2h 19min | Comedy, Family, Fantasy | 27 August 1964 | Color, ws
Director: Robert Stevenson
Stars: Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns, Hermione Baddeley, Reta Shaw, Elsa Lanchester, Arthur Treacher, Reginald Owen, Ed Wynn, Jane Darwell.
Marc Breaux ... choreographer
Dee Dee Wood ... choreographer
Watched out of sequence because disc just arrived yesterday.
18 songs in the Soundtracks.
Favorite dance number: Step in Time, with the chimney sweeps. The c.track mentions that the choreographers worked with Michael Kidd. Unfortunately, none of the dancers are listed in the credits, and their faces are too dark to recognize anyone. Sometimes it's even hard to track DV.
The film's a little treacly, but the songs are very good and well used to illuminate character and/or story. And DV's dancing is terrific, and the ensemble in Step are amazing.
The c.track and documentaries on disc 2 add to the enjoyment, because everyone interviewed are incredibly positive about the experience. My favorite moment: the clip of JA giving her Golden Globes acceptance speech for Best Actress in Musical/Comedy, winning out over Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady, when she thanked MFL's producer Jack Warner for making her win in MP possible. What an elegant way to say F.You for not choosing me. They show JL laughing, (She also won the Oscar for Best Actress, but AH was not nominated.)
Worst thing about the c.track: hard to tell whether JA is speaking, or the adult who played the girl in the film.
Glad I bought this, especially since I got a terrific price ($5.19) for the 40th anniversary edition; 45th & 50th were also available.
Disney, dir. Stevenson; 8
