Doctor Dolittle

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Doctor Dolittle

G,

1967,

2h 32m,

Kids & Family/

Musical

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29%

21 Reviews

Tomatometer

57%

50,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

29%

Tomatometer

21 Reviews

57%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Dr. John Dolittle (Rex Harrison) lives in a small English village where he specializes in caring for and verbally communicating with animals. When Dr. Dolittle is unjustly sent to an insane asylum for freeing a lovesick seal from captivity, his animals and two closest human friends, Matthew Mugg (Anthony Newley) and Tommy Stubbins (William Dix), liberate him. Afterward, they join Emma Fairfax (Samantha Eggar) and set out by boat to find a famed and elusive creature: the Great Pink Sea Snail.

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Ian Nathan

Empire Magazine

May 12, 2008

2/5

Not even a decent performance from Richard Attenborough can save this disappointing production.

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Variety Staff

Variety

May 12, 2008

Leslie Bricusse's adaptation retains the delightful aspects while taking considerable liberty with the plot. His music and lyrics, while containing no smash hits, are admirably suited to the scenario.

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

May 12, 2008

It's so clumsy and pounding that taking a child to it might be grounds for a visit from family services.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Sep 18, 2021

1.5/4

The offer of free food worked beautifully, and Academy voters shamelessly nominated this debacle for Best Picture (thereby rubbing shoulders with the landmark likes of The Graduate and Bonnie and Clyde).

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Nathanael Hood

Unseen Films

Jun 27, 2020

3/10

The only redeeming moments come from spasms of unintended campiness like a scene where Harrison sings a love ballad to a seal dressed as an old woman.

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Tim Brayton

Alternate Ending

Jan 19, 2020

1/5

The failures on display are legion, so many that it's hard to know where to start.

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Jan 31, 2019

The best movie song ever sung: Talk to the Animals!

Kylo S

Jan 11, 2019

Lumbering adaptation of the famous books by Hugh Lofting contains little whimsy and lots of unnecessary songs (although "Talk to the Animals" won the Best Song Oscar); Rex Harrison was a good choice in the lead role and Anthony Newley and Samantha Eggar provide able support, but the film just doesn't work.

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George W

Oct 3, 2018

I dont know why people hate this movie I think its very charming but they need to drop the singing.

Poe R

Mar 4, 2018

Despite some real charm and fantastic (to laughable and lovely) practical effects, the movie's story lacks real connective tissue or depth. It meanders about with music that does the same. A weird thing.

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George S

Dec 21, 2017

Delightful children't tale with bright colors, memorable songs, and a simplistic story line.

Leia S

Feb 6, 2017

Soooo very bad. No need to schedule an appointment for that lobotomy you've been dying for, because here's one provided.

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Richard Fleischer

Director

Rex Harrison

Doctor John Dolittle

Samantha Eggar

Emma Fairfax

Anthony Newley

Matthew Mugg

Richard Attenborough

Albert Blossom

Peter Bull

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Synopsis

Dr. John Dolittle (Rex Harrison) lives in a small English village where he specializes in caring for and verbally communicating with animals. When Dr. Dolittle is unjustly sent to an insane asylum for freeing a lovesick seal from captivity, his animals and two closest human friends, Matthew Mugg (Anthony Newley) and Tommy Stubbins (William Dix), liberate him. Afterward, they join Emma Fairfax (Samantha Eggar) and set out by boat to find a famed and elusive creature: the Great Pink Sea Snail.

Director: Richard Fleischer
Producer: Arthur P. Jacobs
Screenwriter: Hugh Lofting, Leslie Bricusse
Distributor: CBS/Fox, 20th Century Fox
Production Co: 20th Century Fox, APJAC Productions
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Musical
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 19, 1967, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 18, 2012
Runtime: 2h 32m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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