While Hugh Lofting’s wonderful Dr. Dolittle books go back to the 1920s (with additional tomes in 1933 and 1948) and took place during the early Victorian era in Britain — actually Puddleby-on-the- Marsh, in the West Country — I didn’t discover them until I was about ten.
And then devoured the entire series. I loved these books.
When the film arrived in 1967, I recall a screening at Fox in NY, and it was 70mm.
And magnificent.
As to the film, itself, it may have been a difficult task to translate. And I’d not seen it again until Twilight Time’s new Blu-ray arrived.
The film today, probably has a specialized audience.
Pre-teens, possibly, who read, and may be familiar with the Lofting works.
The film is a sweet production, filled with the innocence of childhood, and with the music of Leslie Bricusse, who also wrote the screenplay.
Anthony Newley, who knows how to sing Bricusse, is a featured player, along with Samantha Eggar and Richard Attenborough.
Does the film stand the test of time?
I’m not certain.
But what I can report, as an absolute, is that Twilight Time’s new Blu-ray, which includes some worthy extras, is a magnificent affair.
Color, grain structure (virtually invisible, do to the transfer element presumably being a 65mm IP), shadow detail, and overall resolution, are beyond reproach.
I’d really love to know what ten year-olds think of it today. Please do report back.
Image – 5
Audio – 5
Pass / Fail – Pass
Recommended
RAH
Robert has been known in the film industry for his unmatched skill and passion in film preservation. Growing up around photography, his first home theater experience began at age ten with 16mm. Years later he was running 35 and 70mm at home.
His restoration projects have breathed new life into classic films like Lawrence of Arabia, Vertigo, My Fair Lady, Spartacus, and The Godfather series. Beyond his restoration work, he has also shared his expertise through publications, contributing to the academic discourse on film restoration. The Academy Film Archive houses the Robert A. Harris Collection, a testament to his significant contributions to film preservation.
Post Disclaimer
Some of our content may contain marketing links, which means we will receive a commission for purchases made via those links. In our editorial content, these affiliate links appear automatically, and our editorial teams are not influenced by our affiliate partnerships. We work with several providers (currently Skimlinks and Amazon) to manage our affiliate relationships. You can find out more about their services by visiting their sites.
Similar threads