Thoroughly Modern Millie

Thoroughly Modern Millie
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	George Roy Hill
Produced by	Ross Hunter
Written by	Richard Morris
Starring	Julie Andrews James Fox Mary Tyler Moore John Gavin Carol Channing Beatrice Lillie
Music by	Elmer Bernstein André Previn
Cinematography	Russell Metty
Editing by	Stuart Gilmore
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date(s)	21 March 1967
Running time	138 min
Language	English
Budget	$6,000,000
IMDb profile

This article is about the 1967 film. For the Broadway musical, see Thoroughly Modern Millie (musical).

Thoroughly Modern Millie is a 1967 musical comedy film directed by George Roy Hill and starring Julie Andrews, James Fox, Mary Tyler Moore, John Gavin, Carol Channing, Beatrice Lillie, Pat Morita and Jack Soo.

The screenplay was by Richard Morris, who was inspired by a 1956 British musical called Chrysanthemum. His effort won him a Writers Guild of America award for Best American Musical. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and five Golden Globes. It won the Academy Award for Original Music Score (composed by Elmer Bernstein) and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for Channing.

The film was successfully adapted for the stage under the same name in the early 2000s.

Plot

Set in 1922, the story revolves around the adventures of Millie Dillmount, who escapes to New York City from Salina, Kansas, determined to marry her wealthy boss - whoever he may be. Shedding her naïve country girl image for the modern look of a "flapper," she takes a room at the Priscilla Hotel for Women and gets a job as a stenographer at the Sincere Trust Insurance Company. In short time, she finds herself involved with Jimmy Smith, a sweet but apparently ne'er-do-well paper clip salesman; Miss Dorothy Brown, a genteel aspiring actress who never seems to have spare change; Trevor Graydon, her no-nonsense boss; and Muzzy van Hossmere, a madcap heiress with a zest for the high life.

The Priscilla Hotel proves to be a front for a white slavery ring, headed by Mrs. Meers, the property's proprietor, and her two bumbling Asian henchmen. Her ideal kidnapping targets are attractive orphaned girl tenants with no family who won't be missed if they suddenly disappear. Millie, who gets mail from home on a regular basis, is hardly a likely candidate, but Miss Dorothy (as she insists she be called), who hasn't a soul in the world, is perfect ("Sad to be all alone in the world" Mrs. Meers says, with strong irony, to new hotel residents when she finds that they are alone in the world).

When Millie puts two-and-two together and realizes what is transpiring, she devises a harebrained scheme to save her friend from the clutches of the white slavers before Miss Dorothy is shipped to the Far East. Before long, Jimmy's in drag, Trevor is drugged, and fireworks are exploding everywhere in Chinatown, with all the chaos eventually leading to a happy ending...especially when it's revealed that Jimmy is actually Herbert J. Van Hossmere III, Muzzy's stepson, Miss Dorothy's brother, and a millionaire in his own right.

Awards and nominations

DVD cover for the film

• Academy Award for Best Original Score (Elmer Bernstein, winner)
• Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (Carol Channing, nominee)
• Academy Award for Best Original Song ("Thoroughly Modern Millie," nominee)
• Academy Award for Best Art Direction & Set Decoration (nominee)
• Academy Award for Best Costume Design (nominee)
• Academy Award for Best Adapted Musical Scoring (nominee)
• Academy Award for Best Sound (nominee)
• Golden Globe for Best Comedy or Musical Picture (nominee)
• Golden Globe for Best Musical or Comedy Actress (Julie Andrews, nominee)
• Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress (Carol Channing, winner)
• Golden Globe for Best Original Score (nominee)
• Golden Globe for Best Original Song (nominee)
• Laurel Award for Best Female Comedy Performance (Julie Andrews, winner)
• Writers Guild of America Award for Best American Musical (Richard Morris, winner)

External links

• Thoroughly Modern Millie at Rotten Tomatoes
• Thoroughly Modern Millie at the Internet Movie Database

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