Doctor Dolittle
US (1967): Musical/Fantasy/Adventure/Family
Rex Harrison, although not at all like the portly doctor described in Hugh Lofting's charming series of children's stories, is sheer perfection as the kindly animal doctor in Leslie Bricusse's musical fantasy. Sadly, Harrison is the only thing nearing perfection in this overstuffed and overmounted fiasco that nearly brought down 20th Century-Fox. Considered a lunatic because the good doctor can converse in 498 animal dialects, Dolittle gathers up his friends Matthew Mugg (Anthony Newley) and Emma Fairfax (Samantha Eggar) and heads off on a journey to the South Seas to find the elusive Great Pink Snail and the Giant Lunar Moth. Along the way, the group encounters a succession of bizarre human and animal characters -- most notably the legendary Pushme-Pullyou, an animal so freakish that it compels Albert Blossom (Richard Attenborough) to burst out into the exuberant song, "I've never Seen Anything Like It In My Life." Incredibly, the film was nominated for a "Best Picture" Oscar in 1967. Directed by Richard Fleischer. (Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide)
Betty Thomas directed another adaptation of the Lofting stories, updating the original concepts into the present day with Dr. Doolittle (1998) that starred Eddie Murphy. Steve Carr continued along that line with Dr. Doolittle 2 (2001).
9 nominations, 2 Awards
· Music Best Song 1967: "Talk to the Animals" Leslie Bricusse - Music & Lyric
· Special Visual Effects 1967: L.B. Abbott
· Best Picture 1967: Arthur P. Jacobs - Producer (Apjac, 20th Century-Fox)
· Art Direction/Set Decoration 1967: Mario Chiari, Jack Martin Smith & Ed Graves - Art Direction; Walter M. Scott & Stuart A. Reiss - Set Decoration
· Cinematography 1967: Robert L. Surtees
· Film Editing 1967: Samuel E. Beetley, Marjorie Fowler
· Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of Music adaptation or treatment) 1967: Lionel Newman, Alexander Courage
· Music Scoring Awards (Original Music Score) 1967: Leslie Bricusse
· Sound 1967: 20th Century-Fox Studio Sound Department