It may not be your kind of movie. It may be just me with a reverent sensitivity to images and words of a gentle, poetic spirit, but I exulted in the lyrical musings, the affectionate innocence and the fantastical imagination of the original Dr. Dolittle, so lovingly inspired by Hugh Lofting’s books for children. Having never read the books, my unchecked response unleashes no latent memory from childhood and indeed flaunts the genuineness of my experience.

Imagine! Being able to talk to the animals. Just think how that would change your world...Now read my thoughts.

This is a musical quite unlike today’s razzle dazzle of Chicago and the recent Moulin Rouge, which I nonetheless as well applaud for their bold and witty flights of fancy. 1967’s Dr. Dolittle, I would observe, is of a different era and mien where the razzle dazzle comes from a starry-eyed child (Tommy Stubbins), a nearly two-hundred year old parrot named Polynesia, a reluctant but sincere vegetarian veterinarian (Dr. Dolittle), a feisty young lady who would rather be a man (Emma/Fred), a singing Mr. Green Jeans-like character (Matt), an amusing story of adventure in 1800 England sending them to sea and an island, incredible real and fake animals (Pushme Pullyou, the Great Pink Sea Snail, the Giant Lunar Moth) and whimsical, sometimes soulful tunes.

Ostensibly the Dr. Dolittle remake in 1998 was to convey the message of ‘to thine own self be true,’ by showing the doctor accepting his fate and not letting anyone change the person he is. Nice message, but hardly as inspiring as the original G-rated movie! Let me try to explain.

Dr. John Dolittle, as disarmingly played by Rex Harrison, doesn’t let his sister force him to abandon his animal friends and is encouraged by his talking parrot to become an animal doctor. The parrot teaches him animal languages to his utter joy because he doesn’t feel able to communicate well with humans, nor feel as inclined to. Dolittle stays true to himself and tries to become the best animal doctor in the world. The movie then delves much further for a message by asking us why we don’t likewise treat animals with the respect we give humans.

Besides avoiding the consumption of meat so he won’t hurt his friends’ feelings and speaking to animals in their own language, Dolittle cannot stand to see a circus seal heartbroken from being torn from her husband and devises an escape with her that’s silly fun. He straightens a mouse’s tail, gives a horse glasses, imports a few skunks for a Fox Protection Society, treats the colds of island animals (actually African) and the Great Pink Sea Snail with his own brew and unites the ‘floating island’ with Africa where it broke off.

And even after proving to a court that he did not murder the seal and could in fact communicate with the judge’s dog, Dolittle was sentenced to a mental asylum! What fools we humans can be.

Animals have the last word, though, and not just in the good doctor’s life. It is a sumptuous musical for animal lovers, fantasy seekers, people with a child’s heart who are not attention-span challenged nor incapable of musical indulgence.

Some might say it tries to be too much, not only fantasy and adventure, but a winsome romance that’ll remind you of My Fair Lady which Harrison starred in also, some comedy and a touch of drama. I giggled almost constantly while watching this convoluted, Disney-like story from the chaos his many pets create in his roomy mansion to the hostile meeting with Emma/Fred (Samantha Eggar) to the little island with Africans in loin cloths who speak proper English and read Shakespeare! I'm admittedly a nut case myself, though.

I must also confess that some of the songs held up the story and dragged it out, but I just adored the songs “I’ve Never Seen Anything Like It!,” sung maniacally by Richard Chamberlain; “Talk to the Animals,” courtesy of Rex Harrison; and “My Friend The Doctor,” offered by a jolly Anthony Newley (Oliver Twist), and they will linger safely in my grateful soul, as will the Seaweed Pie that Emma/Fred received raves on. It's corny, no doubt, but I was pretty much amused by the entire family-friendly movie. If it wasn't popular with audiences back in 1967, maybe it wasn’t given much of a chance.

This Dr. Dolittle was directed by Richard Fleisher (The Jazz Singer) for 152 minutes and adapted from Hugh Lofting's books by Leslie Bricusse. It and our many lovable animals deserve more of a chance.






Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up to Age 4