Doctor Dolittle (movie)

Doctor Dolittle is a 1967 musical film which tells the story of a veterinarian who can talk to animals. It stars Rex Harrison, Samantha Eggar, Anthony Newley and Richard Attenborough. It was also the last film apperance of chimpanzee actor Cheeta.

The movie was adapted by Leslie Bricusse from the novels by Hugh Lofting. It was directed by Richard Fleischer.

It won Academy Awards for Best Effects, Special Effects and Best Music, Song (Leslie Bricusse for Talk to the Animals). It was nominated for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Music, Original Music Score, Best Music, Scoring of Music, Adaptation or Treatment, Best Picture and Best Sound.

Alan Jay Lerner was originally chosen to write the script, but due to creative differences, he left and was replaced by Bricusse. This gave Rex Harrison the chance to sit out his contract, and he was to be replaced by Christopher Plummer, but when Harrison agreed to stay, the producers paid Plummer his total agreed-upon salary to leave the production.

Other versions

A 1970 animated television series called Doctor Dolittle was produced. In 1998, a non-musical version starred Eddie Murphy. A sequel, Dr. Dolittle 2, was produced in 2001.