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From the opening scene filled with tapping feet to the final, graceful dance down the aisle, Hello, Dolly! is filled with over-the-top costumes, eye-popping choreography, and a plot with just enough structure to sustain the story. In an early role, Barbra Streisand is adorable as Dolly, the woman with her nose in everyone’s business. On the way to finding her own happiness, she plays matchmaker, causes some trouble, sings some songs, and generally makes the world a better place.

The Plot

In New York at the turn of the century, Dolly Levi (Streisand) is the woman to see for just about anything. Need a husband? No problem. Can’t dance? In five minutes you’ll be waltzing. Dolly has the world wrapped around her finger and there isn’t anything (or anyone) she can’t conquer. So when she sets her sights on the wealthy and persnickety Horace Vandergelder (Walter Matthau), it’s only a matter of time.

With her big heart made of solid gold, Dolly has concocted a few matchmaking schemes for the people in her life (and it doesn't hurt that her plans for others might help her own plot to tie the knot). For the two shop boys stuck in Horace’s store, Cornelius Hackl (Michael Crawford) and Barnaby Tucker (Danny Lockin), she plans a daring New York adventure including pretty girls to kiss; for Horace’s niece, she plots for true love to win out over Horace's objections; and for milliner Irene Molloy (Marianne McAndrew), the current object of Horace’s affection, she’s got a better match in mind.

So many balls in the air, so many hearts looking for love. There’s bound to be classic confusion, chaos, and laugh-out-loud moments. The musical numbers throughout are so sumptuous and amazing, you almost wish Dolly won't reach her goal and bring it all to an end.

Song and dance highlights include 'Just Leave Everything To Me,' 'Put On Your Sunday Clothes,' and the unparalleled 'Hello, Dolly.' The sweet, melodic 'It Only Takes a Moment' will have you longing to hold the hand of the person you love.

The Cast of 'Hello, Dolly!'

There can be no other word to describe Babs but "Fabulous!" Aside from the singing, which is absolutely outstanding, she’s best when talking a mile a minute and confusing everyone around her until they’re ready to say "yes" to anything she proposes. Her Dolly is at once strong and vulnerable. Among all the great actors who have played the role, Streisand remains an undeniable standout.

Playing a “grumpy younger man,” Matthau is almost too good at being cantankerous. You wonder what Dolly sees in him, but when he finally succumbs to her charms it’s still worth a little cheer (and maybe a tear).

The supporting cast is just as strong, including the future Phantom of the Opera Crawford, whose voice here is much higher than in the music of the night he would go on to sing. Lockin is a natural dancer who moves effortlessly throughout the film, and McAndrew is wonderful as Irene Malloy. Her solo 'Ribbons Down My Back' is just beautiful.

Of special note, the cameo by Louis Armstrong, who made 'Hello, Dolly!' a signature song, is not to be missed!

The Backstory

Dancer-singer- actor Gene Kelly was behind the camera for Hello, Dolly!, directing Matthau for the second time (their first film together was 1967’s A Guide for the Married Man). While the pacing is off and the plot isn’t the strongest, no one can deny Kelly’s magnificent vision. The song and dance scenes Kelly created were done on such a mammoth scale that the film's budget was extraordinary. Even as one of the top grossing films of the year, Hello, Dolly! put Twentieth Century-Fox in dire financial straits for years.

Nearly forty years later, the movie popped up in another fabulously successful film - Pixar's animated triumph WALL-E, in which an old tape of Hello Dolly! is the little robot's most prized possession, and central to the plot.

'Hello, Dolly!' - The Bottom Line

An old stalwart in musical theater, Hello, Dolly! makes a seamless transition to the big screen. With the potential for everything to fall apart at any minute, Streisand’s Dolly brings love, happiness and a song into the hearts of those around her. And the film is guaranteed to put a little lift in your step, too.

Recommended for You

If you liked Hello, Dolly!, you may like Funny Girl, My Fair Lady, Yentl or the non-musical movie version of the stage play, The Matchmaker.

Just the Facts:

Year: 1955, Color
Director: Billy Wilder
Running Time: 105 minutes
Studio: 20th Century Fox