A 1967 musical comedy that started as a hit but ended in a slump

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Thoroughly Modern Millie was the eighth highest-grossing film of 1967 and solidified Julie Andrews as the era's top box office star. Yet, despite its initial charm and critical acclaim, the production was marred by internal conflict, a bloated runtime, and a final act that many critics felt turned into a lemon.

Producer Ross Hunter originally intended to adapt the stage musical The Boy Friend, but the $400,000 rights fee proved prohibitive. Instead, he commissioned a new screenplay based on the 1956 British musical Chrysanthemum. The resulting film, directed by George Roy Hill, followed a flapper named Millie Dillmount in 1922 New York City. While the film’s first half was widely praised for its witty satire of the Jazz Age, the production suffered from significant friction. Universal executives insisted on a roadshow release and rejected director Hill’s desired artistic cuts, leading him to quit before the film was fully scored and finished.

The film’s narrative structure is frequently cited as its primary weakness. Critics like Clifford Terry of the Chicago Tribune noted that while the first 90 minutes were a delight, the final 50 minutes devolved into a slapstick chase sequence that lacked the wit of the opening. This sentiment was echoed by others who felt the film’s melodramatic conclusion—involving a kidnapping plot in a fireworks factory—was forced and uncomical. Even Roger Ebert, who initially awarded the film four stars, later expressed uncertainty about that assessment.

Despite these structural flaws, the film remains a notable artifact of 1960s cinema. Elmer Bernstein won his only Academy Award for the incidental score, and the soundtrack successfully blended new compositions with 1920s standards. The film’s legacy is also tied to the career of Julie Andrews; it was her final hit of the decade, followed by the box office failures of Star! and Darling Lili. Today, the film holds an 85% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, serving as a nostalgic, if uneven, time capsule of a bygone Hollywood era.

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