Doctor Dolittle

• Directed by Richard Fleischer
• December 12, 1967 (London premiere) / December 19, 1967 (US)
• Based on the Doctor Dolittle book series by Hugh Lofting

After a veterinarian that can talk to animals goes a little too far, he and some friends escape their hometown for the sea in search of a legendary snail. My description sounds so wrong.

This is not the Eddie Murphy version of the character but that of Rex Harrison in the title role. Harrison’s performance brings an air of aloof aristocracy to the part of a character that enjoys the company of his animal patients over that of most any person.

Despite Rex Harrison being the star, he’s often second banana to a plot involving Dolittle’s friend Matthew Mugg (Anthony Newley) and his budding romance with Emma Fairfax (Samantha Eggar) who is the niece of local magistrate General Bellowes (Peter Bull) that has an axe to grind with Dolittle. Dolittle is all too often the means for them to have their story more than he and they are a part of his story. That’s why it’s all a little odd when Dolittle starts expressing feelings for Emma. She is largely at a distance from the man with her only real one-on-one being her chastising Dolittle over his general treatment of people. But those feelings go absolutely nowhere. Why even have the character bring them up when he seems significantly more interested in his animal interactions and there is not even minor flirtation?

The movie teases the appearance of Dolittle with a song and dance number involving Matthew Mugg and Tommy Stubbins (William Dix). When centerstage, Rex Harrison is absolutely charming as Dolittle. He embraces the whimsical nature of the character and nicely delivers the message this movie is trying to get across. There is a distinct animal-rights tone to Doctor Dolittle. Dolittle is a devout vegetarian though he admits to loving meat and he goes out of his way to help animals best but to help save them from things like fox hunts and so forth. The story never rubs your face like one might a dog that messes a carpet.

Done in the late 60s, the effects for the two fantasy creatures present are quite convincing. The two-headed pushmi-pullyu and the Great Pink Sea Snail look plausibly realistic. Conversely the costuming for much of the cast is a little bland. Dolittle is the most interestingly dressed as is Emma, but the rest of the cast is lacking.

The animal conversations occur off camera. Due to limitations of the time, Dolittle’s parrot Polynesia (Ginny Taylor) is the only animal that gets real dialogue. Often it’s Dolittle relating a conversation he had. I didn’t notice that until halfway through the movie. Performances and just the general fun of the movie is quite captivating and distracting.

The songs come at a steady rhythm in this movie. It’s almost like when they were editing this film, or when they were making this film they realized that the positive or the general energy of a song was fading and another one needed to be included. They are often whimsical and bouncy and help keep the tone of this movie light.

Geoffrey Holder shows up as William “Willie” Shakespeare X who is the chieftain of Sea Star Island. That was a treat for me. Never a huge name but always recognizable mostly from his time as the 7-Up pitchman and his part in Live and Let Die as Baron Samedi. As a chieftain you expect broken English, but they invert expectations and Holder speaks with his usual beautiful elocution.

Doctor Dolittle is a fun movie. Everything is just so entertaining from the music to the human actors. Just a great family film.