A Large Scale Disaster

The first 3 I couldn't agree more. I remember my mother telling me how there was a movie being made years in advance, due to the fact that animals had to be trained. I loved the books - then when "Doolittle" was announced starring Rex Harrison, I had misgivings. Then the movie came out and PFFFffffttt.... (like Comet ISON). But I did enjoy a lot of the toys that came out, like a little plastic Harrison/Doolittle figurine and a cutout puppet set.

Your last point, however, I will debate. "Doolittle" was but one expensive mistake among many following Fox's attempt to repeat the success of "The Sound of Music." I think the one that finally put the Studio on the chopping block was "Hello Dolly" - which was deliberately overpriced because the Studio absolutely had to have Babs Streisand, along with a huge recreation of "Old New York". And the musical onscreen was a whole lot of nothing. At least the animals in "Doolittle" were fun to watch.

"Don't call me 'honey', mac."
"Don't call me 'mac'... HONEY!"

I still dont understand why this movie is such a flop, I just saw it on tv, and except for all the singing its a very charming fantasy pix.

https://www.pajiba.com/film_reviews/the-giraffe-stepped-on-his-ck-the-amazing-true-story-of-the-disastrous-making-of-doctor-dolittle.php

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/TroubledProduction/Film0ToG