The Happiest Millionaire

There are plenty of reasons to see this Disney spectacular. The cast is full of great performers. The production values are top notch. It is, however, exceedingly long and without justification. There are many places that need a trim, perhaps leaving room for a dash more Tommy Steele. You can't help but wish that Steele, Davidson & Warren might have started their careers at a time when there were still many musicals being filmed. Be sure to stretch during Intermission. There is one!

I didn't hate it? It's Walt's Family Plot: a last film made almost as a self-referential curtain call, a little bit of everything that a legend sees of himself at The End. So, it's too often refined to be madcap, too well-poised to be zany. But there's also no apology in this movie. In fact, that's its very theme: accepting one's self without apology, expectation or condescension. And what's wrong with that?

Walt Disney's last production was this epic-length (172 minutes) musical about a mildly eccentric millionaire (Fred MacMurray) and his family, as seen through the eyes of his new butler (Tommy Steele). It starts badly and the first half has some bits that go on far too long (it never does justify its length), but the second half picks up, aided by some strong numbers. MacMurray and Steele have their moments, and Lesley Ann Warren makes a pretty good debut as MacMurray's headstrong daughter.