Directed by George Roy Hill
Screenplay by Richard Morris
Stars: Julie Andrews, James Fox, Mary Tyler Moore, Beatrice Lillie, Jack Soo, Pat Morita, Carol Channing, and John Gavin
I have been in a bad mood for the past couple of days. When this happens, a comedy would usually cheer me up. My knowledge of "Thoroughly Modern Millie" was from the 2002 Broadway musical version and the GIF of Carol Channing saying 'Raspberries.' This movie is strange to say the least.
Picture it. New York City, 1922. A young aspiring stenographer, Millie Dillmount (Andrews) meets Miss Dorothy Brown (Moore) as they have rooms at a hotel for young ladies. Millie has a plan to be a stenographer and marry her boss. Okay. Dorothy wants to be an actress. Something funny is happening where someone is kidnapping woman to be sold into white slavery. Yep.
As I said before, this movie is weird. The central premise is strange. I was under the impression that the story was going to be about a naive woman trying to find life, love and possible heartbreak. That did happen, but the subplot of white slavery took me by surprise.
The owner of the hotel, Mrs. Meers (Lillie) is behind the white slavery. It seemed strange for a white woman appropriating the Chinese culture with her 'laundrymen' that don't have names. They are called Oriental #1 and #2. Oof! Seeing this movie with 2022 eyes, I see a lot of insensitivity with Asians being the bad guys. Latinos speaking Spanish and being Lotharios.
The tone of the movie was off for me. Was it a parody of Jazz Age musicals? Was it a tongue and cheek send up of musicals from the 60s? Was it a spoof musical? I could not tell. Millie had these glances to the camera. Her inner monologue were in inter-titles. Was this because the movie took place in 1922 that it was a silent picture with sound?
The only bright spot in this movie was the Oscar nominated turn of Carol Channing as Muzzy Van Hossmere. Whenever she was onscreen, she commanded it. I busted out laughing with her antics. I wished she was in more of the movie. Would it have saved it? Maybe. The plot line is strange.
Rating: 4/10
No comments:
Post a Comment