History Film / ThoroughlyModernMillie

A 1967 musical comedy film directed by George Roy Hill and starring Creator/JulieAndrews in the title role, with Creator/MaryTylerMoore, Creator/CarolChanning, James Fox, Creator/JohnGavin, and Beatrice Lillie in supporting roles.

* GoldDigger: The main premise of the story.

[[quoteright:272:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Thoroughly_Modern_Millie_7095.jpg]]

A 1967 musical comedy directed by George Roy Hill, ''Thoroughly Modern Millie'' later [[ScreenToStageAdaptation became a stage musical]] in 2002, featuring a score expansion by Jeanine Tesori and Dick Scanlan [[CanonForeigner (and Gilbert and Sullivan (and Tchaikovsky (and Walter Donaldson and lyrics by Joe Young and Sam M. Lewis)))]]. Notably, the film version, which starred Creator/JulieAndrews as the titular Millie, was the source of composer Music/ElmerBernstein's only UsefulNotes/AcademyAward.

A "thoroughly modern girl" from Kansas, Millie Dillmount aspires to be the stenographer, and then the wife, of a wealthy man. After remaking her image, she meets Miss Dorothy Brown at the Priscilla Hotel, which is headed by a Mrs. Meers. She takes a liking to salesman Jimmy, but true to her ambition, she sets her sights on rich Trevor Graydon. Things get complicated for all when it's revealed that the hotel is a front for a white slavery ring, and that Miss Dorothy is their latest target.

The film thrives on meta humor, most notably the roadshow-esque intermission, the diegetic intertitle card and outrageous physical comedy (such as Creator/CarolChanning blasting herself from a canon into an acrobatic vaudeville act or an elevator that's operated through tap-dancing). It's an odd combination of [[TheRoaringTwenties 1920s]] comedy and [[TheSixties 1960s]] sensibilities, swerving between parody and straight-up comedy.

The stage show adapts the movie rather faithfully, with some overhauls [[PragmaticAdaptation to fit the theatrical format]] as well as some modifications of the old-fashioned gender politics and [[YellowPeril racism]] of its time. The original production was a star turn for Sutton Foster (replacing Creator/KristinChenoweth in tryouts) and won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Lead Actress for Foster. The production ran for 903 performances before closing on June 20, 2004.

The stage show adapts the movie rather faithfully, with some overhauls [[PragmaticAdaptation to fit the theatrical format]] as well as some modifications of the old-fashioned gender politics and [[YellowPeril racism]] of its time. The original production was a star turn for Sutton Foster (replacing Creator/KristinChenoweth in tryouts) and won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Lead Actress for Foster. The production ran for 903 performances before closing on June 20, 2004.;/

The film thrives on meta humor, most notably the roadshow-esque intermission, the diegetic intertitle card and outrageous physical comedy (such as Carol Channing blasting herself from a canon into an acrobatic vaudeville act or an elevator that's operated through tap-dancing). It's an odd combination of [[TheRoaringTwenties 1920s]] comedy and [[TheSixties 1960s]] sensibilities, swerving between parody and straight-up comedy.

* AllMusicalsAreAdaptations: The film averts this trope.

* YellowPeril

A 1967 musical comedy directed by George Roy Hill, ''Thoroughly Modern Millie'' later [[ScreenToStageAdaptation became a stage musical]] in 2002, featuring a score expansion by Jeanine Tesori and Dick Scanlan [[CanonForeigner (and Gilbert and Sullivan (and Tchaikovsky)))]]. Notably, the film version, which starred Creator/JulieAndrews as the titular Millie, was the source of composer Music/ElmerBernstein's only UsefulNotes/AcademyAward.

* SignificantAnagram: "Zazu Rosy Schmevmen"

A 1967 musical comedy directed by George Roy Hill, ''Thoroughly Modern Millie'' later [[ScreenToStageAdaptation became a stage musical]] in 2002, featuring a score expansion by Jeanine Tesori and Dick Scanlan [[CanonForeigner (and Gilbert and Sullivan (and Tchaikovsky)))]. Notably, the film version, which starred Creator/JulieAndrews as the titular Millie, was the source of composer Music/ElmerBernstein's only UsefulNotes/AcademyAward.

A 1967 musical comedy directed by George Roy Hill, ''Thoroughly Modern Millie'' later [[ScreenToStageAdaptation became a stage musical]] in 2002. Notably, the film version, which starred Creator/JulieAndrews as the titular Millie, was the source of composer Music/ElmerBernstein's only UsefulNotes/AcademyAward.

The film thrives on meta humor, most notably the "break" halfway through in which literally nothing happens for a few minutes. It's an odd combination of [[TheRoaringTwenties 1920s]] comedy and [[TheSixties 1960s]] sensibilities, swerving between parody and straight-up comedy.

!!This Work Contains Examples Of:

A 1967 musical comedy directed by George Roy Hill, ''Thoroughly Modern Millie'' later [[ScreenToStageAdaptation became a stage musical]] in 2002. Notably, the film version, which starred Julie Andrews as the titular Millie, was the source of composer Music/ElmerBernstein's only UsefulNotes/AcademyAward.

* NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent: JulieAndrews plays Millie, who is from Kansas. Andrews herself uses her normal British speaking voice throughout the film.

* Catchphrase: Muzzy's "Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasspberrieeeeeeeees!" and Mrs. Meers' "Sad, to be all alone in the World".

A 1967 musical comedy directed by George Roy Hill, ''Thoroughly Modern Millie'' later [[ScreenToStageAdaptation became a stage musical]] in 2002. Notably, the film version, which starred Julie Andrews as the titular Millie, was the source of composer [[ElmerBernstein Elmer Bernstein's]] only UsefulNotes/AcademyAward.

* EvilGloating: Mrs. Meers has [[VillainSong a whole song about it]]--"They Don't Know." Towards the end of the musical, she also brags to Bun Foo about how she's tricked him into thinking she'll eventually rescue their mother from Hong Kong, which she never intends to do. [[Spoiler: This turns out to be her undoing, as it's revealed that Bun Foo can speak English well enough both to understand her ''and'' testify to her actions in court.]]

* DangerouslyGenreSavvy: Mrs. Meers senses something suspicious about the name "Zazu Rosy Schmevmen" (which makes sense, [[FridgeBrilliance as she herself is used to using stage names]]), and is able to recognize it as an anagram of Muzzy van Hossmere, which nearly derails the group's plot to stop her. She's also smart enough to know that hearsay isn't admissible in court as evidence. [[spoiler: Too bad she couldn't figure out that Bun Foo was able to speak English...]]

* PatterSong: "The Speed Test."

* TheCasanova: Jimmy (stage version).

* DangerouslyGenreSavvy: Mrs. Meers senses something something suspicious about the name "Zazu Rosy Schmevmen" (which makes sense, [[FridgeBrilliance as she herself is used to using stage names]]), and is able to recognize it as an anagram of Muzzy van Hossmere, which nearly derails the group's plot to stop her. She's also smart enough to know that hearsay isn't admissible in court as evidence. [[spoiler: Too bad she couldn't figure out that Bun Foo was able to speak English...]]

* BetaCouple: Subverted in the stage version where [[spoiler:it looks like Dorothy and Trevor will hook up, but Dorothy hooks up with one of ThoseTwoGuys instead]]

* MotorMouth:
-->'''Ruth:''' ''[Rapid fire]'' Well, hello! You're new. You an actress? I'm an actress, but we couldn't be more different, so we'll never be up for the same part, which is a good thing, don'cha think? Ruth Devereaux--my stage name, anyway.

* SignificantAnagram: "Zazu Rosy Schmevmen" in the musical.