The Happiest Millionaire (Disney) (1967)

Biddle Biography Was Ideal For A Walt Disney Musical Comedy Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, on whose life Walt Disney’s film musical, ‘““The Happiest Millionaire,” is based, was a living contradiction to the old adage that money and happiness don’t mix. A man of immense wealth and ever greater vitality, Biddle threw himself enthusiastically into any project that caught his fancy. Take, for instance, his hobbies — Biddle collected punch-drunk prize fighters, ex-convicts, reformed drunks and alligators. The alligators he proudly displayed in tanks in the family conservatory. The ne’er-do-wells he daily assembled in the family gymnasium for simultaneous exercise and hymn-singing sessions with the Biddle Bible Classes. From time to time, Biddle became a novelist, amateur pugilist (he was the first to interest Gene Tunney in the sport), an explorer, publisher, and a jujitsu and savate expert. The arts, on the other hand, were a bit of a problem for him because he insisted upon participating in everything. He distinguished himself with the Manhattan Opera Company by performing the worst Pagliacci ever heard in the western hemisphere. In spite of their nonconformist originality, the Biddle and Duke families portrayed in the film made significant contributions to American history. A constant campaigner for national preparedness, Biddle trained United States Marines for hand-to-hand combat in both World Wars I and II. Until age 69, he personally grappled with young Marine boots. teaching them how to fight with bayonet, machete, sword, hand knives and their bare hands. His Manuel of Instructions on Individual Combat for the Marines is still the basis for updated editions. Biddle is often credited as the one individual who has done more than anyone else in teaching Marines how to stay alive in combat. His self defense techniques were also applied to various law enforcement agencies throughout the country. He taught 8,000 Philadelphia policemen how to take care of themselves in dangerous situations. When the death rate of the officers fell appreciably, the FBI beckoned, and Biddle taught agents all he knew about handling the most desperate of characters. Mrs. Duke, almost single-handedly, was responsible for the founding of Duke University. Among descendants of the two famous families have been numerous distinguisned public servants, including an Army general and the current United States Ambassador to Spain, Angier Biddle Duke. Filmed in Technicolor, “The Happiest Millionaire” deals mainly with Biddle’s domestic capers when his daughter, Cordy, created a nationwide social sensation by her marriage to Angier Duke, heir to the Duke tobacco fortune. The film introduces Lesley Ann Warren and John Davidson in the musical romance. Paced by eleven original songs by “Mary Poppins” music makers, Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman, and a story that sings and dances its way from the heights of New York society to the raucous brawls of a Philadelphia pub, the film biography stars Fred MacMurray in the title role; Tommy Steele as his butler, John Lawless; Greer Garson, as his wife, and Geraldine Page as socially-conscious Mrs. Duke. Norman Tokar directed the Technicolor production from a screenplay by A J Carothers. The story was based upon the book and Broadway play by Cordelia Drexel Biddle and Kyle Crichton. Bill Anderson co-produced the Buena Vista release with Walt Disney. Mat HAP 2-D (Available in standar col. WI and coarse screen) © 1967 Walt John Davidson runs into a punch from eccentric millionaire Anthony J. Drexel Biddle during a friendly parlor boxing match in this scene from Walt Disney’s “The Happiest Millionaire.” Filmed in brilliant Technicolor, “The Happiest Millionaire” stars MacMurray, Tommy Steele, Greer Garson and Geraldine Page, co-stars Gladys Cooper and Hermione Baddeley, and introduces Lesley Ann Warren and Davidson. Walt Disney’s First Plan For “The Happiest Millionaire” Was Not As A Musical Walt Disney’s “The Happiest Millionaire,” based upon the book and Broadway play by Cordelia Drexel Biddle and Kyle Crichton, was originally planned for production as a straight comedy. However, work on the picture began just as Walt Disney was finishing “Mary Poppins,” and naturally, Walt’s enthusiasm for the musical comedy as a screen entertainment medium was high. Thus, Disney asked co-producer Bill Anderson and writer A J Carothers to transform the story into a musical. Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman joined the production team to write eleven captivating songs, Norman Tokar was assigned to direct, and the five-month shooting schedule got under way in May, 1966. The $5 million Technicolor production is filled with more than 75 minutes of musical sequences, and is paced by a story that sings and dances its way from the heights of New York society to the raucous brawls of a Philadelphia pub. The film biography of eccentric millionaire Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, it stars Fred MacMurray in the title role, Tommy Steele as his butler, Greer Garson as his wife, and Geraldine Page as New York’s socially-conscious Mrs. Duke. “The Happiest Millionaire’ co-stars Gladys Cooper and Hermione Baddeley, and introduces Lesley Ann Warren and John Davidson in a charming musical romance. The film is released through Buena Vista. COLUMN ITEMS Lou Nova, former boxing contender who once challenged champion Joe Louis for : the heavyweight title, is the only person in Walt Disney’s musical comedy, ‘‘The Happio est Millionaire,’’ who appeared in the story when it was a play on Broadway. In the film, Lou is a close friend of Philadelphia’s rich eccentric, Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, played by Fred MacMurray. * * * * All stars and performers in the Walt Disney musical, “The Happiest Millionaire,” did their own singing and dancing for the roles they play. The talented football-sized team consists of Fred MacMurray, Tommy Steele, Greer Garson, Geraldine Page, Gladys Cooper, Hermione Baddeley, Lesley Ann Warren, John Davidson, Paul Petersen, Eddie Hodges and Joyce Bulifant. * * * * “If you’re getting ready to furnish a room and want to make a good investment at the same time, buy genuine antique furniture,” says Emile Kuri, Academy Award-winning set decorator, responsible for the Biddle mansion sets in Walt Disney’s musical comedy, “The Happiest Millionaire.” “Sure, it will cost more initially, but with antiques, the older they get, the more valuable they become. Most new furniture is considered used the day after you buy it, and one may never get his money out of it. A well built antique, however, could give you a profit.” * * * * Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman, that Oscar-winning song writing team who wrote eleven new songs for Disney’s ‘‘The Happiest Millionaire,’”’ have penned 150 songs for Disney feature films since joining the Studio in 1960. Among these have been hits for such productions as “The Parent Trap,” ‘Bon Voyage,” “Summer Magic,” ‘‘Winnie the Pooh,” “That Darn Cat” and ‘‘Mary Poppins.” Mat HAP 2-C (Available in standard 2 col. width and coarse screen) Y s Walt Disney visits Fred MacMurray, Greer Garson and Tommy Steele on the set of his newest musical comedy, “The Happiest Millionaire.” Filmed in brilliant Technicolor, “The Happiest Millionaire” stars MacMurray, Steele, Miss Garson and Geraldine Page, co-stars Gladys Cooper and Hermione Baddeley, and introduces Lesley Ann Warren and John Davidson. Page5d