Claud R. Fitzwilliam (Dick Van Dyke) is a butler to an old and lovely woman. His family had been butlers and he is continuing that tradition. Fitzwilly, as he is known, is kind and always looking out for his boss Miss Vicki (Edith Evans). She loves giving money away to almost any charity. But what she does not know is that she is broke. Well not in the traditional sense in that she does have the funds, but they have been obtained illegally by Fitzwilly and the staff in order to cover her donations.
Fitzwilly heads this group of con artists who plot and scheme to acquire the money to cover what Miss Vicki has given away. They are clever in their planning and do not go overboard. Their main reason for stealing is to keep Miss Vicki in the lifestyle she has always known, and that includes giving money away all the time.
When Miss Vicki hires a secretary to help her write a new kind of dictionary, things start to unravel. Juliet (Barbara Felton) is nosey and always asking questions. She and Fitzwilly form a friendship, and he hopes that is enough to keep Juliet out of his hair when it comes to their plots.
Fitzwilly is now available on Blu-ray. This 1967 comedy is crazy and madcap. It’s not Van Dyke’s best film but he is his regular lovable self as Fitzwilly.
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.
