drexel Biddle
Tommy Steele as John Lawless
Greer Garson as Cordelia Drexel Biddle
Geraldine Page as Mrs. Duke
Gladys Cooper as Aunt Mary
Hermione Baddeley as Mrs. Worth
Lesley Ann Warren as Cordy Drexel Biddle
John Davidson as Angie Duke
Paul Petersen as Tony Drexel Biddle
Eddie Hodges as Livingston Drexel Biddle
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