Hello, Dolly!
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
A magical, old-fashioned musical.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 6 and Up
What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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Sexy stuff:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Hello, Dolly! was written by Nell Minow
Parents need to know that this is a great classic musical for the whole family.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about why Dolly doesn't just tell Horace the truth about what she thinks is right for him and for Ermengarde. How does she help the people in the movie to think differently about themselves, and how does that help them change? What does Dolly mean when she sings "Before the Parade Passes By"? When the young couples sing "We've Got Elegance," do they really think they are fancy? What would you do if you were Barnaby and Cornelius at the Harmonia Gardens? What is the difference between Dolly's view of money and Horace's view?
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More on Hello, Dolly!
What’s the Story?
Dolly Levi (Barbra Streisand) is a matchmaker in turn of the century Yonkers, outside of New York. She is hired by Horace Vandergelder (Walter Matthau) to find him a wife. He also hires her to take his niece Ermengarde (Joyce Ames) to New York City, to encourage her to forget about marrying her artist beau, Ambrose (Tommy Tune). Instead, Dolly makes matches for his two clerks (Michael Crawford and Danny Lockin), advises them on how to get promotions from Horace, and helps Ermengarde get permission to marry Ambrose. Finally, after a series of intricate maneuvers, Dolly makes a match for herself, with Horace.
Is It Any Good?
This is one of the last of the big-time, old-fashioned musicals, with lavish production values and a dozen hummable tunes. The very slight story is bolstered by terrific singing and dancing -- staged by two masters of the genre: Gene Kelly, who directed, and Michael Kidd, who choreographed. The elaborate sets, costumes, and musical numbers make this movie a treat for the eyes and ears.
Dolly is almost a magical figure, yet with all the confidence it takes to transform the lives of everyone around her, she still hesitates when it comes to herself. She still mourns her late husband Ephraim, but she wants more out of life "Before the Parade Passes By." Yet when Horace finally proposes, she waits for a sign of Ephraim's approval. What she gets is a sign that Horace has the qualities she is looking for, that, as she suspected all along, his gruff exterior conceals a warm heart and a wish to help others.
Movie Details
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox, Director: Gene Kelly
Run time: 0 minutes
DVD release: 8/19/2003
MPAA Rating: G
Run time: 0 minutes
DVD release: 8/19/2003
MPAA Rating: G
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Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
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I rate this title iffy for age 3 and give it
- My concerns are:
yeah !!!!
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
Not good
Interesting only because of the spectacle. Overdone and predictable.
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I rate this title on and give it
Now that WALL-E is out there...
You might want to let your kids watch the movie that WALL-E was so taken with.
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I rate this title off and give it
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