Minha Querida Brigitte

In the 1960s, Jimmy Stewart did several family films that were just rather bland and, in my opinion, wasted his amazing talents. I am not saying they are BAD films, just imminently forgettable and are best described as "fluff". In other words, while time-passers, they have very little lasting value. The movie does have a few mildly interesting moments but that's really about all. In fact, the only reason the film even gets a score of 6 is because Stewart is in the film and he tries his best with the mediocre material. My recommendation is do NOT run out and rent it or buy it but wait until it comes out on cable. This is a far cry from THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE or MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON. It's more like an episode of GIDGET combined with PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISIES.

This is pretty much the same review I gave for MR. HOBBES TAKES A VACATION. Both were almost exactly as bland as the other. What sets this apart is the strange plot involving a young Billy Mumy as a genius who is smitten with the actress Brigitte Bardot (the kid had good taste). Ms. Bardot makes a cameo near the end of the film, but apart from that it's a pretty forgettable film.

I stumbled upon "Dear Brigitte" almost by accident, and the names in the credits -- Jimmy Stewart, Glynis Johns, Ed Wynn, etc. -- kept me watching. I was pleasantly surprised by how charming and intelligent this film turned out to be! Stewart plays an English professor whose only son, Erasmus (the adorable Billy Mumy), turns out to be a math whiz. He's also great at predicting horses, and he happens to be in love with Brigitte Bardot (who makes a wonderful cameo appearance). The family lives on a houseboat, and their teenaged daughter dates Fabian. All of this makes for a very enjoyable comedy the whole family can watch together -- it may be a bit outdated (particularly the "high-tech" computer featured in one scene), but that only adds to its charm. This is a lovable, often overlooked movie that's definitely worth viewing with the whole family!

Fairly good comedy featuring an ultra smart little boy who is used by swindlers for their own gain despite the over protectiveness of his father. Meanwhile, the boy is scheming to meet the famous French actress while his sister is anguishing over boys and proms. Typical 60's comedy.

It's a bit of a slow start, but Dear Brigitte is a very cute movie. James Stewart plays a stereotypical absentminded professor who randomly lives with his family in a ship that's ashore. It's a shameless copy of Mary Poppins, with Ed Wynn as the giggling, bumbling narrator with no character development, and Glynis Johns as the never-wavering matriarch who stands by her husband.

The family comedy can be separated into three sections. In the first third, everyone in the family plays a classical instrument. They're all very talented, except for the youngest son Bill Mumy. He doesn't fit in, and Jimmy worries. In the second third, Bill discovers his hidden talent: mathematics. It's a slap in the face to his father, who is an poetry professor instead. But since Bill is able to do complex math in his head, he quickly becomes a sensation. The final third addresses the title of the movie. Bill has a crush on Brigitte Bardot, and he writes her fan letters. But you won't find any spoilers here. To find out how all three sub-plots end up, you'll have to watch this pseudo-Disney family flick. James Stewart is very sweet with his children, but the opening silliness is a little unnecessary. Fast-forward if you need to, because the last third is very cute.

I'm sure that the folks who were casting Lost in Space must have seen Dear Brigitte and said to themselves, young Billy Mumy would be perfect casting as the precocious Will Robinson.

Dear Brigitte is a film about a professor of literature who lives on a converted old Mississippi riverboat with his family and the former captain of the steamship, Ed Wynn. An almost hippie like existence for the very Republican James Stewart and his wife Glynis Johns and children Cindy Carol and Billy Mumy.

Stewart has an obsession about the sciences just taking over colleges, including his own and this fuels an additional obsession into finding a talent that must be hidden in his son. Young Mr. Mumy turns out to be both color blind and tone deaf, so art and music are out.

He turns out to be a mathematical genius though and Billy has an additional obsession himself, he wants to meet Brigitte Bardot. Now that's something the males in the audience can empathize with.

I think Dear Brigitte came out just a tad to early. A couple of years later with the flower power movement in full bloom, this thing would have really been big box office. Audiences might have really identified with an eccentric professor with his family living on a riverboat.

Fabian is also along for the ride as daughter Cindy Carol's boyfriend. He was nearing the end of the line as a teenage heart throb. But I'm sure his presence in the film brought more than a few dollars in.

John Williams and Jesse White who play a couple of con men do a nice job and of course we cannot forget the presence of Brigitte Bardot playing herself.

It's a pleasant innocuous little family comedy helped by a very good cast.