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The musical collaboration of Sir William Gilbert and Sir
Arthur Sullivan was teamwork at its best although, obviously,
there was a bit of stress and strain at times between them.
Topsy-Turvy looks at one of those times when the creative
juices of each chap have become a little thin and Sullivan
(Alan Corduner) wants a break from the partnership to pursue
more serious musical works.
Gilbert (Jim Broadbent) is gutted and can't work out why
his partner doesn't want to set his latest effort to music.
He can't see that his made-up plotlines of topsy-turvy may
not excite audiences - or Sullivan - as they once did.
Much of Topsy-Turvy follows Gilbert's momentary writer's
block and it does it with a fantastic style of rich characters,
beautiful photographic work and great costumes.
He may be a grumpy devil, but you can feel his pain as he
struggles for a new idea that will strike a chord with both
Sullivan and the public.
Then, as luck would have it, his wife takes a reluctant Gilbert
to see a touring Japanese exhibition and Kapow the
idea for The Mikado takes off and the guys have what
they hope will be another winner.
As a Gilbert and Suillivan devotee this movie really appealed
to me on many levels. The acting is terrific, the period detail
astounding and the background story to The Mikado just
works beautifully.
The support cast is sensational and includes Ron Cook as
Richard D'Oyly Carte, the founder of the theatre, Timothy
Spall, Wendy Nottingham, Lesley Manville, Martin Savage and
Shirley Henderson.
Best of all, however, is you get to see a host of G&S songs
and they are as fresh today as they were 100 years ago.
The video transfer is superb with some of the best rendering
of subtle colours I have seen on a DVD. The sound is equally
as good and your ears will enjoy the wonderful pieces from
Princess Ida, The Sorcerer, Patience
and The Mikado.
Fabulous!
Conclusion: 90% Extras: 60%.
Continued: DVD
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