The Happiest Millionaire

The Happiest Millionaire is a mild comedy.

Based on a book of reminiscences by the daughter of one of Philadelphia's oldest clans, it is set in the middle of what she claims was her family, a world dominated by a pleasantly enthusiastic millionaire who believes in having fun ("You can't save life, or store it, or put it in a vault. You have to plunge in.") The play's purpose is to show Mr. A.J. Drexel Biddle and his family plunging in.

Although a few of the lines seem terribly familiar--"You swear all the time," "I do nothing of the kind, damn it!"--the mood is buoyant, because the stage is often full of two alligators, nice bits of Life With Father, and Walter Pidgeon, who has a wonderful time bounding around in the title role. He has an effective supporting cast headed by Diana van der Vlis as his boxing daughter, and George Grizzard as her finance. The several actresses who play society women all flutter very nicely. So does the play.