Doctor Dolittle (1967), is a musical film based on a series of books written by Hugh Lofting. It is the story of a Doctor in 1840's England who changes from practicing medicine on humans to practicing on animals. His new veterinary practice is aided by his new found ability to talk to the animals.

Dr. Doolittle was one of three movies released by Twentieth Century-Fox in an attempt to duplicate the success of The Sound of Music, but all three movies failed to come close to The Sound of Music and cost several top studio executives their jobs.http://www.kiddiematinee.com/d-drdolittle.html Dr. Doolittle did, however, win two Oscar's, for Best Music, Original Song and Best Effects and Special Effects. It was nominated for seven other Oscar's including Best Film.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061584/awards

Dr. Dolittle (Rex Harrison) once a physician for humans, changes his practice when he realizes that he is not happy taking care of humans. He finds he has the uncanny ability to speak to the animals and learns to speak over 500 different animal languages. He wants to take a trip to the South Seas to find the legendary Great Pink Sea Snail and the Giant Lunar Moth, but doesn't have the means to make his dream possible. One day a crate arrives at the Dr.'s home, in the crate he finds a strange creature.... a two headed llama called a PushmiPullyu -- and if that isn't enough, it dances. The Dr. takes the PushmiPullyu to perform in the circus.... he is able to make enough money to buy a ship and supplies to leave on his adventure to the South Pacific. One of the circus seals, Sophie, wants to go back to the North Pole to see her husband and asks the Dr. for help. He dresses her in women's clothing and takes her to Plymouth, where he tosses her off the cliff. He is later arrested for killing his grandmother. He is eventually acquitted but the officials decide to commit him to a mental asylum when he tells the court that he can talk to animals. Matthew (Anthony Newley), Tommy (William Dix) and some of his animal friends help him to escape. They take off on Dr.Dolittle's ship "The Flounder" on their South Sea Adventure, when they find a stowaway Emma Fairfax (Samantha Eggar). They experience many adventures on their quest to find the Great Pink Sea Snail and the Giant Lunar Moth.http://www.kiddiematinee.com/d-drdolittle.html

• Rex Harrison as Dr. John Dolittle

• Samantha Eggar as Emma Fairfax

• Anthony Newley as Matthew Mugg

• Richard Attenborough as Albert Blossom

• Peter Bull as Gen. Bellowes

• Muriel Landers as Mrs. Blossom

• William Dix as Tommy Stubbins

• Geoffrey Holder as William Shakespeare X

• Portia Nelson as Sarah Dolittle

• Norma Varden as Lady Petherington

• Judy Chapman as Dancer (uncredited)

• Gene Columbus Circus Clown (uncredited)

• Gilchrist Stuart as The Vicar (uncredited)

• Ginny Tyler as Polynesia (voice of) (uncredited)

• Frank Welker as PushmePullyu (voice of) (uncredited)

"The Sun called it 'the film industry's best Christmas present to children in years' and the 'Daily Mirror' said 'it was sheer sunny delight."— The Age, December 14, 1967http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qEoVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NeMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6797,2437621&dq=dr+dolittle+1967+reviews

"The movie has one merit: If you have unruly children, it may put them to sleep."—Leonard Matlinhttp://dic.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enwiki/60170