''Monkeys, Go Home!'' is a 1967 American comedy film produced by

Walt Disney Productions The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was founded on October 16 ...

and directed by Andrew V. McLaglen. The film stars

Maurice Chevalier Maurice Auguste Chevalier (; 12 September 1888 – 1 January 1972) was a French singer, actor, and entertainer. He is best known for his signature songs, including " Livin' In The Sunlight", " Valentine", " Louise", " Mimi", and " Thank Heaven f ...

, Dean Jones, and

Yvette Mimieux Yvette Carmen Mimieux (January 8, 1942 – January 18, 2022) was an American film and television actress who was a major star of the 1960s and 1970s. Her breakout role was in ''The Time Machine'' (1960). She was nominated for three Golden Globe ...

. Aside from contributing to the soundtrack of Disney's animated film ''

The Aristocats ''The Aristocats'' is a 1970 American Animated film, animated comedy film produced by Walt Disney Productions and distributed by Buena Vista Distribution. It is directed by Wolfgang Reitherman and written by Ken Anderson (animator), Ken Ander ...

'' (1970), this was Chevalier's final film role. Released on February 8, 1967, this was the first feature-length film released by

since

the founder ''The Founder'' is a 2016 American Biographical film, biographical drama film directed by John Lee Hancock and written by Robert Siegel (filmmaker), Robert Siegel. Starring Michael Keaton as businessman Ray Kroc, the film depicts the story of h ...

's death nearly two months earlier.

Plot

Hank Dussard (Jones), the new owner of an olive grove in

Provence Provence is a geographical region and historical province of southeastern France, which stretches from the left bank of the lower Rhône to the west to the France–Italy border, Italian border to the east; it is bordered by the Mediterrane ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

, brings in trained chimpanzee labor, which upsets other workers. Hank eventually gains the town's confidence with the kind aid of Father Sylvain (Chevalier) and his neighbor Maria Riserau (Mimieux).

Cast

as Father Sylvain * Dean Jones as Hank Dussard *

as Maria Riserau * Bernard Woringer as Marcel Cartucci *

Clément Harari Clément Harari (10 February 1919 – 16 February 2008) was an Egyptian-born French film and television actor. He is the grandfather of French filmmaker Arthur Harari.Yvonne Constant Yvonne Constant (1930 – 28 February 2023) was a French actress, singer and ballet dancer. Stage productions Yvonne Constant sang in cabaret in New York, other parts of the U.S. and in Europe. Latterly she appeared at the Metropolitan Room in ...

as Yolande Angelli *

Marcel Hillaire Marcel Hillaire (born Erwin Ottmar Hiller; April 23, 1908 – January 1, 1988) was a German-born character actor who had a lengthy career, appearing on stage, in films and on television. Hillaire was recognizable by his gaunt appearance and his a ...

as Mayor Gaston Lou *

Jules Munshin Jules Munshin (February 22, 1915 – February 19, 1970) was an American actor, comedian and singer who had made his name on Broadway when he starred in '' Call Me Mister''. His additional Broadway credits include '' The Gay Life'' and '' Ba ...

as Monsieur Piastillio *

Alan Carney Alan Carney (born David John Boughal; December 22, 1909 – May 2, 1973) was an American actor and comedian. Early life and career Born David John Boughal in Manhattan on December 22, 1909,"New York, New York City, World War II Draft Registrat ...

as Grocer *

Maurice Marsac Maurice Marsac (23 March 1915 – 6 May 2007) was a French actor who had a long career, with over 150 appearances in American films and television. He was also a nationally ranked croquet player. Career Born in La Croix-Valmer, France, he wa ...

as Fontanino *

Darleen Carr Darleen Carr (born Darlene Farnon;Monush, Barry (2015). The Sound of Music FAQ : All That's Left to Know About Maria, the Von Trapps, and Our Favorite Things'. Milwaukee, WI : Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. p. 140. "Those contributing ...

as Sidoni Riserau

Reception

Vincent Canby Vincent Canby (July 27, 1924 – October 15, 2000) was an American film and theatre critic who was the chief film critic for ''The New York Times'' from 1969 until the early 1990s, then its chief theatre critic from 1994 until his death in 2000. ...

of ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' called it "another of those bland little confections turned out regularly by the Disney studio". Arthur D. Murphy of ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' declared it "an amusing comedy-romance" with "the usual professional Disney blend of children, animals, humor and charm". Kevin Thomas of the ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...

'' called it "a typical Disney family film". ''

The Monthly Film Bulletin The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 until April 1991, when it merged with '' Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, including those wi ...

'' wrote: "Olive farming certainly provides an unusual background, but otherwise all is innocuous, extrovertly cheerful and good-humoured—and very dull."

References

External links

* * * * {{Andrew V. McLaglen 1967 films 1967 comedy films 1967 children's films American comedy films Walt Disney Pictures films Films directed by Andrew McLaglen Films produced by Walt Disney Films about apes Films set in France Films shot in France 1960s English-language films 1960s American films