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Gaily, Gaily

Play trailer Poster for Gaily, Gaily R 1970 1h 46m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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50% Tomatometer 6 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
After runaway Ben Young (Beau Bridges) is robbed and left on his own, he is taken in by Lil (Melina Mercouri), the head of a Chicago brothel. Acting as a surrogate mother for Ben, who thinks she runs a boardinghouse, Lil gets him a job with Francis Sullivan (Brian Keith) at the local newspaper. As Ben is exposed to the workings of the big city, he realizes the extent of government corruption and sets out on the daunting task of reforming Chicago politics, finding several allies along the way.

Critics Reviews

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TIME Magazine 05/06/2013
The resultant movie, Gaily, Gaily, is a kind of Tom Jones in Chicago, a broad-shouldered knockabout farce that has no business being so comic -- but is hugely funny because of Director Norman Jewison. Go to Full Review Vincent Canby New York Times 05/06/2013
4/5
A movie of great and exuberant charm, one that pays homage to the classic conventions of American farce by defining them with nostalgia and cinematic wit. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety 05/06/2013
A lushly staged, handsomely produced, largely unfunny comedy. Go to Full Review Richard Schickel LIFE 10/02/2019
It's a likable movie, but an unsatisfying one. Go to Full Review Film4 Staff Film4 05/06/2013
Regrettably, a silly script and some contrived comedy serve to highlight this as one of Jewison's weaker efforts. Go to Full Review TV Guide 05/06/2013
3/4
Based on Ben Hecht's colorful journalistic memories, this film is at first directed with care and style, then slowly erodes into mindless slapstick for a predictable Hollywood ending. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
Gaily, Gaily

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Cast & Crew

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Norman Jewison

Director

Beau Bridges

Ben Harvey

Melina Mercouri

Lil

Brian Keith

Sullivan

George Kennedy

Axel P. Johanson

Hume Cronyn

Tim Grogan

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Gaily, Gaily

Gaily, Gaily (1969) Gaily, Gaily (1969) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis After runaway Ben Young (Beau Bridges) is robbed and left on his own, he is taken in by Lil (Melina Mercouri), the head of a Chicago brothel. Acting as a surrogate mother for Ben, who thinks she runs a boardinghouse, Lil gets him a job with Francis Sullivan (Brian Keith) at the local newspaper. As Ben is exposed to the workings of the big city, he realizes the extent of government corruption and sets out on the daunting task of reforming Chicago politics, finding several allies along the way.
Director
Norman Jewison
Producer
Norman Jewison
Screenwriter
Abram S. Ginnes
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
The Mirisch Production Company
Rating
R (Brief Nudity)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 23, 1970, Original
Runtime
1h 46m