Product Details

• Actors: Rex Harrison, Samantha Eggar, Anthony Newley, Richard Attenborough, Peter Bull
• Directors: Richard Fleischer
• Writers: Hugh Lofting, Leslie Bricusse
• Producers: Arthur P. Jacobs, Mort Abrahams
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• VHS Release Date: June 13, 1995
• Run Time: 152 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (80 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303095216
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #68,320 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

So, they let both Rex Harrison and Anthony Newley sing. This 1968 family musical is classier than the 1998 Eddie Murphy remake, with all of its scatological humor. This won a couple of Oscars (Best Song, Best Effects) and was nominated for seven more, including Best Picture. At the time of release, however, this was a box-office dud. Based (in part) on the magical Hugh Lofting book, it begins in Puddleby-by-the-Marsh, England, from which the world-renowned veterinarian Dolittle (Harrison) begins his quest for a giant pink sea snail. Children should find this enjoyable for its exotic creatures, such as the Pushme-Pullyou. Most adults may not agree as readily, although some of us consider this a guilty pleasure. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh, Eddie Murphy..., June 8, 2004

By 

Templeton C. Moss "Templeton Moss" (Taylorsville, KY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Doctor Dolittle (DVD)

What were you thinking? I'll admit the 1998 remake was entertaining, the way "Wings" is at one o'clock in the morning when nothing else is on, but, like "The Nutty Professor" Murphy's kid-friendly remake looks like a crime against cinema when placed next to its source material. First off, this is a musical with a beautiful score by Leslie Bricusse (who wrote the songs for "Willy Wonka" and "Stop the World, I Want To Get Off" with longtime partner Anthony Newley, who stars in this film). Also, Rex Harrison WORKED to learn to talk to animals. It wasn't a magical power he was born with, the man studied! He doesn't need cheesy (if well-cast) celebrity voiceovers and computer-generated mouth-movement to convince us, either. So if you want your kids to settle for second best and, as a result, drag you to mediocre kiddy-fair after mediocre kiddy-fair (which, in the age of "The Cat in the Hat" is pretty bad) let 'em have Eddie Murphy. But if you want your kids to have taste and appreciate a quality piece of filmmaking, rent this film immediately. Even if you have no kids, buy it, rent it, whatever.

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars DOCTOR DOLITLE LOOKS GREAT ON DVD!, September 5, 2000

By 

Peter Gardner (Irvine, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Doctor Dolittle (DVD)

If you haven't seen the underrated original DR. DOLITLE in widescreen stereo as you will be able to on DVD, you haven't seen it! The photography is outstanding (shot in TODD-AO 70MM) and the orchestrations and songs sound great! The Laser Disc was the only way to experience this oustanding family musical...until now. Sadly, though, two of the films best songs, "Where Are The Words" and the beautiful "Something In Your Smile" were cut from the film right before its release and are not restored here as hoped; be sure to check them out on the soundtrack, available on CD (you can hear the melodies play in the overture, opening credits, and exit music). Still, this is a great looking, great sounding musical for everyone! Many muusicals of the late Sixties were unfairly compared (or indeed did try to emulate) "The Sound of Music" and "Mary Poppins" As time has gone on, they can be finally apprecaited as the outstanding entertainments some of them are, like DOCTOR DOLITTLE.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars To Hell with Eddie Murphy, June 30, 2006

By 

Travis R. Wilson "Travis Rhett Wilson" (Corona, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Doctor Dolittle (DVD)

This is a great movie, Rex Harrison is a genius, and Eddie Murphy is an idiot. This is the original story the way it is supposed to be seen, as a musical. Dr. Doolittle 1998, and its subsequent sequals is a disgrace. I could go on all day about how much I think Eddie sucks for not having done the songs, but you can look to my other review for that.

As far as Rex is concerned, there's been no one like him since. All the classics are here, "If I Could Talk To The Animals," "I'm A Vegetarian," and my personal favorite "Why Must We Treat Animals Like Animals?" All sung by Harrison in his brilliant half-singing, half-speaking style that he innovated so well all the way up through My Fair Lady.

Great kid movie too, even if it is a little bit dated, buy hey, what's the alternative? To show a movie to your kids that stars a guy who once made a living for himself by screaming the F-Word at people through a stage microphone? The choice is yours, but if you are a decent parent, I think it's a no-brainer.