Editing Doctor Dolittle (1967 film)

{{Short description|1967 American musical film directed by Richard Fleischer}}
{{About|the 1967 film|the 1998 film|Dr. Dolittle (1998 film)|other uses of "Dr. Dolittle"|Doctor Dolittle (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Doctor Dolittle
| image          = Original movie poster for the film Doctor Dolittle.jpg
| alt            = 
| caption        = Theatrical release poster by [[Tom Chantrell]]
| director       = [[Richard Fleischer]]
| producer       = [[Arthur P. Jacobs]]
| screenplay     = [[Leslie Bricusse]]
| based_on       = {{Based on|[[Doctor Dolittle]]|[[Hugh Lofting]]}}
| starring       = {{plainlist|<!--Per poster billing-->
* [[Rex Harrison]]
* [[Samantha Eggar]]
* [[Anthony Newley]]
* [[Richard Attenborough]]
}}
| music          = {{plainlist|
* [[Leslie Bricusse]]
* [[Lionel Newman]]
* [[Alexander Courage]]}}
| cinematography = [[Robert Surtees (cinematographer)|Robert L. Surtees]]
| editing        = {{plainlist|
* [[Samuel E. Beetley]]
* [[Marjorie Fowler]]}}
| studio         = [[Arthur P. Jacobs|APJAC Productions]]
| distributor    = [[20th Century Studios|20th Century-Fox]]
| released       = {{Film date|1967|12|12|London premiere|1967|12|19|United States}}
| runtime        = 152 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $17&nbsp;million{{sfn|Solomon|1989|p=254}}
| gross          = $9&nbsp;million<ref name="numbers">{{Cite web |url=http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1967/00295.php |title=Box Office Information for ''Doctor Dolittle'' |access-date=August 16, 2011 |archive-date=September 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928075940/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1967/00295.php |url-status=live |website=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]]}}</ref>
}}
'''''Doctor Dolittle''''' is a 1967 American [[musical film|musical]] [[fantasy film]] directed by [[Richard Fleischer]] and starring [[Rex Harrison]], [[Samantha Eggar]], [[Anthony Newley]], and [[Richard Attenborough]]. It was adapted by [[Leslie Bricusse]] from the [[Doctor Dolittle|''Doctor Dolittle'' novel series]] by [[Hugh Lofting]], primarily ''[[The Story of Doctor Dolittle]]'' (1920), ''[[The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle]]'' (1922), and ''[[Doctor Dolittle's Circus]]'' (1924).

Various attempts to make a film based on Doctor Dolittle began as early as the 1920s. In the early 1960s, actress-turned-producer Helen Winston acquired the film rights, but did not succeed in producing a film. In 1963, producer [[Arthur P. Jacobs]] acquired the rights and recruited [[Alan Jay Lerner]] to compose songs and Rex Harrison to star in the project. After numerous delays, Lerner was fired and replaced by Bricusse. In addition to the numerous technical difficulties inherent to working with the large number of animals required for the story, the production was impacted by numerous setbacks stemming from poorly chosen shooting locations and creative demands from Harrison, and the finished film cost almost three times more than its original budget of $6&nbsp;million.

The film premiered in [[London]] on December 12, 1967. It recouped $9&nbsp;million during its theatrical run,<ref name="numbers" /> earning only $6.2&nbsp;million in [[Gross rental|theatrical rentals]] and becoming a [[box-office bomb]].{{sfn|Solomon|1989|p=230}} Although the film received negative critical reviews, it was nominated for nine Oscars, including [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]], at the [[40th Academy Awards]], thanks to intense lobbying by [[20th Century Studios|20th Century-Fox]],{{sfn|Harris|2008|p=379}} and won [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]] and [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]].<ref name="Oscars1968">{{Cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1968 |title=The 40th Academy Awards (1968) Nominees and Winners |website=oscars.org |access-date=August 25, 2011 |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003842/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1968 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Plot==
In 1845, in the small port town of Puddleby-on-the-Marsh, England, Matthew Mugg brings his young friend Tommy Stubbins with him when he takes an injured duck to his friend, the eccentric Doctor John Dolittle, who he claims is the best veterinarian in the world because he can talk to animals. A former medical doctor, Dolittle lives with a large [[menagerie]] of various creatures, including a talking [[blue-and-yellow macaw]] named Polynesia, a [[Common chimpanzee|chimpanzee]] named Chee-Chee, a dog named Jip, and a piglet named Gub-Gub. He explains that the many animals he kept in his home created havoc with his human patients who began to go elsewhere for their medical needs, so his sister Sarah who served as his housekeeper demanded that he dispose of the animals or she would leave. He chose the animals. Polynesia then revealed that she could speak over 2,000 animal languages and offered to teach Dolittle so he could become an animal doctor. Dolittle says he can now speak nearly 500 animal languages and he is currently in the process of learning how to speak with sea creatures for an upcoming expedition to search for the legendary Great Pink [[Sea snail|Sea Snail]].

The next morning, Dolittle is treating a horse for [[near-sightedness]] when the horse's owner, the local [[magistrate]] General Bellowes, bursts in and accuses him of stealing the animal. Bellowes ends up getting chased away by skunks and his niece Emma Fairfax chides Dolittle for his rudeness and lack of compassion for humans. Dolittle expresses his contempt for her uncle, who hunts foxes, and for her, who, he says, does absolutely nothing, and she storms off.

To help Dolittle earn money for his expedition, a friend sends him a rare [[pushmi-pullyu]], which is a creature that looks like a [[llama]] with a head on each end of its body and that likes to dance. Dolittle takes the pushmi-pullyu to a nearby [[circus]] run by Albert Blossom, and it becomes the star attraction. The doctor talks with a sad [[Pinniped|seal]] named Sophie and learns she longs to return to her husband at the [[North Pole]], so he smuggles her out of the circus, disguises her in women's clothing to convey her to the coast, and throws her in the ocean. Some [[Fisherman|fishermen]] witness this and have Dolittle arrested for murder.

When he appears in court before Bellowes, Dolittle is able to prove he can converse with animals by talking with Bellowes's dog and revealing details only Bellowes and the dog could know. Certain he will be set free, he tells Matthew to get ready to begin their expedition the next day. While he is acquitted on the murder charge, the vindictive Bellowes orders him committed to an [[insane asylum]].

Polynesia engineers Dolittle's escape during his transfer to the asylum by obtaining the cooperation of the police horses and dogs. Dolittle, Matthew, Tommy, Polynesia, Chee-Chee, and Jip set sail in search of the Great Pink Sea Snail. Dolittle is surprised to discover Emma, who has become fascinated by him and is seeking adventure, is also on board his ship the ''Flounder''. As he will be arrested if he turns back, he agrees to let her be his [[Cook (domestic worker)|cook]] and [[cabin boy]]. It is decided by randomly pointing at a map that the crew will search for the Snail on Sea Star Island which is a [[floating island]] that is probably currently somewhere off the western coast of Africa. Assisted by various sea creatures, they near the Sea Star Island where they encounter a violent storm and the ''Flounder'' is destroyed.

Everyone washes ashore on Sea Star Island and Dolittle and Emma admit they have grown to like each other. The party is soon captured by the island's [[Indigenous peoples|natives]] who they learn are highly-educated and cultured from reading books that have washed ashore after innumerable shipwrecks and often name their children after their favorite authors. Their [[Tribal chief|chieftain]] is [[William Shakespeare|William "Willie" Shakespeare]] the Tenth who explains that his tribe blames newcomers for its misfortunes, and the tropical island is currently drifting north into colder waters, which has given all of the animals colds.

Dolittle tends to the animals and then persuades a [[whale]] to push the island south. The jolt causes a large [[balancing rock]] to drop into a volcano, condemning Dolittle and his friends to die of 1,000 screams. Just as they are about to be killed, the island collides with Africa and the two pieces fit perfectly, confirming a legend that Sea Star Island had broken off from Africa 5,000 years earlier. For bringing them home, the natives cancel the execution and revere Dolittle as a god.

A loud sneeze alerts Dolittle to the presence of the Great Pink Sea Snail which lives in a cave on the island. In exchange for curing its cold, the Great Pink Sea Snail agrees to carry Dolittle's friends back to Britain in its watertight shell as it wants to visit its cousin the [[Loch Ness Monster]] anyway. Emma wishes to stay on the island with Dolittle and search for the Giant Lunar Moth, a creature that flies back and forth between Earth and the Moon, but he says he is not good with people so she says she will miss him and kisses him goodbye.

Sometime later, Sophie and her husband bring Dolittle the news that Bellowes has agreed to pardon him after all of the animals in England went on [[Strike action|strike]] to protest his sentence. Having realized that he has feelings for Emma, Dolittle has the natives position themselves in the shape of the Giant Lunar Moth. Later that night, Dolittle rides the Giant Lunar Moth back to Puddleby.

==Cast==
{{main|List of Doctor Dolittle characters}}
* [[Rex Harrison]] as [[Doctor Dolittle|Doctor John Dolittle]], an eccentric veterinarian who can communicate with animals
* [[Samantha Eggar]] as Emma Fairfax (singing voice dubbed by Diana Lee), General Bellowes' niece, who accompanies Doctor Dolittle on his voyage. The character was created for the film.
* [[Anthony Newley]] as Matthew Mugg, Doctor Dolittle's friend and assistant
* [[Richard Attenborough]] as Albert Blossom, the owner of a circus
* [[Peter Bull]] as General Bellowes, Emma's uncle who is the [[magistrate]] of Puddleby-on-the-Marsh. The character was created for the film.
* [[Muriel Landers]] as Mrs. Edie Blossom, Albert's wife
* William Dix as Tommy Stubbins, Matthew's young friend
* [[Geoffrey Holder]] as [[William Shakespeare|William "Willie" Shakespeare]] X, the [[Tribal chief|chieftain]] of Sea Star Island. The character is loosely based on Prince Bumpo from Lofting's books.
* [[Portia Nelson]] as Sarah Dolittle, Doctor Dolittle's sister who used to be his housekeeper
* [[Norma Varden]] as Lady Petherington, Doctor Dolittle's [[hypochondriac]] patient
* [[Jack Raine]] as the Vicar, Doctor Dolittle's patient with [[Allergic rhinitis|hay fever]] (uncredited)
* [[Arthur Gould-Porter]] as Sir Rupert, Doctor Dolittle's patient with an injured foot (uncredited)
* [[Ginny Tyler]] as the voice of Polynesia, Doctor Dolittle's talking pet [[blue-and-yellow macaw]] (uncredited)

==Production==
===Development===
As early as 1922, [[Fox Film|Fox Film Corporation]] made [[Hugh Lofting]] an offer for the film rights to Doctor Dolittle. Decades later, [[Walt Disney]] sought to obtain the rights to make a film adaptation of the novels. The Disney studio offered Lofting a [[flat rate|flat fee]] of $7,500 for the ancillary rights to the property, and the contract negotiations reached an impasse.{{sfn|Harris|2008|p=30}} In 1960, Lofting's widow Josephine gave a short-term option of the film rights to Helen Winston, a Canadian actress who had produced the film ''[[Hand in Hand (1961 film)|Hand in Hand]]'' (1960). 20th Century Fox signed a multi-picture production deal with Winston's company, Luster Enterprises, in April 1962, with plans to commence production in the following months. Winston had actor [[George Gobel]] in mind to portray Doctor Dolittle in the project.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Connelly |first=Mike |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/88386625/ |title=In Hollywood |date=June 30, 1961 |work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |access-date=January 21, 2020 |page=11 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=July 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729235937/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/88386625/ |url-status=live}}</ref> She had completed a script with writer Larry Watkin by June 1962,{{sfn|Harris|2008|pp=30–1}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hopper |first=Hedda |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/374675461/ |title=Woman Producer Gets Doolittle Story |date=August 7, 1962 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |access-date=January 21, 2020 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-access=subscription |archive-date=July 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729225741/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/374675461/ |url-status=live}}</ref> but Fox decided to cancel their option two months later.

[[Arthur P. Jacobs]] first heard that the film rights were available on December 5, 1963, which was before the release of ''[[What a Way to Go!]]'' (1964), his debut film as a producer. Jacobs met with the Loftings' attorney, Bernard Silbert, and expressed his intentions to produce ''Doctor Dolittle'' as a musical with lyricist [[Alan Jay Lerner]] and actor [[Rex Harrison]] attached. He acquired the rights on Christmas Day, with the condition that he find a distributor within six months.{{sfn|Harris|2008|p=32}} In January 1964, ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that Lerner had signed on to write the script and compose the songs.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/01/06/archives/lerner-to-write-a-movie-musical-will-do-script-and-lyrics-for-dr-do.html |title=Lerner To Write a Movie Musical; Will Do Script and Lyrics for 'Dr. Dolittle' Stories |date=January 6, 1964 |work=The New York Times |access-date=January 21, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819032026/https://www.nytimes.com/1964/01/06/archives/lerner-to-write-a-movie-musical-will-do-script-and-lyrics-for-dr-do.html |url-status=live}}</ref> That March, Jacobs pitched his project to studio executive [[Darryl Zanuck]], and 20th Century Fox signed on as the distributor.{{sfn|Harris|2008|pp=45–6}} On March 22, Rex Harrison signed to star as Doctor Dolittle.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/03/22/archives/harrison-and-lerner-reunited-star-lyricist-todo-new-musicalwallis.html |title=Harrison and Lerner Reunite; Star, Lyricist to Do New Musical |date=March 22, 1964 |work=The New York Times |access-date=January 21, 2020}}</ref> Because Lerner's collaborator [[Frederick Loewe]] had retired, Jacobs hired [[André Previn]] to compose the musical score.{{sfn|Harris|2008|pp=45–46}} The film was given a budget of $6&nbsp;million.{{sfn|Medved|Medved|1984|p=118}}

After not producing a complete draft of the screenplay in over a year, Lerner, who was more focused at the time on his work on the Broadway musical ''[[On a Clear Day You Can See Forever]]'', was fired from the ''Doctor Dolittle'' project on May 7, 1965.{{sfn|Harris|2008|pp=77–80}} Jacobs considered replacing Lerner with the [[Sherman Brothers]], who had just won the [[Academy Award for Best Original Song]] for their work on ''[[Mary Poppins (film)|Mary Poppins]]'' (1964), but they were still under contract to Disney, so he hired [[Leslie Bricusse]], who was in high demand after his success with the stage musical ''[[Stop the World – I Want to Get Off]]''. Determined to make a good impression for his first screenplay commission, Bricusse proved agreeably productive from the start for Jacobs, suggesting numerous story ideas and adding a female leading character to the film during their first meeting on May 6. Zanuck decided to give Bricusse a trial run, at first only hiring him to complete two songs and the first twenty pages of a script. Two weeks after he was brought on to the project, Bricusse presented the song "[[Talk to the Animals]]", which he composed especially for Harrison.{{sfn|Harris|2008|pp=90–91}} By July, Bricusse had written a full script, including various song suggestions, that effectively blunted the book's racist content, and his adaptation received the approval of Josephine Lofting.{{sfn|Harris|2008|pp=124–125}}

For the director, [[Vincente Minnelli]] was initially attached to the project, but left before Bricusse was hired.{{sfn|Harris|2008|p=123}} [[William Wyler]], [[George Roy Hill]], and [[John Huston]] were considered, but [[Richard Zanuck]] settled on [[Richard Fleischer]].{{sfn|Kennedy|2014|p=39}}

===Casting===
Lerner's replacement by Bricusse gave Harrison the option of sitting out his contract, which gave him unusual leverage over the film. [[Sammy Davis Jr.]] was hired to play the character of Prince Bumpo, but Harrison demanded that Davis be fired from the project, as he wanted to work with "a real actor, not a song-and-dance man".{{sfn|Kennedy|2014|p=40}} Instead, Harrison suggested [[Sidney Poitier]], despite the fact that Poitier was not a musical performer. Jacobs and Fleischer flew to New York to meet with Poitier, who accepted the part on condition that he meet with and approve of Bricusse.{{sfn|Harris|2008|pp=127–28}} The producer and director then met with Davis to inform him that he would be released from his contract and, angered at the casting change, Davis threatened to go public and sue Harrison. Poitier considered leaving the project the next day, as he did not want to betray Davis, but he eventually decided to stay in the role.{{sfn|Harris|2008|p=128}} Just before shooting was set to commence, Fleischer and Zanuck reduced Bumpo's role, which had been drastically increased after Poitier was cast, in order to save money, and they informed Poitier that he would be released from his contract before he started filming his scenes.{{sfn|Kennedy|2014|pp=43–4}} [[Geoffrey Holder]] was cast as his replacement in the renamed role of William Shakespeare X.

For the role of Matthew, [[Bing Crosby]] and [[Danny Kaye]] were among those on the shortlist, but Bricusse's sometime-songwriting partner [[Anthony Newley]] was ultimately cast, which angered Harrison, who had suggested [[David Wayne]]. Harrison later showed contempt for Bricusse's script and lyrics and demanded to sing live on set, rather than lip-syncing to pre-recorded tracks, and he left the project at one point. After considering [[Peter Ustinov]], [[Alec Guinness]], and [[Peter O'Toole]] to replace Harrison, [[Christopher Plummer]] was cast as Doctor Dolittle.{{sfn|Harris|2008|pp=130–4}}{{sfn|Kennedy|2014|pp=40–1}} When Harrison agreed to stay, the producers paid Plummer his entire agreed-upon salary to leave the production.

Harrison suggested [[Maggie Smith]], his co-star in ''[[The Honey Pot]]'' (1967), for the role of Emma Fairfax.{{sfn|Harris|2008|p=128}} [[Barbra Streisand]] and [[Hayley Mills]] were approached, but salary negotiations broke down (Mills later claimed she pulled out because her sister [[Juliet Mills|Juliet]] wanted the role),<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/movie-star-cold-streaks-hayley-mills/|title=Movie Star Cold Streaks: Hayley Mills|first= Stephen|last= Vagg|date=March 19, 2022}}</ref> and [[Samantha Eggar]] was cast.{{sfn|Harris|2008|pp=128, 157}} Eggar's singing voice was overdubbed by Diana Lee, the daughter of playback singer [[Bill Lee (singer)|Bill Lee]].

===Filming===
In June 1966, [[principal photography]] was underway, with the scenes that take place in the fictional village of Puddleby-on-the-Marsh being shot in [[Castle Combe]], [[Wiltshire]]. All signs of modern life in Castle Combe, such as cars, television antennas, and [[Coca-Cola]] promotional signs, were removed or hidden, which irritated the locals,{{sfn|Harris|2008|pp=199–200}}{{sfn|Kennedy|2014|pp=44–45}} and, in an attempt to raise publicity for how the village was being treated, British Army officer (and future explorer) [[Ranulph Fiennes]] even attempted to blow up a concrete dam built by the production to block a stream.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.filmstories.co.uk/features/a-few-real-moments-of-deliberate-sabotage-on-the-set-of-movies/|work=Film Stories|title=5 real examples of deliberate sabotage on the set of movies|author=Simon Brew|date=April 23, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Petherick |first1=Sam |title=Sir Ranulph Fiennes admits he narrowly avoided prison after blowing up Dr Doolittle movie dam |url=https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/sir-ranulph-fiennes-admits-narrowly-1818913 |access-date=8 January 2025 |issue=Somerset Live |date=24 July 2018}}</ref> Additionally, the filmmakers did not realize that the animals trained for the production would be quarantined upon entering the United Kingdom, and, at considerable expense, they had to replace the animals to meet production deadlines. The producers ignored reports of the area's frequently rainy summers, and the weather continually interfered with shooting and caused health problems for the animals. As if that were not enough, [[Richard Attenborough]] was hired to replace [[Hugh Griffith]] in the role of Albert Blossom during the shoot.{{sfn|Harris|2008|pp=199–200}} Production costs soared to $15&nbsp;million.

In October, the shoot moved to [[Marigot Bay]] in [[Saint Lucia]]. This location had its own issues, and problems related to insects and frequent tropical storms delayed filming and left eight crew members bedridden due to vomiting, diarrhea, and high fever.{{sfn|Kennedy|2014|pp=46–7}} The Great Pink Sea Snail proved to be problematic not only because of its poor design, but also due to the fact that the island's children had recently been struck by a gastrointestinal epidemic caused by freshwater snails; mobs of angry locals threw rocks at the large prop. Within a month, the film had fallen 39 days behind schedule, and the production crew had to decamp back to [[California]].{{sfn|Harris|2008|pp=242–243}}

After reconstructing the sets on the Fox studio lot in California,{{sfn|Kennedy|2014|p=45}} the production budget reached $17&nbsp;million. Four months later, after principal photography was complete, Harrison insisted on re-recording his songs live on set. This infuriated conductor [[Lionel Newman]], but he gave in to Harrison's demands, even though it meant more work for him, since the orchestral arrangements had to be added later. Filming was finished by April 1967.{{sfn|Harris|2008|pp=282–283}}{{sfn|Kennedy|2014|pp=45–46}}

====Personality conflicts====
{{more citations needed section|date=September 2023}}
Personality conflicts added to the tension on the set. Anthony Newley was incensed by comments made by Harrison that he deemed [[Antisemitism|antisemitic]]. Harrison was apparently jealous of his Jewish co-star's participation in the project, and he demanded Newley's role be reduced and would disrupt scenes featuring Newley.{{sfn|Harris|2008|p=242}} Geoffrey Holder received racist abuse from Harrison's entourage.{{sfn|Harris|2008|pp=242–243}} The younger cast members grew to loathe Harrison for this abuse, and they retaliated by antagonizing him.{{sfn|Harris|2008|p=242}}

====Animal issues====
Over 1,200 live animals were used in the film, all of which required understudies. There are anecdotes of a goat eating Fleischer's script, and a parrot that learned to yell "cut".{{sfn|Kennedy|2014|p=44}}{{sfn|Medved|Medved|1984|p=121}} At one point, ducks were placed in a lake, but did not have their water-repellent feathers, as it was the wrong time of year, so they began to sink, and crew members had to jump in the water to save them.{{sfn|Medved|Medved|1984|p=122}} Animals also bit and defecated on the cast and crew, including Harrison.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}

==Post-production==
The film's first [[test screening]] took place in September 1967 at the [[Mann Theatres|Mann Theatre]] in Minneapolis, and it was a failure. The audience consisted mainly of adults, who were not the primary target audience, and the general response during the screening was muted. Comment cards rated the film poorly, with frequent complaints about the length, so, in an attempt to improve the pacing, several verses were dropped from the songs, including "Beautiful Things", and the song "Where Are the Words?" was removed before the film was screened again in San Francisco. The shorter edit screened to a younger audience in a different city was no more successful, so additional edits were made, including the removal of the song "Something in Your Smile", before the film was screened in [[San Jose, California]]. This version of the film, which ran 151 minutes, was received well enough to be approved as the final cut.{{sfn|Harris|2008|pp=353–357}}{{sfn|Kennedy|2014|pp=95–96}}

In October, as the film's release date approached, Helen Winston sued 20th Century Fox for $4.5&nbsp;million alleging that the plot point about animals threatening to go on strike on Dolittle's behalf was plagiarized from her screenplay. As Bricusse had read Winston's script and, assuming this idea was from one of Lofting's books, included it in his treatment, the producers had no legal defense and were forced to settle out of court. The animal strike is mentioned at the end of the movie, but was not actually filmed.{{sfn|Harris|2008|pp=357–358}}

==Music==
{{Infobox album
| name       = Doctor Dolittle Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
| type       = soundtrack
| artist     = Various Artists
| cover      =
| alt        =
| released   = August 28, 1967<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Sternfield |first=Aaron |date=August 19, 1967 |title=ABC Parley Bows 18-LP Release Spearheaded by 'Dolittle' Push |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9ykEAAAAMBAJ&q=doctor+dolittle+ABC+Records&pg=PA3 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |page=3 |issn=0006-2510 |access-date=January 21, 2020 |via=[[Google Books]] |archive-date=June 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603102102/https://books.google.com/books?id=9ykEAAAAMBAJ&q=doctor+dolittle+ABC+Records&pg=PA3 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| recorded   = 1966–7
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = Soundtrack
| length     = 45:18
| label      = [[20th Century Fox Records]]
| producer   =
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title =
| next_year  =
}}

The lyrics and music for ''Doctor Dolittle'' were composed by [[Leslie Bricusse]], and the music was scored and conducted by [[Lionel Newman]] and [[Alexander Courage]]. In the original cut of the film, Dolittle and Emma eventually begin a relationship, and he sings a song titled "Where Are the Words?" when he realizes he is falling in love with her. In a revised version, Matthew falls for Emma and sings the song, and, although the song was deleted from the film before its release, Newley's recording of the song is featured on the film's soundtrack album. The footage of both Harrison and Newley performing the song, as well as Harrison's vocal track, are lost. Another song deleted from the film is titled "Something in Your Smile", which was sung by Dolittle while writing a letter to Emma after she has returned to England. The footage of this scene is lost, but Harrison's vocal track survives.

There was an enormous media blitz surrounding the release of the film's [[soundtrack]] album, and half a million copies of the mono and stereo [[LP record|LP]] were shipped to retail stores four months before the premiere of the film.{{sfn|Kennedy|2014|p=98}} The song "[[Talk to the Animals]]" was recorded by such artists as [[Bobby Darin]], [[Andy Williams]], [[Tony Bennett]], [[Dizzy Gillespie]], [[Jack Jones (singer)|Jack Jones]], [[Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass]] and [[Andre Kostelanetz]]. [[Sammy Davis Jr.]], who had been dropped from the film, recorded [[Sammy Davis Jr. Sings the Complete "Dr. Dolittle"|an entire album]] of music from the film.{{sfn|Harris|2008|p=353}}{{sfn|Kennedy|2014|p=98}} ''[[Bobby Darin Sings Doctor Dolittle]]'' was released on [[Atlantic Records]] in August 1967,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/dr-doolittle-mw0000386648 |title=Doctor Dolittle – Bobby Darin |last=JT Griffith |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=February 6, 2014 |archive-date=March 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150322061602/http://www.allmusic.com/album/dr-doolittle-mw0000386648 |url-status=live}}</ref> and Darin's recording of "Beautiful Things" from this LP was featured in a 2013 TV commercial for [[Etihad Airways]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.etihad.com/en-au/experience-etihad/etihad-tv-commercial/ |title=Etihad Airways |publisher=Etihad.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140215211733/http://www.etihad.com/en-au/experience-etihad/etihad-tv-commercial/ |archive-date=February 15, 2014 |access-date=February 6, 2014}}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/gJWRs1ofuQs Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20130302000620/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJWRs1ofuQs&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJWRs1ofuQs |title=Etihad -- The world is our home, you are our guest |date=February 28, 2013 |via=[[YouTube]] |access-date=December 9, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.commercialtunage.com/commercials/etihad-airways-beautiful-things/ |title="Beautiful Things" – Etihad Airways Commercial Song |date=November 21, 2013 |publisher=Commercial Tunage |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203004721/http://www.commercialtunage.com/commercials/etihad-airways-beautiful-things/ |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |access-date=February 6, 2014}}</ref> A cover version of the same song by the Shiny Lapel Trio was used in a 2008 Christmas television commercial campaign for the United States retail chain [[Kohl's]].<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/B5_qKFvMfms Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20140523222131/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5_qKFvMfms Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5_qKFvMfms |title=Kohl's 2008 TV Commercial on YouTube |date=November 4, 2008 |via=YouTube |access-date=February 6, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.splendad.com/ads/show/2788-Kohls-Beautiful-Things |title=SplendAd.com |date=November 3, 2008 |publisher=SplendAd.com |access-date=February 6, 2014 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203021718/http://www.splendad.com/ads/show/2788-Kohls-Beautiful-Things |url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2017, a 50th Anniversary Expanded Soundtrack was released by La-La Land Records as a lavish 2-CD set that included numerous demos, rehearsal takes, and alternative versions of songs from the film.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/Leslie-Bricusse-Set-for-50th-Anniversary-DOCTOR-DOLITTLE-Event-in-London-20171121 |title=Leslie Bricusse Set for 50th Anniversary DOCTOR DOLITTLE Event in London |date=November 21, 2017 |work=[[Broadway World]] |access-date=January 21, 2018 |archive-date=January 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122071741/https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/Leslie-Bricusse-Set-for-50th-Anniversary-DOCTOR-DOLITTLE-Event-in-London-20171121 |url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Music ratings
|rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
|rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}} [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000094588|pure_url=yes}}]
}}

{{track listing
|extra_column = Performer(s)
| total_length =
|title1 = Overture
|length1 = 1:15
|extra1 = 20th Century Fox Studio Orchestra

|title2 =  My Friend the Doctor
|length2 =  3:27
|extra2 = [[Anthony Newley]]

|title3 = The Vegetarian 
|length3 = 4:31
|extra3 = [[Rex Harrison]]

|title4 = [[Talk to the Animals]]
|length4 = 2:48
|extra4 = Harrison

|title5 = At the Crossroads
|length5 = 2:07
|extra5 = [[Samantha Eggar]] and Diana Lee

|title6 = I've Never Seen Anything Like It
|length6 = 2:26
|extra6 = [[Richard Attenborough]]

|title7 = Beautiful Things
|length7 = 4:12
|extra7 = Newley

|title8 = When I Look in Your Eyes 
|length8 = 1:47
|extra8 = Harrison

|title9 = Like Animals
|length9 = 4:09
|extra9 = Harrison

|title10 = After Today
|length10 = 2:09
|extra10 = Newley

|title11 = Fabulous Places
|length11 = 3:46
|extra11 = Harrison, Eggar, Lee, and Newley

|title12 = Where Are The Words
|length12 = 3:50
|extra12 = Newley

|title13 = I Think I Like You
|length13 = 2:39
|extra13 = Harrison, Eggar, and Lee

|title14 = Doctor Dolittle
|length14 = 2:31
|extra14 = Newley, William Dix, and [[Ginny Tyler]]

|title15 = Something in Your Smile
|length15 = 2:33
|extra15 = Harrison

|title16 = My Friend the Doctor (Finale)
|length16 = 0:56
|extra16 = 20th Century Fox Studio Orchestra & Chorus
}}

==Release==
The film had its official Royal World Charity Premiere on December 12, 1967, at the [[Odeon Marble Arch]] in London, with [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] in attendance. On December 19, it had a reserved-seating premiere at the [[Loew's State Theatre (New York City)|Loew's State Theatre]] in New York City. Two days later, the film opened at the [[Paramount Theatre (Los Angeles)|Paramount Theatre]] in Los Angeles as a benefit for the [[Motion Picture Relief Fund]].{{sfn|Kennedy|2014|pp=96–7}}

===Marketing===
Thirteen months before the release of the film, Fox began an extensive marketing campaign to promote it. On September 30, 1966, the cover of ''[[Life (magazine)|Life]]'' magazine featured a picture of Harrison, in character as Doctor Dolittle, riding a giraffe, and inside there was an article documenting the film's production.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Movies / The classic Dolittle tales are finally put on film |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kVUEAAAAMBAJ |magazine=Life |date=September 30, 1966 |issn=0024-3019 |page=122 |via=[[Google Books]] |access-date=January 22, 2020 |archive-date=June 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603102125/https://books.google.com/books?id=kVUEAAAAMBAJ |url-status=live}}</ref> The release was accompanied by 50 licensees ready to spend $12&nbsp;million in advertising, and the 300 different promotional items related to the film were carried by 10,000 retail stores, totaling an estimated retail value of $200&nbsp;million.{{sfn|Kennedy|2014|p=46}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=K. Zinsser |first=William |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1966/11/06/archives/john-dolittle-md-puddlebyonthemarsh-john-dolittle-md.html |title=John Dolittle, M.D., Puddleby-on-the-Marsh |date=November 6, 1966 |work=The New York Times |access-date=January 21, 2020 |archive-date=June 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603102108/https://www.nytimes.com/1966/11/06/archives/john-dolittle-md-puddlebyonthemarsh-john-dolittle-md.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Critical reaction===
Reviewing the film for ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Bosley Crowther]] said: "The music is not exceptional, the rendering of the songs lacks variety, and the pace, under Richard Fleischer's direction, is slow and without surprise."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Crowther |first=Bosley |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1967/12/20/archives/screen-that-grand-zoomanitarian-doctor-dolittle-arrives-for-the.html |title=Screen: That Grand Zoomanitarian, 'Doctor Dolittle', Arrives for the Holidays on a Great Pink Snail |date=December 20, 1967 |work=The New York Times |access-date=March 31, 2013 |page=55 |archive-date=May 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508153406/https://www.nytimes.com/1967/12/20/archives/screen-that-grand-zoomanitarian-doctor-dolittle-arrives-for-the.html |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Charles Champlin]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' claimed that "''Doctor Dolittle'', though it is beautiful, often funny, often charming, tuneful and gay, is in an odd way never really sentimentally moving, even in the sense that it sets up in us elders a yearning for lost youth. It is a picture we can greatly enjoy seeing our children enjoy, but without feeling quite at one with them."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Champlin |first=Charles |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18732052/the_los_angeles_times/ |title='Dr. Dolittle' a Musical Menagerie |date=December 24, 1967 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=January 21, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |page=12 |archive-date=June 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603102105/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18732052/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live}} {{Open access}}</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine wrote: "Somehow—with the frequent but by no means infallible exception of Walt Disney—Hollywood has never learned what so many children's book writers have known all along: size and a big budget are no substitutes for originality and charm."<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=December 29, 1967 |title=New Movies: Dr. Dolittle |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,844344,00.html |magazine=Time |page=54 |access-date=January 21, 2020 |archive-date=July 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718011729/http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,844344,00.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Robert B. Frederick of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' acknowledged the film as an "imperfect gem", but felt "there's sufficient values going for it to survive any barbs aimed at it by the critics".<ref>{{cite news |last=Frederick |first=Robert B. |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1967-12-20_249_5/page/n5/mode/1up |title=Film Reviews: Doctor Dolittle |work=Variety |page=6 |date=December 20, 1967 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref>

Retrospectively, in his annual ''[[Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide|Movie Guide]]'', critic and film historian [[Leonard Maltin]] admired the film's photography, but called it a "colossal musical dud that almost ruined 20th Century-Fox studios." He concluded by admitting that "The movie has one merit: if you have unruly children, it may put them to sleep."<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/leonardmaltins2000leon/page/362 |title=Leonard Maltin's 2008 Movie Guide |publisher=Signet |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-451-22186-5 |editor-last=Maltin |editor-first=Leonard |editor-link=Leonard Maltin |location=New York |page=[https://archive.org/details/leonardmaltins2000leon/page/362 362] |url-access=registration}}</ref> On the [[review aggregation]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an approval rating of 29% based on 21 reviews, with an average score of 4.3/10.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/doctor_dolittle |title=Doctor Dolittle (1967) |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]] |access-date=September 18, 2021 |archive-date=May 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523153228/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/doctor_dolittle/ |url-status=live}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], it has a [[weighted average]] score of 34 out of 100 based on 6 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/doctor-dolittle-1967 |title=Doctor Dolittle Reviews |work=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=July 30, 2019 |archive-date=June 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603102105/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/doctor-dolittle-1967 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Box office===
The film faced strong competition at the box office from [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Disney]]'s animated feature film ''[[The Jungle Book (1967 film)|The Jungle Book]]'', which had opened to considerable critical and audience acclaim two months earlier and was still in wide release. ''Doctor Dolittle''{{'}}s appeal as family fare was undermined when the press drew attention to allegedly racist content in Lofting's books, prompting demands to have them removed from school libraries.{{sfn|Harris|2008|p=378}}

According to studio records, the film needed to earn $31,275,000 in rentals to break even, and by December 1970 it had only made $16.3&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Silverman |first=Stephen M |url=https://archive.org/details/foxthatgotawayt00silv |title=The Fox That Got Away: The Last Days of the Zanuck dynasty at Twentieth Century-Fox |publisher=L. Stuart |year=1988 |page=[https://archive.org/details/foxthatgotawayt00silv/page/326 326] |isbn=9780818404856 |url-access=registration}}</ref> In September 1970, Fox estimated it had lost $11,141,000 on the film.{{sfn|Silverman|1988|p=259}}

==Accolades==
20th Century-Fox's decision to mount an Oscar campaign for the film was partially due to their lackluster slate of releases during the holiday season in 1967, while a major commercial success, ''[[Valley of the Dolls (film)|Valley of the Dolls]]'', had received a less-than-stellar critical reception. Encouraged by the success of ''[[Mary Poppins (film)|Mary Poppins]]'', ''[[My Fair Lady (film)|My Fair Lady]]'', and Fox's own ''[[The Sound of Music (film)|The Sound of Music]]'' at the [[Academy Awards]] in [[37th Academy Awards|1965]] and [[38th Academy Awards|1966]], Fox and other major film studios in Hollywood aimed to replicate this success by launching extravagant Oscar campaigns for their musical films. Around that time, [[Warner Bros. Pictures]], [[Walt Disney Pictures|Walt Disney Productions]], and [[Universal Pictures]] have mounted similar campaigns for their respective musical films released in 1967: ''[[Camelot (film)|Camelot]]'', ''[[The Happiest Millionaire]]'', and ''[[Thoroughly Modern Millie]]''. As a result, in January and February 1968, Fox booked 16 consecutive nights of free screenings of ''Doctor Dolittle'' on the studio lot for members of the [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|Academy]], complete with dinner and champagne.{{sfn|Harris|2008|p=379}} Thanks to the studio's efforts, the film received nine Academy Award nominations.

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Award
! Category
! Nominee(s)
! Result
|-
| rowspan="9"| [[40th Academy Awards|Academy Awards]]<ref name="Oscars1968" />
| [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]]
| [[Arthur P. Jacobs]]
| rowspan="6" {{nom}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Production Design|Best Art Direction]]
| Art Direction: [[Mario Chiari]], [[Jack Martin Smith]], and [[Ed Graves]]; <br> Set Decoration: [[Walter M. Scott]] and [[Stuart A. Reiss]]
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]]
| [[Robert Surtees (cinematographer)|Robert L. Surtees]]
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Film Editing|Best Film Editing]]
| [[Samuel E. Beetley]] and [[Marjorie Fowler]]
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Music Score]]
| [[Leslie Bricusse]]
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Song Score or Adaptation Score]]
| [[Lionel Newman]] and [[Alexander Courage]]
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Song]]
| "[[Talk to the Animals]]" <br> Music and Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Sound|Best Sound]]
| [[20th Century Fox]] Studio Sound Department
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects|Best Special Visual Effects]]
| [[L. B. Abbott]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[American Cinema Editors|American Cinema Editors Awards]]
| [[American Cinema Editors Award for Best Edited Feature Film – Comedy or Musical|Best Edited Feature Film]]
| Samuel E. Beetley and Marjorie Fowler
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Genesis Awards]] (1996)
| Best Feature Film – Classic
| ''Doctor Dolittle''
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="5"| [[25th Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Awards]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/1968/all |title=Winners & Nominees 1968 |website=Golden Globes |publisher=Hollywood Foreign Press Association |access-date=January 23, 2020 |archive-date=December 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206173225/https://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/1968/all |url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy|Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy]]
| ''Doctor Dolittle''
| rowspan="2" {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy|Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy]]
| [[Rex Harrison]]
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture]]
| [[Richard Attenborough]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score – Motion Picture]]
| Leslie Bricusse
| rowspan=2" {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song – Motion Picture]]
| "Talk to the Animals" <br> Music and Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse
|-
| [[10th Annual Grammy Awards|Grammy Awards]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000301/1968/ |title=10th Grammy Awards (1968) |website=IMDb |access-date=January 23, 2020 |archive-date=December 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151201001524/http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000301/1968 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media|Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Show]]
| Leslie Bricusse
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Motion Picture Sound Editors|Motion Picture Sound Editors Awards]]
| Best Sound Editing – Dialogue
| ''Doctor Dolittle''
| {{won}}
|-
| [[National Board of Review Awards 1967|National Board of Review Awards]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://nationalboardofreview.org/award-names/top-films/ |title=Top Films Archives |publisher=National Board of Review |access-date=January 23, 2020 |archive-date=January 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122130553/http://nationalboardofreview.org/award-names/top-films/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[National Board of Review: Top Ten Films|Top Ten Films]]
| ''Doctor Dolittle''
| {{draw|7th Place}}
|-
| [[20th Writers Guild of America Awards|Writers Guild of America Awards]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000710/1968/1/ |title=Writers Guild of America, USA (1968) |website=IMDb |access-date=January 23, 2020 |archive-date=September 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916214844/https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000710/1968/1/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written Musical|Best Written American Musical]]
| Leslie Bricusse
| {{nom}}
|}

The film was recognized by [[American Film Institute]] in these lists:
* 2004: [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs]]:
** "[[Talk to the Animals]]" – Nominated<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.afi.com/Docs/100Years/songs400.pdf |title=AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs Nominees |access-date=July 30, 2016 |archive-date=April 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417023552/http://afi.com/Docs/100Years/songs400.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Stage adaptation==
{{Main|Doctor Dolittle (musical)}}
In 1998, the film was adapted into a [[Doctor Dolittle (musical)|stage musical]]. The show, which was, at the time, one of the most expensive stage musicals ever produced, ran for 400 performances in London's [[West End theatre|West End]]. It starred [[Phillip Schofield]] as Doctor Dolittle and [[Bryan Smyth]] as Matthew, and featured a pre-recorded [[Julie Andrews]] as the voice of Dolittle's parrot Polynesia and the [[animatronic]]s of [[Jim Henson's Creature Shop]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtishows.com/show_detail.asp?showid=000246 |title=Doctor Dolittle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402193303/http://mtishows.com/show_detail.asp?showid=000246 |archive-date=April 2, 2013 |website=[[Music Theatre International]] |access-date=July 31, 2013}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of American films of 1967]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{Cite book |last=Harris |first=Mark |url=https://archive.org/details/picturesatrevolu00harr_0 |title=Pictures at A Revolution: Five Movies and the Birth of a New Hollywood |url-access=registration |publisher=Penguin Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-143-11503-8 |location=New York}}
* {{Cite book |last=Kennedy |first=Matthew |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C-YRDAAAQBAJ |title=Roadshow!: The Fall of Film Musicals in the 1960s |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-199-92567-4 |location=Oxford, England}}
* {{cite book|author-last=Medved |author-first=Harry |author-last2=Medved |author-first2=Michael |author-link2=Michael Medved |title=The Hollywood Hall of Shame: The Most Expensive Flops in Movie History |publisher=[[Angus & Robertson]] |year=1984 |url=https://archive.org/details/hollywoodhallofs0000medv |isbn=0-207-14929-1 |url-access=registration}}
* {{Cite book |last=Solomon |first=Aubrey |title=Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series) |publisher=[[Scarecrow Press]] |year=1989 |isbn=978-0-810-84244-1 |location=Lanham, Maryland}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0061584|title=Doctor Dolittle}}
* {{TCMDb title|73264|Doctor Dolittle}}
* {{AFI film|id=22998|title=Doctor Dolittle}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|doctor_dolittle|Doctor Dolittle}}

{{Doctor Dolittle}}
{{Richard Fleischer}}
{{Academy Award Best Visual Effects}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Doctor Dolittle films]]
[[Category:1967 films]]
[[Category:1967 children's films]]
[[Category:1967 musical comedy films]]
[[Category:1960s musical fantasy films]]
[[Category:American children's fantasy films]]
[[Category:American musical fantasy films]]
[[Category:Films based on multiple works of a series]]
[[Category:Films directed by Richard Fleischer]]
[[Category:Films scored by Lionel Newman]]
[[Category:Films featuring a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe winning performance]]
[[Category:Films that won the Best Original Song Academy Award]]
[[Category:Films that won the Best Visual Effects Academy Award]]
[[Category:Compositions by Leslie Bricusse]]
[[Category:Films adapted into television shows]]
[[Category:Films based on children's books]]
[[Category:Films set in 1845]]
[[Category:Films set in England]]
[[Category:Films shot in California]]
[[Category:Films shot in England]]
[[Category:Films shot in Saint Lucia]]
[[Category:20th Century Fox films]]
[[Category:1960s English-language films]]
[[Category:1960s American films]]
[[Category:English-language musical fantasy films]]
[[Category:English-language musical comedy films]]