Thoroughly Modern Millie
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Thoroughly Modern Millie is a 1967 musical comedy film directed by George Roy Hill and starring Julie Andrews, James Fox, Mary Tyler Moore, John Gavin, Carol Channing, Beatrice Lillie, and Pat Morita.
The screenplay was by Richard Morris, who was inspired by a 1956 British musical called Chrysanthemum.
Plot
Set in 1922, the story revolves around the adventures of Millie Dillmount, who escapes to New York City from Salina, Kansas, determined to marry her wealthy boss - whoever he may be. Shedding her naïve country girl image for the modern look of a "flapper," she takes a room at the Priscilla Hotel for Women and gets a job as a stenographer at the Sincere Trust Insurance Company. In short time, she finds herself involved with Jimmy Smith, a sweet but apparently ne'er-do-well paper clip salesman; Miss Dorothy Brown, a genteel aspiring actress who never seems to have spare change; Trevor Graydon, her no-nonsense boss; and Muzzy van Hossmere, a madcap heiress with a zest for the high life.
The Priscilla Hotel proves to be a front for a white slavery ring, headed by Mrs. Meers, the property's proprietor, and her two bumbling Asian henchmen. Her ideal kidnapping targets are attractive orphaned girl tenants with no family who won't be missed if they suddenly disappear. Millie, who gets mail from home on a regular basis, is hardly a likely candidate, but Miss Dorothy (as she insists she be called), who hasn't a soul in the world, is perfect ("Sad to be all alone in the world" Mrs. Meers says, with strong irony, to new hotel residents when she finds that they are alone in the world).
When Millie puts two-and-two together and realizes what is transpiring, she devises a harebrained scheme to save her friend from the clutches of the white slavers before Miss Dorothy is shipped to the Far East. Before long, Jimmy's in drag, Trevor is drugged, and fireworks are exploding everywhere in Chinatown, with all the chaos eventually leading to a happy ending...especially when it's revealed that Jimmy is actually Muzzy's stepson, Miss Dorothy's brother, and a millionaire in his own right!
