@@vivianmonaghan9784Have you ever read the play in which this is based ? And era? Granted, she is on the young side - but all others (including Carol Channing) were on the older side . This woman is a widow in turn of the century NYC. At that time - a woman in her late 20’s (widowed) would be considered a matron. Childless and alone. Again - still young at 27. But in terms of her comedy AND her vocals - she pulls this overblown film out of the muck and makes it work.
Whoever did the tailoring for Streisand was a genius. Not only did she look fantastic in everything she wore, but she looked very stylish in outfits from more than half a century before. And yeah, she may have been a bit young to really carry the part, but she looked like a million bucks in those gowns!
I’m surprised at the comment about it being Barbra’s ‘most underrated movie’ I think it showed off her talents brilliantly and what a blockbuster. I still adore it. The entire cast sits brilliantly with me.
I personally have never understood why anyone thought Barbra was too young for the role... She is a great actress and when I first saw the movie , I never thought of her age.. She was Dolly thru and thru and the way was made to look more mature, she actually resembled her older self in the 80's.. not the hair of course, but the face. This is why the craft is called "acting"
agree! i knew almost nothing about Hello Dolly when I first saw it, so i thought Streisand was fantastic. i shuddder when I think about sitting through 2 hours of Carol Channing.
I absolutely love Michael Crawford's account of his audition for Gene Kelly. According to him, Kelly said "What we're looking for is a good-looking idiot. Well, my wife thinks you're good-looking and I think you're an idiot".
I always thought Barbra S was too young for the part, but somehow she made it work. I loved this video and seeing the talented but not quite right actors who didn't make the movie. The cast was wonderful, the dances marvelous and the wardrobe spectacular. I just love Walter Matthau and even in the audition takes you can see how well he fits the part and his natural ability to become the character. Thank you for this video!
Hello- Hello Dolly is one of those big budget films from the 60s with a somewhat off reputation that when people see it they wonder why. it s a highly entertaining film with a stellar performance by Streisand. admittedly she was say 30 years too young but in her performance of the character she was Dolly Levi. the Before the Parade Passes By number which comes right before the intermission is one of the great large scale action scenes in movie history along with Cleopatra's entrance into Rome from the 1963 film.
Randi Gerber This film has been a favorite of mine since I saw it in 1969. On top of everything else wonderful about it, the choreography (and its execution) was spectacular. I remember “making” my daughter watch it when she was about 10 years old, and it became a favorite of hers, too. I great, fun film that passes the test of time with flying colors. (Blue and green and streaming in the yellow sky!) And flying waiters, too
The movie's reputation as a studio-crushing flop is largely unwarranted. It simply cost too much to make its money back on its initial release. The movie actually didn't do that badly at the box office, considering all it had against it. By 1970, moviegoers wanted realism and social relevance; and the public had gotten a little tired of that song. In fact, "Hello, Dolly!" is in profit now. (Okay, so it took 50 years. It took 20 years for "The Wizard of Oz" to make its money back.) And Barbra Streisand recently turned 80; is she old enough to play the part now, folks? (There's actually no reason Dolly couldn't have been a younger woman. Young widows were a pretty common occurrence in the late 19th century.) And we definitely do not need a remake.
If I'm not mistaken, the parade scene New York set was also used in Up the Sandbox when Barbra and David Selby were walking home early from a New York party.
I saw Hello Dolly at a movie theater in the Bronx during its original release. It has aged very well, and can now be enjoyed for what it is, an over-the-top confection that’s sweeter than a Viennese operetta. But it was woefully out of place in 1969 during the Nixon-Vietnam era, and movies were becoming much more realistic and gritty. As for Streisand, of course she was too young! And who cares! It’s not like the story makes much sense anyway, so the prime requirement is to have a real star who can act, dance, and especially sing. And no, Carol Channing would’ve been God-awful; can you imagine two hours of her batting her eyes, opening her mouth as wide as the Mississippi, and singing in her baritone voice? She was great on the stage, not on the screen. Hello Dolly may not be great art, but it’s great fun.
Few as the comments are, they represent an interesting mix of pro and con. Anyone who knows the film already know whether they love it or hate it. Personally I'm a fan. I don't contend that it's a great film but I do think it's a good film. A fine old-school musical comedy with all the requisite elements to make it work. And I appreciate it for the individual parts as well as the whole. I particularly admire the art direction. Having had the opportunity to work at the Fox lot regularly over several years I liked seeing the small remaining portion of the great 1890 New York street set, still used for filming. The greater part was removed over the years as it was impractical to keep it in place. And just two weeks ago I had the rare chance to see the film again on the big screen and the audience seemed to enjoy it pretty well. By the way, for anyone that's interested, there's another TH-cam video called "Directing Dolly" and two websites virtually dedicated to this film - The Barbra Archives and Hello, Again Dolly, each with a wealth of copy, behind the scenes production photos and links to videos.
Gustavo I. once saw Ann-Margaret's screen-test for Irene Molloy singing Ribbons Down By Back. Can you find it anywhere? It's disappeared and it was wonderful!
First, I can perfectly see, why "Hello, Dolly" flopped - it was certainly behind of it's time, too big and too splashy. Second... I still love it! That's a good movie, a little bit overloaded with the big numbers and dancing, but so is the stage version. And of course, Barbra's voice amazes me every time I hear it. As for this video, you are my hero now - I've been looking for these screen tests for AGES. Thank you so much for posting them!
It's stated on the video that production of the film could not commence until Hello, Dolly! closed on Broadway, but it didn't close on Broadway until December of 1970 and the film was released in December of 1969.
It’s correct. The film was ready for release in late 1968. No one expected the play on Broadway to run for so long. In the end the film producers paid a huge amount of money to the producers of the Broadway play so they could premiere the film.
That’s the stage and box office power of ETHEL MERMAN who was going to play the role for 3 months until it became the longest running musical but stayed 9 months, add 2 additional songs and stayed until the end.
I love this movie. Yes, Streisand was too young. But once that is said, we can talk about how great she was in this role. This is an example of how a movie was originally a disappointment at the Box Office but is loved by so many years later. Gene Kelly's Direction, Michael Kidd's adapted Choreography for the screen by Gower Champion's original choreography for the state, and the outstanding talents of the Cast makes this a great film and experience. And, of course, the moment in film and cultural history with Streisand singing with Louis Armstrong is priceless!
Just a funny background story to this movie : in 1974 I was in 6th grade (NY suburbs- middle class area ) we had a student teacher named Mr. O'Locklin (or O'Lauflin?) . He was a BIG Barbra Striesand fan and was proud of it. He did pencil portraits of her, and our regular teacher , let him hang them up in our classroom. Nobody raised an eyebrow . There was no question Mr. O'Locklin was..gay. In the student variety show of that year - he put together a Hello Dolly number ! It was the Harmonia Garden scene - simplified . One student , Mary White -with her freckles, button nose and fair complexion - played Dolly. 3 boy students were dancing waiters in the red jackets. So yeah : minimal production . They lip-synched the Hello Dolly number . The only thing I recall was the reproduction dress was VERY exact to the original ! I don't know who made it -- or who was comissioned to make it - but you kinda got the feeling that Mr. O'Locklin made SURE every detail , and every gold rhinestone was PERFECTLY sewn on to that dress. LOL. It also looked HEAVY as the REAL Dolly gold dress did! Later that year (winter 1975?) "Dolly.." made it's TV premiere on CBS . So that is when I had first seen it . I really liked it and purchased the soundtrack LP from a local recod shop . I wonder whatever happened to Mr. O'Locklin? Hopefully he became a full time teacher , retired about 35 years ago , and enjoying his golden years with his Barbara Striesand Blu-Ray discs in a cozy home that was paid off years ago. I hope he is reading this now.
Now that Streisand has written her memoirs, we get to read her opinion. She knew she was too young, but was still enthusiastic. She loved the production team: sets, costumes, choreography, cinematography. She especially enjoyed working with Ernest Lehman (writer-producer) and Harry Stradling (camera). Unfortunately, the old rumors are apparently true: Matthau hated her, Gene Kelly was hostile. Kelly wasn’t open to any of her suggestions, such as the thrilling ending to the parade; he wanted to move in for a closeup, she wanted to stop as the parade passed her, and let the camera pull out to show the whole incredible set and marchers. When Kelly refused, she went to the producer to ask him to try it out….and that’s what ended up in the film. She had been a big fan of Kelly, but as the production rolled, she became very disillusioned. As for Matthau, she had met him several years earlier and made a big joke about her nose.
There is a story about how Matthau made her cry and basically here and there hurled insults about her being a diva. Now, even some Streisand fans (me included) have said that she has had her moments of being “full of herself”, but it’s not fair for her to be called out for it in the context of speaking out and having a say in her career at a time that even some progressive-minded men even had the systemic misogyny attitude of “you want to be equal? Prove it!” It’s the old argument-a woman trailblazing decides to work her way to the top running the gamut from “polite bugging” to “being bitchy”. The fact that she wanted a zoom out to the ensemble is a sign that she valued The Whole Project. I’m very very surprised that Marianne McAndrew had to learn to sing and dance for the role! Wow!
I thought Barbara was perfect as Dolly no matter her age..trouble is she was competing against herself with funny girl and that got the Oscar for her..brilliant on both films though
You're a little muddled. No, it's not Barbara's voice, obviously, because it's a different character; Irene Molloy, played by Marianne McAndrew, But you are correct that it's not McAndrew's singing voice in the number- she was indeed dubbed.
@@paulybarr I thought the poster was just saying the best song in the movie was not sung by Barbara. They were not saying it was a song that Barbra did that was dubbed. They are just referring to the song itself, not who sang it. But then I saw their reply and I'm confused now.
Regarding comments on the movie. I saw it when it was released & a couple times since. It was over the top in just about everything!! I am not enamored of it but, I also enjoy it. The sets & costumes are. what has
Ah, the poor bewildered critics...This was a tour de force by Streisand and the intuitive; wonderful Walter Matthau made her look like a lively, twinkling little star beside his grave portrayal of a grumpy, sour old businessman. They were perfectly cast together.
My personal feeling is that the dance numbers were too big -- too many dancers and the dances a bit too long. There should have been fewer waiters and a shorter dance sequence in the Harmonia Gardens number before Dolly's big entrance. The dancing in the park could have used fewer dancers and better solo moments for Minnie Fay/Barnaby and Ermengarde/Ambrose. I do enjoy watching Hello Dolly, but I always felt the dancing should have been toned down just a bit.
I LOVE THIS MOVIE VERY MUCH. i own the laserdisc, I own the dvd, and I own the bluray. I hope they put it in 4k with atmos sound. I met Gene Kelly .... he was an a**hole: it was very slightly raining during ST PATRICKS DAY parade in Beverly Hills, and when he departed his trailer, I asked for autograph, to which as he was walking briskly with another gentleman, he answered me with this: "WHAT ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR F*CKING MIND?!" Years later, I thought I should have replied, "BUT YET YOU COULD GO SINGING IN THE RAIN"! i THINK maybe HE WOULD HAVE LAUGHED but heard stories FROM OTHER CELEBS of Kelly in which he was an a**HOLE. AND THEIR STORIES PROVED IT. As kelly was pain to work with and know. I will admit his last musical in XANADU which he danced adn sang with Olivia Newton-John. THE BEST. Yet during the ST PATS DAY parade, others like Ernest Borgnine braved the rain and he shook hands with military men. Ernest was a very nice guy, as I did also meet that day: James Stewart, Fay Wray, etc.
Your comment regarding Gene Kelly's attitude. I have read many personal observations & 1st hand accounts of him by co-workers, acquaintances, etc. All seem to tell the same story!! The man was nasty.
Danny Lockin aka Barnaby i thought was a fantastic dancer , i was shocked when i read how his life turned out and how he died i thought he was so talented
Barbra and this film got bad from the start because they didn’t cast Carol Channing , sort of like what the fall out when they cast Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady over Julie Andrews. But it was reported that Walter Matthau single handed tried his damndest to ruin this film because of his jealousy towards Barbra, it’s said had a field day blabbing and bad mouthing to the press!!! This good enough to receive Oscar nominations for best picture and best director for Gene Kelly
I saw Carol Channing in a major 1978 revival of Dolly in San Francisco. She was a shameless mugger and had her moments, but it was not memorable. This film needed a major star with pipes. Listening to Channing croak for 2 1/2 hours would have sunk the film's chances. I thought Streisand kept her womanliness amidst the big budget circusiness and should be commended for doing a terrific job. This lady was barely 10 years out of Flatbush poverty carrying the most expensive musical ever made and was radiant in the role. I cannot think of anyone else at the time who could have done what she did.
It was nominated for Best Picture, but lost to “Midnight Cowboy,” which is quite a juxtaposition in and of itself. Gene Kelly was not nominated for best director, but perhaps should have been. Not surprisingly, John Schlesinger won for directing “Midnight Cowboy.”
@@markedwardindc sorry I Gene was nominated but wasn’t the letter rating system relatively new at that time and have an X rating was pretty significant not like it is todayAnd midnight cowboy was a good movie but I always think that hello Dolly with Barbra Streisand was one of the best musicals made anyway Mark thanks for correcting me honestly
✨I had read that the feud between Barbra & Matthau was due in part, to his friendship with Barbra’s former Broadway co-star in ‘Funny~Girl’, Sydney Chaplin. Sad that Barbra had to endure such misogyny.✨😔💔 16:48
Joanne Worley would have been terrific in the role but it did well with the actress they cast as being very much like a Worley character! The only thing that bothered me a bit was that Irene Malloy paired with Cornelius seemed to be a bit old for him! I don't know if it was just the makeup and costuming but it was just off! My own feeling about Carol Channing in the role was that she would be way too "big", as any character she played! Not a bad thing for her successful career but it would have given the movie a whole different feeling!
Regarding Irene Molloy, the filmmakers had to find an actress who could come across as mature enough for Horace Vandergelder to consider marrying yet young enough for the younger Cornelius. I think Marianne McAndrew who played Irene was fine in the role and a good physical match with the actors who made up the group of Cornelius/Irene/Barnaby/Minnie Fay which was important for later in the movie.
@@suebob16 I liked Ms. McAndrew but she seemed to fall off the face of the earth after this film, she completely disappeared! I read quite recently that not only did someone dub her singing voice but some of her speaking lines as well. Disillusioning! But Gene Kelly thought she had a very elegant look and he liked that. He was right, of course.
@@kennethwayne6857 I think I noticed her in one or two eps of Love American Style and saw her on the old Hawaii Five-O. But you're right, she didn't seem to do much after that.
I agree about Marianne McAndrew looking too old for Cornelius. Maybe he should have been an actor that was older. I loved Barbra as Dolly. I don’t think she was too young. For me, she was perfect!
thoroughly enjoyed this film. but then, i love my movies bigger than life and this was HUGE! that said, i'd love to see a second feature film made of Dolly with Bette Midler recreating her Tony-winning stage role and Nathan Lane as Vandergelter. it would be a hoot.
I agree with Streisand us own assessment that she was, at twenty-five, far to young. And then there was the fact that she did I can Get it for You Wholesale and then was starred in the stage version of Funny Girl, and never did another Beat play. She had a successful recording concert, and TV career. But she had become a personality. The main difference between Fanny and Dolly was costuming. Streisand always played herself.
Barbra herself say it was a mistake to accept this role because she was too young I don't agree I don't know if it was because I was a kid but for me she was perfect I think she projected perfectly a middle age sassy lady, for me she was perfect. Can' t say the same about horrible Mattthau....
Marianne McAndrew was perfect as Irene Molloy, but the voice they used for her singing, while beautiful, was so far off from her speaking voice that it sounded ridiculous.
The Pearl Bailey recording is a dream; it is just great. You can hear where some of the comments Dolly makes in the title number were used by Streisand.
I saw Pearl on the stage when I was like 10. Will always remember the dinner scene with the prop turkey. She didn't utter a word while "eating" but everyone was in hysterics. Met her at the stage door afterwards with my mom. She made a fuss over my little brother but she was so good I forgave her lol.
ESTA PERSONA COMO CANTANTE Y ACTRIZ NADA QUE DECIR. PERO COMO HUMANA DEJA MUCHO QUE DECIR LA ENCUENTRO CODICIOSA,AMBICIOSA OPINIÓN PERSONAL Y NO ESTOY PARA REPROCHES OK 👍
What's fun to see here, is their fine eye to select the right actor for each role, and, in the final performances , truly polish the delivery and movements (major AND minor) to perfection. Also the wardrobe and hair styling tweaks were brilliant. For me the weakness of the film will always be the witless script at key moments, and most notably the donnybrook at the Harmonia Gardens, which could have been a slapstick classic, but instead was poorly written by Lehman, and oafishly staged by Kelly. It's like they'd run out of ideas on how to carry it off and just winged it. And of course Streisand, who, in the final wedding scene, they unforgiveably had in that magnificent dress gliding down the most beat-up, pockmarked asphalt pathway....WTF???...they couldn't have resurfaced that one section to match the stunning craftsmanship all around it??? Oh, and one other choice blunder...in the opening credits about the time Michael Crawford's name is displayed, to the right of the train are a bunch of derelict 40's cars by the side of the tracks. It wouldn't have taken much effort to throw some camoflage netting over the rusting hulks to obscure them. BAD advance work....fire that guy!
lol - i caught the junked 40's cars at the side of the track when i first saw it in the theater - i should have payed more attention to that bad omen. i thought the film was a stinker.
After the Elegance dance number the bottom of the ladies long dresses were stained and dirty...and yet when they "arrived" at Harmony Gardens they were CLEAN? And...what a shame that this segment wasnt able to add that Danny Lockin who was gay, was murdered in the late 70s after an ill fated tryst that obviously went bad.
It I was the EDITOR: I'd remove "It Takes a Woman", "Ribbons Down My Back" and "So Long Dearie". Otherwise perfect ! And it would make to movie more digestible !
@@LannieLord My family was being interviewed my mom and myself 4 of her 5 children were extras I was the most used of the 4 and am in 3 scenes. I have a photo of us waiting to be interviewed by Barbara Walter’s. The picture has me my sister and two brothers sitting talking to Barbara Streisand. I was very friendly with her and have another photo where she’s holding a microphone and I’m standing right in front of her.
The first time I saw this I was on the floor of the theater laughing at how bad it was, but I have grown to like parts of it. Basically the parts with streisand and some great sets. Matthau doesn’t bother me as he seems to bother a lot of the commentators. It’s the secondary roles that destroy this film. Tommy tune is much better as a choreographer than on screen or stage. Michael Crawford destroyed every scene he is in. Good in phantom though. Ej peaker and Ermingarde are as obnoxious as bette Midler and the new star of funny girl were in the broadway revival. Irene was ok, but did not work with the jerkiness of Crawford.
agreed, one of the worst supporting casts ever - E.J. Peaker and whoever played Gussie Granger - dreadful, Tommy Tune trying to play it straight, Michael Crawford attempting humor - Streisand was the best thing about the film and she even looked misplaced. Big sets, big crowds - big stinker.
Streisand made this movie. All the talk of being too young - it's not noticeable because of her performance and exceptional vocals. Barbra is completely believable and her interpretation and delivery of the songs are beyond compare. Channing would have been awful. I also think Matthau was perfect - and we often forget how handsome he could be! I don't agree the modest box office takings were because it was too old fashioned. The movie was overblown and too long. Cut back, it could have been a fast paced, nostalgic pleasure trip. But for me, the big fly in the ointment is Michael Crawford - a very irritating and stupid performance. He ruins every scene he's in. I'm British and he is exactly as he was in the awful British sitcom he was in. I also thought the actress playing Irene Malloy was too bland. But a big shout out to the young actor who played Barnaby who was great.
She was ok. I kinda wish they had waited a few years though. Then she would have been spectacular. Dolly needs a more mature (ok, older) actress. Sorry, but not sorry.
Don't know exactly how I got to this video, but as long as I'm here… I always thought this film was made at the wrong time. It suffers from the same problem as the terrible film version of Camelot-an overly late sixties look (think pale lipstick) and vocalizations (the slide-y vocals of second rate television variety shows). The actors who played Irene Malloy and the two apprentices are forgettable (and they have been forgotten) - Sandy Duncan would have been a better choice for Minny Fay. Walter Matthau seems almost embarrassed to be playing his role, and Barbra is, well, Barbra. No contest there, but is this really her material? Even the songs written specially for her? The one actress that has stayed in my mind for 53 years is Judy Knaiz as Ernestina. She's perfect, and that walk-Mae West on a bumper car. I don't think I ever knew that Gene Kelly directed, which surprises me as I'm a fan and (I thought) a well-rounded movie musical buff. Oh well, at least the soundtrack was well used on Wall-E.
So much has been said about Streisand being too young for the role and she and Mathau's non-stop battling, Both are true, but the real truth is Hello Dolly is just a terrible movie. HD was competing at the box office with Butch Cassidy, Midnight Cowboy, and Easy Rider, and despite rumors it actually did very well (although it was hardly a blockbuster). Just very badly timed and a really bad script. I've yet to get through it.
Given all these supposedly exacting tests I wonder how they ever ended up with that wig for Streisand - surely one of the most obvious and unrealistic wigs in film history?
I love Jerry Herman’s stuff and I would like to see a version with an older Dolly and with somebody who can sing without the dreadful nasal whining that Streisand offered.
Andrew Rudin: What s rude comment. Look at the property, look at the talent, look at the heart, look at the money spent. And you’ve got the balls to call it a TURKEY? What an insult to turkeys! This was a crow, a dodo, a woodpecker. Nothing good about it at all.
I look high and low for Streisand rarities. You post so many gems. Keep posting and thank you!!!!!
I'm glad they chose Streisand for the movie role. No one else could have pulled it off as well as she did. Her voice and her range are unmatched.
yep. Streisand saved the day. sorry i cant imagine sitting through 2 hours of Carol Channing on the big screen.
Too young
Much too young. Dolly Levi is a woman in her 50s. They could have at least tried to make her look older.
Agree!! She made this movie ❤
@@vivianmonaghan9784Have you ever read the play in which this is based ? And era? Granted, she is on the young side - but all others (including Carol
Channing) were on the older side .
This woman is a widow in turn of the century NYC. At that time - a woman in her late 20’s (widowed) would be considered a matron. Childless and alone.
Again - still young at 27.
But in terms of her comedy AND her vocals - she pulls this overblown film out of the muck and makes it work.
Whoever did the tailoring for Streisand was a genius. Not only did she look fantastic in everything she wore, but she looked very stylish in outfits from more than half a century before. And yeah, she may have been a bit young to really carry the part, but she looked like a million bucks in those gowns!
Irene Sharaff was an amazing costume designer
Way too good to be a middle aged, grieving widow who was worried about finding a husband because she was running out of money.
I’m surprised at the comment about it being Barbra’s ‘most underrated movie’ I think it
showed off her talents brilliantly and what a blockbuster. I still adore it. The entire cast sits brilliantly with me.
True, a lot of people have loved this movie and still do! Underrated is an awfully overused word in these comment sections.
This was great to see. Hello Dolly is a wonderful film. Such as very tragic end to the talented Danny Lockin.
This is a great movie.
This movie was true talent absolutely without any doubt. From Barbra Streisand, Walter Matthau all the way through.
I personally have never understood why anyone thought Barbra was too young for the role... She is a great actress and when I first saw the movie , I never thought of her age.. She was Dolly thru and thru and the way was made to look more mature, she actually resembled her older self in the 80's.. not the hair of course, but the face. This is why the craft is called "acting"
agree! i knew almost nothing about Hello Dolly when I first saw it, so i thought Streisand was fantastic. i shuddder when I think about sitting through 2 hours of Carol Channing.
I absolutely love Michael Crawford's account of his audition for Gene Kelly. According to him, Kelly said "What we're looking for is a good-looking idiot. Well, my wife thinks you're good-looking and I think you're an idiot".
And Kelly always seemed like such a nice guy! I am maintaining that illusion.
Incredibly informative and fills in so many gaps for this unrivaled musical. Thanks
I really appreciate whoever put this together. It's hard to find the "extras" that go with this film. Thank you!
Wish Trisha Noble and Sandy Duncan got cast as Irene and Minnie Fay. They were amazing in their screen tests.
I always thought Barbra S was too young for the part, but somehow she made it work. I loved this video and seeing the talented but not quite right actors who didn't make the movie. The cast was wonderful, the dances marvelous and the wardrobe spectacular. I just love Walter Matthau and even in the audition takes you can see how well he fits the part and his natural ability to become the character. Thank you for this video!
Hello-
Hello Dolly is one of those big budget films from the 60s with a somewhat off reputation that when people see it they
wonder why. it s a highly entertaining film with a stellar performance by Streisand. admittedly she was say 30 years
too young but in her performance of the character she was Dolly Levi. the Before the Parade Passes By number which
comes right before the intermission is one of the great large scale action scenes in movie history along with Cleopatra's
entrance into Rome from the 1963 film.
How is it that after all these screen tests we still got stuck with Michael Crawford, EJ Peaker, Marianne McAndrew, and Danny Lockin?
I never let reviews and box office affect how I react to a film. I thoroughly enjoyed it when it was on television.
My all time favorite musical movie ever !
Randi Gerber
This film has been a favorite of mine since I saw it in 1969.
On top of everything else wonderful about it, the choreography (and its execution) was spectacular.
I remember “making” my daughter watch it when she was about 10 years old, and it became a favorite of hers, too.
I great, fun film that passes the test of time with flying colors. (Blue and green and streaming in the yellow sky!)
And flying waiters, too
Thank you for this jewel 💜🙏
Barbra sang the HELL out of that musical and was Exquisite. Walter Matthau had zero romantic appeal..just a grumpy, stodgy old man.💯
Barbra turns 80 in 7 days. Hard to imagine.
The movie's reputation as a studio-crushing flop is largely unwarranted. It simply cost too much to make its money back on its initial release. The movie actually didn't do that badly at the box office, considering all it had against it. By 1970, moviegoers wanted realism and social relevance; and the public had gotten a little tired of that song. In fact, "Hello, Dolly!" is in profit now. (Okay, so it took 50 years. It took 20 years for "The Wizard of Oz" to make its money back.) And Barbra Streisand recently turned 80; is she old enough to play the part now, folks? (There's actually no reason Dolly couldn't have been a younger woman. Young widows were a pretty common occurrence in the late 19th century.)
And we definitely do not need a remake.
I love Mary, Carol, Barbra, and Bette in their own right. It's a great musical all of times....
Irene moloy
Irene moloy
Bette Midler was atrocious as Dolly.
Up the Sandbox is Streisand's most under rated movie. It's great, and most people have never even heard of it.
And that has what to do with HELLO DOLLY?
@@bingovegas4867 Someone mentioned Hello Dolly was Streisand's most underrated movie. I disagreed. Sorry if I replied in the wrong place.
If I'm not mistaken, the parade scene New York set was also used in Up the Sandbox when Barbra and David Selby were walking home early from a New York party.
Great ! Thank you Gus!!!
Barbra is so beautiful !!!
My Favorite movie!!!!!
I had a big crush on Danny Locken!
He was a handsome man whose life was cut short. Sad but tragic event.
I saw Hello Dolly at a movie theater in the Bronx during its original release. It has aged very well, and can now be enjoyed for what it is, an over-the-top confection that’s sweeter than a Viennese operetta. But it was woefully out of place in 1969 during the Nixon-Vietnam era, and movies were becoming much more realistic and gritty.
As for Streisand, of course she was too young! And who cares! It’s not like the story makes much sense anyway, so the prime requirement is to have a real star who can act, dance, and especially sing. And no, Carol Channing would’ve been God-awful; can you imagine two hours of her batting her eyes, opening her mouth as wide as the Mississippi, and singing in her baritone voice? She was great on the stage, not on the screen.
Hello Dolly may not be great art, but it’s great fun.
Few as the comments are, they represent an interesting mix of pro and con. Anyone who knows the film already know whether they love it or hate it. Personally I'm a fan. I don't contend that it's a great film but I do think it's a good film. A fine old-school musical comedy with all the requisite elements to make it work. And I appreciate it for the individual parts as well as the whole. I particularly admire the art direction. Having had the opportunity to work at the Fox lot regularly over several years I liked seeing the small remaining portion of the great 1890 New York street set, still used for filming. The greater part was removed over the years as it was impractical to keep it in place. And just two weeks ago I had the rare chance to see the film again on the big screen and the audience seemed to enjoy it pretty well. By the way, for anyone that's interested, there's another TH-cam video called "Directing Dolly" and two websites virtually dedicated to this film - The Barbra Archives and Hello, Again Dolly, each with a wealth of copy, behind the scenes production photos and links to videos.
Gustavo I. once saw Ann-Margaret's screen-test for Irene Molloy singing Ribbons Down By Back. Can you find it anywhere? It's disappeared and it was wonderful!
First, I can perfectly see, why "Hello, Dolly" flopped - it was certainly behind of it's time, too big and too splashy.
Second... I still love it! That's a good movie, a little bit overloaded with the big numbers and dancing, but so is the stage version. And of course, Barbra's voice amazes me every time I hear it.
As for this video, you are my hero now - I've been looking for these screen tests for AGES. Thank you so much for posting them!
You are amazing gustavo! Thanks for sharing.
It's stated on the video that production of the film could not commence until Hello, Dolly! closed on Broadway, but it didn't close on Broadway until December of 1970 and the film was released in December of 1969.
It’s correct. The film was ready for release in late 1968. No one expected the play on Broadway to run for so long. In the end the film producers paid a huge amount of money to the producers of the Broadway play so they could premiere the film.
That’s the stage and box office power of ETHEL MERMAN who was going to play the role for 3 months until it became the longest running musical but stayed 9 months, add 2 additional songs and stayed until the end.
Was 1 yrs old in December 1969. Great time being a child
Ron Rifkin! as Ambrose. Wow. That would have been cool.
this was AWSOME! thank you! would love to see more!
I love this movie. Yes, Streisand was too young. But once that is said, we can talk about how great she was in this role. This is an example of how a movie was originally a disappointment at the Box Office but is loved by so many years later. Gene Kelly's Direction, Michael Kidd's adapted Choreography for the screen by Gower Champion's original choreography for the state, and the outstanding talents of the Cast makes this a great film and experience. And, of course, the moment in film and cultural history with Streisand singing with Louis Armstrong is priceless!
Excellent - Thank You!
Just a funny background story to this movie : in 1974 I was in 6th grade (NY suburbs- middle class area ) we had a student teacher named Mr. O'Locklin (or O'Lauflin?) . He was a BIG Barbra Striesand fan and was proud of it. He did pencil portraits of her, and our regular teacher , let him hang them up in our classroom. Nobody raised an eyebrow . There was no question Mr. O'Locklin was..gay. In the student variety show of that year - he put together a Hello Dolly number ! It was the Harmonia Garden scene - simplified . One student , Mary White -with her freckles, button nose and fair complexion - played Dolly. 3 boy students were dancing waiters in the red jackets. So yeah : minimal production . They lip-synched the Hello Dolly number . The only thing I recall was the reproduction dress was VERY exact to the original ! I don't know who made it -- or who was comissioned to make it - but you kinda got the feeling that Mr. O'Locklin made SURE every detail , and every gold rhinestone was PERFECTLY sewn on to that dress. LOL. It also looked HEAVY as the REAL Dolly gold dress did! Later that year (winter 1975?) "Dolly.." made it's TV premiere on CBS . So that is when I had first seen it . I really liked it and purchased the soundtrack LP from a local recod shop . I wonder whatever happened to Mr. O'Locklin? Hopefully he became a full time teacher , retired about 35 years ago , and enjoying his golden years with his Barbara Striesand Blu-Ray discs in a cozy home that was paid off years ago. I hope he is reading this now.
It's fun to see these tests. I saw Anne Margaret's test for Irene Molloy. She was awful! Anne is wonderful but she stank in her test for this movie!
I've only seen her do the song and she did that wonderfully. I don't know ifI saw her doing the acting.
Now that Streisand has written her memoirs, we get to read her opinion. She knew she was too young, but was still enthusiastic. She loved the production team: sets, costumes, choreography, cinematography. She especially enjoyed working with Ernest Lehman (writer-producer) and Harry Stradling (camera). Unfortunately, the old rumors are apparently true: Matthau hated her, Gene Kelly was hostile. Kelly wasn’t open to any of her suggestions, such as the thrilling ending to the parade; he wanted to move in for a closeup, she wanted to stop as the parade passed her, and let the camera pull out to show the whole incredible set and marchers. When Kelly refused, she went to the producer to ask him to try it out….and that’s what ended up in the film. She had been a big fan of Kelly, but as the production rolled, she became very disillusioned. As for Matthau, she had met him several years earlier and made a big joke about her nose.
There is a story about how Matthau made her cry and basically here and there hurled insults about her being a diva. Now, even some Streisand fans (me included) have said that she has had her moments of being “full of herself”, but it’s not fair for her to be called out for it in the context of speaking out and having a say in her career at a time that even some progressive-minded men even had the systemic misogyny attitude of “you want to be equal? Prove it!” It’s the old argument-a woman trailblazing decides to work her way to the top running the gamut from “polite bugging” to “being bitchy”. The fact that she wanted a zoom out to the ensemble is a sign that she valued The Whole Project.
I’m very very surprised that Marianne McAndrew had to learn to sing and dance for the role! Wow!
I thought Barbara was perfect as Dolly no matter her age..trouble is she was competing against herself with funny girl and that got the Oscar for her..brilliant on both films though
The best song in the movie wasn’t sung by Barbra. She said so herself . I’ll be wearing ribbons down my back . Beautiful.
You're a little muddled. No, it's not Barbara's voice, obviously, because it's a different character; Irene Molloy, played by Marianne McAndrew, But you are correct that it's not McAndrew's singing voice in the number- she was indeed dubbed.
@@paulybarr muddled how come ? And it’s Barbra
@@paulybarr I thought the poster was just saying the best song in the movie was not sung by Barbara. They were not saying it was a song that Barbra did that was dubbed. They are just referring to the song itself, not who sang it. But then I saw their reply and I'm confused now.
This was a fun movie to watch. Yes Barbra was to young for the part. But she was so good in the roll.
Regarding comments on the movie. I saw it when it was released & a couple times since. It was over the top in just about everything!! I am not enamored of it but, I also enjoy it. The sets & costumes are. what has
Ah, the poor bewildered critics...This was a tour de force by Streisand and the intuitive; wonderful Walter Matthau made her look like a lively, twinkling little star beside his grave portrayal of a grumpy, sour old businessman. They were perfectly cast together.
Anyone knows who bought that golden dress? If I remember well, it was auctioned by Doris Day when she sold most of her Hollywood items collection.
Debbie Reynolds . Not Doris Day.
Based on what I've seen of the screen tests, I think they should have gone with Jo Anne Worley for the Gussie role.
My personal feeling is that the dance numbers were too big -- too many dancers and the dances a bit too long. There should have been fewer waiters and a shorter dance sequence in the Harmonia Gardens number before Dolly's big entrance. The dancing in the park could have used fewer dancers and better solo moments for Minnie Fay/Barnaby and Ermengarde/Ambrose. I do enjoy watching Hello Dolly, but I always felt the dancing should have been toned down just a bit.
Hey, it was a Gene Kelly film (you're right, though).
I LOVE THIS MOVIE VERY MUCH. i own the laserdisc, I own the dvd, and I own the bluray. I hope they put it in 4k with atmos sound. I met Gene Kelly .... he was an a**hole: it was very slightly raining during ST PATRICKS DAY parade in Beverly Hills, and when he departed his trailer, I asked for autograph, to which as he was walking briskly with another gentleman, he answered me with this: "WHAT ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR F*CKING MIND?!" Years later, I thought I should have replied, "BUT YET YOU COULD GO SINGING IN THE RAIN"! i THINK maybe HE WOULD HAVE LAUGHED but heard stories FROM OTHER CELEBS of Kelly in which he was an a**HOLE. AND THEIR STORIES PROVED IT. As kelly was pain to work with and know. I will admit his last musical in XANADU which he danced adn sang with Olivia Newton-John. THE BEST. Yet during the ST PATS DAY parade, others like Ernest Borgnine braved the rain and he shook hands with military men. Ernest was a very nice guy, as I did also meet that day: James Stewart, Fay Wray, etc.
Your comment regarding Gene Kelly's attitude. I have read many personal observations & 1st hand accounts of him by co-workers, acquaintances, etc. All seem to tell the same story!! The man was nasty.
‼️❤️ che film!!!!
I would have love to see pearl baley
Danny Lockin aka Barnaby i thought was a fantastic dancer , i was shocked when i read how his life turned out and how he died i thought he was so talented
Please post the complete episode. This is nice - but not comprehensive!
Amei,ela foi a melhor👏👏
Not quite true about the 'unprecedented' price for the rights. Warner shelled out 5.5 million for 'My Fair Lady'.
I can't believe that I just saw Barbra Streisand patting E. J. Peaker's butt at 16:44 🤭
Barbra and this film got bad from the start because they didn’t cast Carol Channing , sort of like what the fall out when they cast Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady over Julie Andrews. But it was reported that Walter Matthau single handed tried his damndest to ruin this film because of his jealousy towards Barbra, it’s said had a field day blabbing and bad mouthing to the press!!! This good enough to receive Oscar nominations for best picture and best director for Gene Kelly
I saw Carol Channing in a major 1978 revival of Dolly in San Francisco. She was a shameless mugger and had her moments, but it was not memorable. This film needed a major star with pipes. Listening to Channing croak for 2 1/2 hours would have sunk the film's chances. I thought Streisand kept her womanliness amidst the big budget circusiness and should be commended for doing a terrific job. This lady was barely 10 years out of Flatbush poverty carrying the most expensive musical ever made and was radiant in the role. I cannot think of anyone else at the time who could have done what she did.
It was nominated for Best Picture, but lost to “Midnight Cowboy,” which is quite a juxtaposition in and of itself. Gene Kelly was not nominated for best director, but perhaps should have been. Not surprisingly, John Schlesinger won for directing “Midnight Cowboy.”
@@markedwardindc sorry I Gene was nominated but wasn’t the letter rating system relatively new at that time and have an X rating was pretty significant not like it is todayAnd midnight cowboy was a good movie but I always think that hello Dolly with Barbra Streisand was one of the best musicals made anyway Mark thanks for correcting me honestly
✨I had read that the feud between Barbra & Matthau was due in part, to his friendship with Barbra’s former Broadway co-star in ‘Funny~Girl’, Sydney Chaplin. Sad that Barbra had to endure such misogyny.✨😔💔 16:48
Joanne Worley would have been terrific in the role but it did well with the actress they cast as being very much like a Worley character! The only thing that bothered me a bit was that Irene Malloy paired with Cornelius seemed to be a bit old for him! I don't know if it was just the makeup and costuming but it was just off! My own feeling about Carol Channing in the role was that she would be way too "big", as any character she played! Not a bad thing for her successful career but it would have given the movie a whole different feeling!
Regarding Irene Molloy, the filmmakers had to find an actress who could come across as mature enough for Horace Vandergelder to consider marrying yet young enough for the younger Cornelius. I think Marianne McAndrew who played Irene was fine in the role and a good physical match with the actors who made up the group of Cornelius/Irene/Barnaby/Minnie Fay which was important for later in the movie.
@@suebob16 I liked Ms. McAndrew but she seemed to fall off the face of the earth after this film, she completely disappeared! I read quite recently that not only did someone dub her singing voice but some of her speaking lines as well. Disillusioning! But Gene Kelly thought she had a very elegant look and he liked that. He was right, of course.
@@kennethwayne6857 I think I noticed her in one or two eps of Love American Style and saw her on the old Hawaii Five-O. But you're right, she didn't seem to do much after that.
@@suebob16 Thanks for the information.
I agree about Marianne McAndrew looking too old for Cornelius. Maybe he should have been an actor that was older. I loved Barbra as Dolly. I don’t think she was too young. For me, she was perfect!
Someone should have re-cast Gene Kelly as the director.
đại nghĩa diễn hay quá
thoroughly enjoyed this film. but then, i love my movies bigger than life and this was HUGE! that said, i'd love to see a second feature film made of Dolly with Bette Midler recreating her Tony-winning stage role and Nathan Lane as Vandergelter. it would be a hoot.
💕💕💕💕💕
I agree with Streisand us own assessment that she was, at twenty-five, far to young. And then there was the fact that she did I can Get it for You Wholesale and then was starred in the stage version of Funny Girl, and never did another Beat play. She had a successful recording concert, and TV career. But she had become a personality. The main difference between Fanny and Dolly was costuming. Streisand always played herself.
👏👏👏👏👏
Barbra herself say it was a mistake to accept this role because she was too young I don't agree I don't know if it was because I was a kid but for me she was perfect I think she projected perfectly a middle age sassy lady, for me she was perfect. Can' t say the same about horrible Mattthau....
Marianne McAndrew was perfect as Irene Molloy, but the voice they used for her singing, while beautiful, was so far off from her speaking voice that it sounded ridiculous.
Much prefer theoretical version with Carol Channing
Would of loved to see the Pearl Bailey stage version
The Pearl Bailey recording is a dream; it is just great. You can hear where some of the comments Dolly makes in the title number were used by Streisand.
I saw Pearl on the stage when I was like 10. Will always remember the dinner scene with the prop turkey. She didn't utter a word while "eating" but everyone was in hysterics. Met her at the stage door afterwards with my mom. She made a fuss over my little brother but she was so good I forgave her lol.
Must of been a remarkable experience to remember
Matthau was as miscast in "Dolly" as Lucille Ball was in "Mame."
ESTA PERSONA COMO CANTANTE Y ACTRIZ NADA QUE DECIR. PERO COMO HUMANA DEJA MUCHO QUE DECIR LA ENCUENTRO CODICIOSA,AMBICIOSA OPINIÓN PERSONAL Y NO ESTOY PARA REPROCHES OK 👍
What's fun to see here, is their fine eye to select the right actor for each role, and, in the final performances , truly polish the delivery and movements (major AND minor) to perfection. Also the wardrobe and hair styling tweaks were brilliant. For me the weakness of the film will always be the witless script at key moments, and most notably the donnybrook at the Harmonia Gardens, which could have been a slapstick classic, but instead was poorly written by Lehman, and oafishly staged by Kelly. It's like they'd run out of ideas on how to carry it off and just winged it. And of course Streisand, who, in the final wedding scene, they unforgiveably had in that magnificent dress gliding down the most beat-up, pockmarked asphalt pathway....WTF???...they couldn't have resurfaced that one section to match the stunning craftsmanship all around it??? Oh, and one other choice blunder...in the opening credits about the time Michael Crawford's name is displayed, to the right of the train are a bunch of derelict 40's cars by the side of the tracks. It wouldn't have taken much effort to throw some camoflage netting over the rusting hulks to obscure them. BAD advance work....fire that guy!
lol - i caught the junked 40's cars at the side of the track when i first saw it in the theater - i should have payed more attention to that bad omen. i thought the film was a stinker.
It was a big disappointment, but the songs were Barbra's, making it worth while ❤🎉
After the Elegance dance number the bottom of the ladies long dresses were stained and dirty...and yet when they "arrived" at Harmony Gardens they were CLEAN? And...what a shame that this segment wasnt able to add that Danny Lockin who was gay, was murdered in the late 70s after an ill fated tryst that obviously went bad.
It I was the EDITOR: I'd remove "It Takes a Woman", "Ribbons Down My Back" and "So Long Dearie". Otherwise perfect ! And it would make to movie more digestible !
Agree with the first two, but no "So long Dearie". That one is one of my favorite songs, hehe.
Really ? @@susieq8424
They goofed not casting Joanne.
Irene was a B word i was an extra the youngest on set at 6 years old she stuffed us in thick wool suits it was 90 plus degrees very hot and humid.
What else do you remember ?????
@@LannieLord My family was being interviewed my mom and myself 4 of her 5 children were extras I was the most used of the 4 and am in 3 scenes. I have a photo of us waiting to be interviewed by Barbara Walter’s. The picture has me my sister and two brothers sitting talking to Barbara Streisand. I was very friendly with her and have another photo where she’s holding a microphone and I’m standing right in front of her.
The first time I saw this I was on the floor of the theater laughing at how bad it was, but I have grown to like parts of it. Basically the parts with streisand and some great sets. Matthau doesn’t bother me as he seems to bother a lot of the commentators. It’s the secondary roles that destroy this film. Tommy tune is much better as a choreographer than on screen or stage. Michael Crawford destroyed every scene he is in. Good in phantom though. Ej peaker and Ermingarde are as obnoxious as bette Midler and the new star of funny girl were in the broadway revival. Irene was ok, but did not work with the jerkiness of Crawford.
agreed, one of the worst supporting casts ever - E.J. Peaker and whoever played Gussie Granger - dreadful, Tommy Tune trying to play it straight, Michael Crawford attempting humor - Streisand was the best thing about the film and she even looked misplaced. Big sets, big crowds - big stinker.
Didn't this movie bomb at the box office?
I normally love musicals and I wish I could like “Hello Dolly” but I just can’t.Lucille Ball might have saved the film but who knows ?
One word: MAME
@@johnpickford4222 Well, ‘Dolly’ was made about six years earlier and I’m one of those who cherish her as Mame.
I Love Lucy !
they forgot the old rule "less is more"
the more money they threw at it the worse it became until the whole thing was just dead in the water
Streisand made this movie. All the talk of being too young - it's not noticeable because of her performance and exceptional vocals. Barbra is completely believable and her interpretation and delivery of the songs are beyond compare. Channing would have been awful. I also think Matthau was perfect - and we often forget how handsome he could be! I don't agree the modest box office takings were because it was too old fashioned. The movie was overblown and too long. Cut back, it could have been a fast paced, nostalgic pleasure trip. But for me, the big fly in the ointment is Michael Crawford - a very irritating and stupid performance. He ruins every scene he's in. I'm British and he is exactly as he was in the awful British sitcom he was in. I also thought the actress playing Irene Malloy was too bland. But a big shout out to the young actor who played Barnaby who was great.
She was ok. I kinda wish they had waited a few years though. Then she would have been spectacular. Dolly needs a more mature (ok, older) actress. Sorry, but not sorry.
OPEN TOPIC: Does ANYONE else hate Funny Girl and LOVE Hello Dolly ? I am probably the one one on the planet Earth that thinks so.
Don't know exactly how I got to this video, but as long as I'm here… I always thought this film was made at the wrong time. It suffers from the same problem as the terrible film version of Camelot-an overly late sixties look (think pale lipstick) and vocalizations (the slide-y vocals of second rate television variety shows). The actors who played Irene Malloy and the two apprentices are forgettable (and they have been forgotten) - Sandy Duncan would have been a better choice for Minny Fay. Walter Matthau seems almost embarrassed to be playing his role, and Barbra is, well, Barbra. No contest there, but is this really her material? Even the songs written specially for her? The one actress that has stayed in my mind for 53 years is Judy Knaiz as Ernestina. She's perfect, and that walk-Mae West on a bumper car. I don't think I ever knew that Gene Kelly directed, which surprises me as I'm a fan and (I thought) a well-rounded movie musical buff. Oh well, at least the soundtrack was well used on Wall-E.
Carol Channing was not a good singer and did not like her in Hello Dolly.
So much has been said about Streisand being too young for the role and she and Mathau's non-stop battling, Both are true, but the real truth is Hello Dolly is just a terrible movie. HD was competing at the box office with Butch Cassidy, Midnight Cowboy, and Easy Rider, and despite rumors it actually did very well (although it was hardly a blockbuster). Just very badly timed and a really bad script. I've yet to get through it.
I think it's BETTER than Funny Girl.
@@LannieLord Aw, well bless your heart 🙄... it's nice to finally meet the person who actually liked HD.
Walter Matthau is too old for BS and the role. Hollywood always puts young women with old men, yuck.
Given all these supposedly exacting tests I wonder how they ever ended up with that wig for Streisand - surely one of the most obvious and unrealistic wigs in film history?
That’s her real hair. It was a clause in her contract to use it. Ha, ha, gotcha.
Don't think so ,barbra never had that much natural hair. Ha ha.
I love Jerry Herman’s stuff and I would like to see a version with an older Dolly and with somebody who can sing without the dreadful nasal whining that Streisand offered.
agreed. they should have went with Carol Channing, a singing voice like Linda Blair from the Exorcist.
Streisand WAS too young for the part.
so miscast
All that testing, all those illustrious people... and still.... a total turkey.
Andrew Rudin: What s rude comment. Look at the property, look at the talent, look at the heart, look at the money spent. And you’ve got the balls to call it a TURKEY? What an insult to turkeys! This was a crow, a dodo, a woodpecker. Nothing good about it at all.
That great musical turned into a horrific movie. Babs is a very limited actress.
Too young. Carol Channing is the one and only.
Hello Dolly. Film. Version. Was a bomb
Not even. Barbra. Striesand could save this flop
One of the worst films ever made!