Hello, Dolly! Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A meddling matchmaker schemes to marry a grumpy millionaire while setting up everyone else in town with their perfect match, mostly so she can get a fabulous dress and be the center of attention.

🍿 Hello, Dolly!: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introduction to Dolly and Horace

Dolly Levi, a vivacious matchmaker, travels to Yonkers, New York, to meet Horace Vandergelder, a wealthy, unmarried businessman. Horace seeks a wife, and Dolly intends to find him one – or perhaps, win him for herself. Meanwhile, Horace’s niece, Ermengarde, yearns to marry Ambrose Kemper, but Horace disapproves.

Adventures in New York City

Horace’s clerks, Cornelius Hackl and Barnaby Tucker, decide to experience New York City. They encounter Irene Molloy, a charming milliner, and her assistant, Minnie Fay. Romantic sparks fly as Cornelius falls for Irene, and Barnaby connects with Minnie. Dolly orchestrates encounters and misadventures, weaving a web of romantic entanglements.

Harmonia Gardens and Romantic Entanglements

The characters converge at the Harmonia Gardens Restaurant, where Dolly makes a grand entrance. Confusion and revelations ensue as Horace discovers Cornelius and Barnaby, along with Ermengarde and Ambrose, at the restaurant. Cornelius boldly declares his love for Irene, leading to Horace firing him. Dolly maneuvers to win Horace’s affection.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Dolly Levi (Barbra Streisand): A vivacious matchmaker who schemes to win the heart of the ‘half-a-millionaire’ Horace Vandergelder.
• Horace Vandergelder (Walter Matthau): A wealthy, grumpy merchant from Yonkers seeking a wife, but ultimately falls for Dolly’s charms.
• Cornelius Hackl (Michael Crawford): A store clerk who seeks adventure in New York City and finds love with Irene Molloy.
• Irene Molloy (Marianne McAndrew): A beautiful hat shop owner in New York City looking for excitement and romance.
• Barnaby Tucker (Danny Lockin): Cornelius’s loyal and enthusiastic friend, also seeking adventure in New York.
• Ermengarde (Joyce Ames): Horace Vandergelder’s niece who is in love with Ambrose Kemper and defies her uncle’s wishes.
• Ambrose Kemper (Tommy Tune): The artist in love with Ermengarde, striving to marry her despite Horace’s disapproval.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Dolly Levi: “Money, pardon the expression, is like manure. It’s not worth a thing unless it’s spread around, encouraging young things to grow.” – Dolly explains her philosophy on money and its purpose in helping others to thrive.
• Dolly Levi: “Just leave everything to me.” – Dolly’s confident assertion that she can handle any situation and arrange everything for the best.
• Dolly Levi: “Elegance, poise and grace.” – The start of the quartet, as the characters declare that they are going to be elegant that evening.
• Horace Vandergelder: “I’m tired, and I don’t want to hear anymore.” – Expresses Horace’s grumpy and inflexible nature, often said when he is annoyed or overwhelmed.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $25,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $400,881
• Worldwide Gross: $403,127

💥 Hello, Dolly! Reviews

Personal Review

I watched this movie for the first time last week and, honestly, I was completely swept away by the pure joy of it all. Sure, Streisand might have been a bit young for the role, but her voice is just incredible, and the whole movie is just so vibrant and over-the-top. I can’t help but grin from ear to ear, especially during the ‘Hello, Dolly!’ number with Louis Armstrong. Even though it may not be ‘perfect,’ it’s definitely a feel-good movie that’ll have you tapping your feet and singing along.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic musicals”
  • “Barbra Streisand enthusiasts”
  • “Viewers who appreciate lavish set designs and costumes”
  • “Those seeking lighthearted and feel-good entertainment”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “May contain outdated social attitudes”
  • “Some mild comedic violence”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “While the costumes and set design are eye-catching, Hello, Dolly! suffers from a miscast lead and overblown production that overshadows the simple charm of the source material.
• AllMovie: “Gene Kelly’s direction is colorful and energetic, even if it occasionally veers into excess. Streisand delivers a memorable performance, and the musical numbers are undeniably catchy, making it an enjoyable, if flawed, cinematic experience.
• Variety: “Hello, Dolly! is a spectacle to behold, bursting with vibrant sets, exquisite costumes, and memorable tunes. Barbra Streisand shines, and the film remains a delightful if imperfect celebration of musical theatre.

Audience Reactions

Viewers loved the elaborate production numbers and dazzling costumes, which brought the turn-of-the-century setting to life.: Most audiences found the musical numbers to be the highlight, especially the title song and ‘Before the Parade Passes By.’

Overall Consensus: Hello, Dolly! is a visually stunning and musically rich experience, though some critics and viewers have noted issues with casting choices and excessive length. It remains a beloved classic for fans of the genre.

Awards

1. Academy Award (Best Art Direction)- 1970
2. Academy Award (Best Sound)- 1970
3. Academy Award (Best Music, Score of a Musical Picture)- 1970

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film was one of the most expensive musicals ever made at the time, with a budget of $25 million.”
• “Gene Kelly, known for his own iconic musical performances, directed the film, bringing his expertise to the dance numbers and overall staging.”
• “The film was shot in 70mm, a wide-screen format intended to provide a grand cinematic experience, enhancing the visual spectacle of the musical numbers and sets.”
• “The town of Garrison, New York, was transformed to resemble Yonkers at the turn of the century.”

🖥️ How to Watch Hello, Dolly!?

Hello, Dolly! is available for purchase or rental on various platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Check your preferred streaming service for availability. Unfortunately it is not currently included with a subscription on any major streaming platforms.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Hello, Dolly!, you might like these similar films:

• The Music Man (1962): Shares the energetic, upbeat style of classic Broadway musicals, with memorable songs and large-scale production numbers.
• Mame (1974): Another Jerry Herman musical about a larger-than-life, charismatic woman who brings joy and change to those around her.
• Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967): A boisterous and colorful musical set in the roaring twenties with elaborate song and dance numbers.
• La La Land (2016): A modern musical that pays homage to classic Hollywood musicals with vibrant visuals, catchy songs, and a focus on dreams and romance.
• Little Shop of Horrors (1986): A cult classic musical that offers a quirky and darker take on the genre, appealing to those who enjoy musicals with a unique twist.

🛒 Hello, Dolly! Related Products

• Hello, Dolly! [Blu-ray]: Experience Hello, Dolly! in stunning high definition with enhanced audio and visual quality on Blu-ray. Includes bonus features and behind-the-scenes footage.
• Hello, Dolly! Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Relive the magic of Hello, Dolly! with the original motion picture soundtrack. Featuring Barbra Streisand, Louis Armstrong, and the entire cast performing iconic songs. Stream or download.
• Hello, Dolly! Movie Poster Print: Enhance your collection with a high-quality reproduction of the original Hello, Dolly! movie poster. Perfect for framing and displaying your love for this classic musical.
• Dolly Levi Figurine – Limited Edition: A finely crafted, hand-painted figurine of Dolly Levi (Barbra Streisand) in her iconic gold gown from the Harmonia Gardens scene. Comes with a certificate of authenticity.

🎧 Soundtrack

Hello, Dolly! features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Hello, Dolly!” – performed by Louis Armstrong
• “Just Leave Everything To Me” – performed by Barbra Streisand
• “Put On Your Sunday Clothes” – performed by Company
• “It Only Takes a Moment” – performed by Michael Crawford and Marianne McAndrew

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Why Does WALL-E Use Live Action? – Eddache (One Musical Scene)

Ever wondered why they included scenes from ‘Hello, Dolly!’ in WALL-E? This video breaks it down and explains the director’s reasoning, and it’s actually super interesting!

WALL-E watching “Hello, Dolly!” at PVHS

Check out this adorable video of WALL-E watching ‘Hello, Dolly!’ It’s such a cute and creative idea, and it really shows how much that old movie impacted Wall-E’s character.

Why Bette Midler says she returned to ‘Hello, Dolly!’

Want to hear Bette Midler talk about her iconic role in ‘Hello, Dolly!’? She gives some great insight into the musical and why she decided to return to it. It’s definitely worth a watch!

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