Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

Am still wondering how that brilliant actress-Dame Edith Evans, who gave us monumental performances in "The Nun's Story," as well as "The Chalk Garden," and "The Whisperers" ever allowed herself to be talked into this nonsense.In this film she plays an elderly dowager. At least, she thinks she has money but she does not. Her butler, Dick Van Dyke, and an assortment of workers steal to keep her in the lifestyle she is used to and of course make plenty of extras for themselves.Van Dyke, who is always quite adept at comedy, is no different here. Miss Evans acts like an aristocratic woman to what we saw Margaret Dumont try to do in the Marks Brothers' Films of the 1930s and '40s.The film has an ample supply of supporting characters. Barbara Feldon is witty as the Columbia graduate school who comes to work for Evans and in the process discovers what has been going on. John MacGiver plays a former priest who is in with the group. Only Ann Seymour, who portrayed Broderick Crawford's wife in the Oscar-winning "All the King's Men," is above aboard. You know about their capers but they are unbelievably carried out and some times even hard to follow the methodology. It is only with the gang's last caper at Gimbels Department Store that the film takes on an hilarious body of scenes.As I stated above, Fitzwilly is basically silly. Famed script-writer Isobel Lennart bombed away here.

It was Miss Vicky's Father who died not husband It is a very good Movie not seen enough on tv. It is one of my favorite movies with a great cast of supporting actors

Fitzwilly without a doubt is one of the BEST Dick Van Dyke movies ever made. It is sleek, elegant and has a sophisticated brand of comedy that has become an almost extinct breed. The story moves along at a fast clip, with just enough suspense that you wonder what will happen next at the same time you are laughing hysterically and a touching romance to boot! Although kids could watch this movie and get some laughs out of the few sight gags, it's unlikely that many would understand the more subtle dry humour that reigns throughout; still this is a movie that can be watched and enjoyed by the whole family! I am eagerly looking for a DVD release!

I first watched this movie just before Christmas 1994 and have seen it at least once a month since. To me it is a movie that is simple and pleasant,not violent or extreme, with few if any underlying themes/agenda, there are too many movies that concentrate on the spectacular, which are fine if you wish to watch stunt or body doubles for 50% of the show. Dick Van Dyke's character "Fitzwillie" is a gangster, as are the rest of his team (in the best possible way), he only deceives those that can afford to loose ensuring that his "surrogate Mother" lives the life to which she is accustomed. For anyone who has not had the opportunity to watch this movie, rent it, get a nice bottle of wine, some snacks and a comfortable seat and enjoy the type of movie that unfortunately is not made any longer and as it is made around the Christmas period, there is of course that Seasonal good feeling! Enjoy!