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Film
Hello, Dolly! is a 1969 American musical film directed by Gene Kelly, based on the 1964 Broadway musical of the same name with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. The film stars Barbra Streisand as Dolly Gallagher Levi, a matchmaker and widow who schemes to marry wealthy Horace Vandergelder, played by Walter Matthau. It was produced by Ernest Lehman for 20th Century Fox and is known for its lavish production numbers, including the title song and the elaborate "Before the Parade Passes By." The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won three, including Best Art Direction and Best Score of a Musical Picture.
Set in 1890s New York City, the film follows Dolly Gallagher Levi, a widowed matchmaker, who is hired by Horace Vandergelder, a wealthy half-a-millionaire, to find him a wife. Dolly instead decides to marry Horace herself, leading to a series of comedic misadventures involving Horace's clerks, Cornelius Hackl and Barnaby Tucker, and his niece Ermengarde's romance with artist Ambrose Kemper. The plot culminates in a grand reconciliation at the Harmonia Gardens restaurant, where Dolly and Horace finally admit their feelings.
The film was directed by Gene Kelly, marking his return to musicals after a decade. Barbra Streisand was cast despite being younger than the character's typical portrayal, and her age difference with Walter Matthau (who was 23 years older) became a point of contention. The production was known for its massive sets, including a full-scale recreation of 1890s New York streets on the Fox lot. The film's budget ballooned to $24 million, making it one of the most expensive musicals of its time. The title song was performed by Louis Armstrong, whose version became a hit single.
Upon release, the film received mixed reviews, with critics praising the production values and Streisand's performance but noting the lack of chemistry between the leads. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning three: Best Art Direction, Best Score of a Musical Picture, and Best Sound. The film was a box office success, grossing over $105 million worldwide, though it was initially considered a financial disappointment due to its high cost. Over time, it has gained a cult following and is regarded as one of the last great big-budget Hollywood musicals of the 1960s.
Several notable details are often overlooked. The film features a cameo by Louis Armstrong as the bandleader in the Harmonia Gardens sequence. The choreography by Michael Kidd was praised for its energy, and the film's title song was originally written for the Broadway show but was not included in the original stage version. The film's production was plagued by delays and cost overruns, partly due to the elaborate sets and the need to accommodate Streisand's schedule. Additionally, the film was the last musical to win the Academy Award for Best Score of a Musical Picture before the category was retired in 1984.
The film's title song was performed by Louis Armstrong and became a number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964, before the film's release.
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