Monkeys, Go Home! is a 1967 American comedy film directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and produced by Walt Disney Productions. Based on the novel The Monkeys by G.K. Wilkinson, the film was written by Maurice Tombragel, and stars Maurice Chevalier, Dean Jones, and Yvette Mimieux. Aside from contributing to the soundtrack of Disney's animated film The Aristocats (1970), this was Chevalier's final film role.
Released on February 8, 1967, this was the first feature-length film released by Walt Disney Productions since its namesake founder's death nearly two months earlier.
Contents
Plot
Hank Dussard (Jones), the new owner of an olive grove in Provence, France, 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
Maurice Chevalier as Father Sylvain
Dean Jones as Hank Dussard
Yvette Mimieux as Maria Riserau
Bernard Woringer as Marcel Cartucci
Clément Harari as Emile Paurilis
Yvonne Constant as Yolande Angelli
Marcel Hillaire as Mayor Gaston Lou
Jules Munshin as Monsieur Piastillio
Alan Carney as Grocer
Maurice Marsac as Fontanino
Darleen Carr as Sidoni Riserau
Reception
Vincent Canby of The New York Times called it "another of those bland little confections turned out regularly by the Disney studio". Arthur D. Murphy of Variety 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 called it "a typical Disney family film". The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Olive farming certainly provides an unusual background, but otherwise all is innocuous, extrovertly cheerful and good-humoured—and very dull."