Fitzwilly

When people ask me my favorite Christmas movies, I include "White Christmas," the George C. Scott "Christmas Carol" and "Fitzwilly." The latter film usually brings a perplexed response. In fact, much of the film takes place during the holidays, and the climax (if I remember correctly), occurs on Christmas Eve. This film has been a favorite since my childhood, and I'm disappointed that it doesn't get more TV airings during the holiday season.

Dick Van Dyke comedy that relies more on sophisticated comedy than slapstick. Van Dyke plays a sophisticated and proper butler. The old woman he works for is penniless but he keeps this from her allowing her to believe that she is rich and can give thousands of dollars to charities, which she does. The butler is also quite an educated brain and forms the household staff into a Robin Hood band which steals from the rich (namely insurance companies paying off department store thefts) to give to the old woman who in turn turns it over to the charities (minus household expenses). It is all rather organized and quite reminiscent in many ways to the butler role in "Candleshoe" and the gang in "Who's Minding the Mint," without the slapstick. Van Dyke is perfectly cast as the butler thief with good intentions who would do anything to make the woman happy. Barbara Feldon (99 of "Get Smart") arrives as the new secretary upsetting both the criminal acts and the private world of Van Dyke who seemingly for the first time gathers a love interest for someone besides the old woman. Rated G and briskly paced, but a little talky for kids used to Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. A neat film for those that love 1960's comedy and Dick Van Dyke.

Dick Van Dyke is the title character and 'Fitzwilly' is the affectionate way folks refer to Claude Fitzwilliam. He's the perfect butler and very devoted to his lady. However, she doesn't realize that she's apparently broke and in order to continue living her lifestyle, Fitzwilly and the other servants perform capers!! However, their next one is going to be tough, as Juliet (Barbara Feldon) was just hired by the mistress and this newcomer doesn't realize the staff are a bunch of thieves...so much of the film consists of the gang trying to keep her busy and away from their planning. However, when she does discover their plans, she isn't against this! So what's next? See the caper film yourself and see.

This is a very amiable caper picture. While it's not a classic like "Rififi", director Delbert Mann and the cast do a nice job. Additionally, the ending offers a nice surprise and the film is worth your time.

By the way, if you do see this, look for a very young Sam Waterston in a small role as one of the thieves.

Fitzwilly is one of the great caper-comedies from the 60's with a fine cast of outstanding character actors. You may not recognize names like John McGiver, John Fiedler, or Noam Pitlik; but, you probably know their faces. The great comedies of the 50's, 60's and 70's were filled by actors like these who, although not well known to the public, were well known amongst their peers. They give consistently good performances in a variety of roles. I knew Pitlik's name mostly from the credits of the "Barney Miller" tv series, but I've seen him on dozens of tv shows and movies from the 60's and 70's. It's these types of performers who are often missing from today's comedies. Too often, the film is built entirely around the lead actors, without gifted character actors to flesh out the scenes. It's these character ensembles that separate many of the classic comedies from the star vehicles of today.

Dick Van Dyke is wonderful as the scheming, yet lovable Fitzwilly and he is matched by the beautiful and bright Barbara Feldon. I had a huge crush on her as a child, dating from her role as "99" on "Get Smart." She exudes warmth, charm, intelligence, and a sense of fun. Together, they make a great couple. Van Dyke's film career is often hit-or-miss, but, this is definitely a hit.

As a side note to a previous review, this film was not produced by the Disney Studios. I assume the confusion is based on Van Dyke's many previous Disney movies. As far as morality goes, the people who were being hurt by the scams were mainly faceless corporations; an easy target for the general public to forgive. The Robin Hoods of the world are generally forgiven their larcenies as serving a greater good. Since it is established that Miss Vickie is very generous with her money, we can forgive the robbing-the-rich because it does, mostly, end up with the poor. Anyone who has ever grumbled about store prices is likely to forgive someone who "sticks it" to the companies who "rob" their customers. Yes, it's not that simple in the real world; but, this is a movie, after all.

But that is the theme of this most unusual Christmas movie that is a Christmas movie more because of the spirit of the thing than the time of year in which it is set.

Dick Van Dyke, in probably his best screen role, plays Claude R. Fitzwilliam, Fitzwilly for short, butler to Miss Vicky (Edith Evans). He is head of the household servants and they all act as thieves for him, running a series of con games and out and out brazen thefts all so that their beloved employer Miss Vicky will think that she is still wealthy and can live out the rest of her life in the manner to which she is accustomed. The fact is that when her father died she was left the whopping total of 180 dollars. Dad was flat broke. Fitzwilly runs this operation with military precision, aware that if Miss Vicky ever found out she would demand that they all return the money, which they cannot. You see, Miss Vicky's servants are not the only generous people in this film - albeit with other people's money - Miss Vicky is too, always giving away her money to charities. She just can't seem to say no. Now Fitzwilly usually apprehends her checks when the mail goes out, but occasionally a check will get through. This assures that they are continuously operating while teetering on bankruptcy.

And then an outsider intrudes into Fitzwilly's well oiled machine. Miss Vicki has decided to employ a secretary, Juliet Nowell (Barbara Feldon), to help her with her alternative dictionary that shows all of the ways that each word can be spelled incorrectly. This dictionary was Fitzwilly's idea to keep Miss Vicky busy, but now it has blown up in his face as this secretary begins snooping around and asking questions about the goings on in the mansion.

What is so great about this film is that there really are no bad guys. Everybody has good motives. Miss Vicki is a philanthropist with no money, her servants could easily land jobs doing less for more without the worry of being incarcerated, and Miss Nowell is suspicious that these servants are stealing from their employer.

I've never seen anything quite like it and I highly recommend it. It truly has the Christmas spirit.