Remembering Gene Kelly - Supplement to the gorgeous new Blu-ray of "Hello Dolly". One of the last Hollywood big-budget musicals, "Hello Dolly" nearly bankrupted 20th Century Fox. Reportedly costing $25 million USD in 1969 The film grossed only $9 million USD. The 1890 New York exterior set seen here was all physically built - no CGI
here folks!

Dolly was filmed in the TODD-AO process using a 65 mm negative running at 30 frames per second, unlike conventional film which used a 35 mm neg. which ran at 24 fps. TODD-AO was the forerunner of Panavision, Cinerama and of course IMAX.

Trivia: The original design of Barbra Streisand's gold-beaded gown shown in the Harmonia Gardens scene weighed 40 pounds and cost $8,000. Twice during rehearsals, she tripped over its 2.5-foot train. Other dancers also tripped over it during rehearsal, so the train was taken off the dress. The train is shown intact when Streisand starts down the stairs, but later it disappears.