Thoroughly Modern Millie Reviews

Although it ultimately runs out of steam, this charming spoof of the 1920s is still one of the 1960s' better musicals. Julie Andrews is the title character, a recent arrival in New York who has come looking for a job she hopes will lead to marriage to a handsome, wealthy employer. At the women's hotel where she stays, Andrews befriends Moore, another pretty young newcomer for whom Lillie, the secret operator of a white slavery ring, has nefarious plans that lead to plenty of fireworks (literal and figurative) when Lillie and her cohorts kidnap Moore. Andrews' efforts to win the attentions of Gavin (parodying his own then-popular ads for Arrow Shirts), the hunky boss she's sought and found, prove unsuccessful when he is taken with Moore instead. Meanwhile, Andrews does win the heart of Harold Lloyd-like paper clip salesman Fox--or thinks she does, for while visiting the Long Island mansion of fabulously wealthy Channing, she witnesses a secret rendezvous between Moore and Fox. The film's end, however, holds a surprising twist that sets everything right romantically. Andrews is a comic delight, Moore is charming, and Channing steals scene after scene in this enjoyable feature. Originally released as a road show (including an intermission, inflated ticket prices, and 70mm prints for some theaters), THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE was a box-office hit and garnered seven Academy Award nominations, including a Best Supporting Actress nomination for Channing, Best Art Direction, Best Sound, Best Song, Best Music Adaptation, and Best Costume Design. Elmer Bernstein took the Oscar for Best Original Score. The songs include a mix of '20s numbers and new compositions: "Thoroughly Modern Millie" (Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn, performed by Andrews), "The Tapioca" (Van Heusen, Cahn, performed by Andrews and Fox), "Jimmy" (Jay Thompson, performed by Andrews), "The Jewish Wedding Song (Trinkt Le Chaim)" (Sylvia Neufeld, performed by Andrews), "Baby Face" (Benny Davis, Harry Akst, performed by Andrews), "Do It Again" (Buddy De Sylva, George Gershwin, performed by Channing), "Poor Butterfly" (John Golden, Raymond Hubbell, performed by Andrews), "Rose of Washington Square" (James Hanley, Ballard MacDonald, performed by Dee), "I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me" (Jimmy McHugh, Clarence Gaskill), "I'm Sitting on Top of the World" (Sam M. Lewis, Joe Young, Ray Henderson), "Stumbling" (Zez Confrey, performed by Andrews, Moore), "Japanese Sandman" (Ray Egan, Richard A. Whiting, performed by Soo, Morita), "Charmaine" (Erno Rapee, Lew Pollack), "Jazz Baby" (standard, performed by Channing).