The Happiest Millionaire (1967) on Netflix
G19672h 49mComedyDramaFamilyMusic
John Lawless, an Irish immigrant, becomes butler to millionaire Anthony Drexel Biddle, who keeps alligators and teaches boxing at his Bible class. Biddle's daughter Cordy wants out of the manor.
- Netflix2.9/5
- IMDb6.5/102,714 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes50%
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Plot summary
In the autumn of 1916, John Lawless, an Irish immigrant, applies for a butler's position with Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, an eccentric Philadelphia millionaire. Biddle runs a boxing and Bible school in his stable, keeps alligators in the conservatory, and presses for America to enter the war in Europe while the government stays neutral. His wife, Cordelia, accepts his ways with pride, and their sons, Tony and Livingston, leave for boarding school. Their daughter, Cordy, a tomboy with a mean right hook, has private tutors and little contact with conventional society. She has no luck with suitors and wants to see what lies past the Biddle manor. Prodded by Cordy and by Aunt Mary, her father reluctantly agrees that she may go to boarding school.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about The Happiest Millionaire (1967)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- The Sherman Brothers' song "Detroit" includes the lyric "F.O.B. Detroit"; Walt Disney overheard the brothers singing it, misheard the phrase as "S.O.B." and scolded them for using such language in a Disney film, then laughed once they corrected him.
- The Happiest Millionaire was the last live-action film to be produced by Walt Disney before his death on December 15, 1966.
- The Sherman Brothers wanted Rex Harrison for the lead role, but Walt Disney insisted on Fred MacMurray for The Happiest Millionaire; Harrison was unavailable anyway, shooting Doctor Dolittle for 20th Century Fox.
- By the time Walt Disney died on December 15, 1966, the film's first cut was already finished; afterwards Anderson wanted to shorten the film while Disney COO Card Walker wanted even more cut, and the two men fought bitterly over the extent of the cuts.
- The Supremes recorded "It Won't Be Long 'Til Christmas" for their planned album of Disney covers, but the tracks from that session were not released until the 1980s.
- Walter Pidgeon's leading turn in the 1956 Broadway play The Happiest Millionaire was his first appearance on Broadway in 21 years, and MGM obtained the film rights in exchange for permitting him to appear in the play.
- Lesley Ann Warren, whom Disney had seen in the 1965 CBS television production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, made her screen debut in the film; she also met her future husband Jon Peters during the film's production.
