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A REVIEW BY PETER PARKER
From start to finish this was a delightful film and one I will want to see again and again. The wealth of detail which it incorporates is huge and reflects the work done by Rosie Chambers and others. Some of the scenes contain anachronistic detail and are incorrect in some respects but that does not matter, at least to me.
The film tells the story of how and why The Mikado came to be written. It does not attempt to cover the lives of G & S as such or the story of what happened before or after that short period in the lives of the three men and their ladies. It paints a much more personal picture of Gilbert, Sullivan and to a lesser extend D'Oyly Carte, than did The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan of 1954. I thought the character of Gilbert came over as much more true to life than any portrayal I had seen before. Jim Broadbent is simply wonderful and totally believable. His change of expression in continuous closeup of his face has to be seen and is not something I can express on paper. The whole standard of the acting lifts this film above the ordinary. There is real pathos and I think this is in no small part due to the methods of Mike Leigh in directing.
The film plunges one straight in to the characters and the running down of Princess Ida being the need for a new piece to replace it. Those not familiar with the history of G & S may not see the fullness of characters such as Helen Lenoir, Kitty Gilbert, Fanny Ronalds, WSG's father, D'Auban (dancing instructor), Barker, and many others who are portrayed in this film. If you don't know anything about these people then it would be as well to read up about them beforehand as that will add to your enjoyment of the film. I particularly liked Helen Lenoir and D'Auban. Helen is shown perhaps for the first time as being the influence behind D'Oyly and as acting as concilliator in the dispute over the writing of Mikado, to no avail on this occasion! Whether these characters will come across, who they were, and the part they played in the overall story untold on this film, to a general public, is a matter on which I have doubts, but it may not matter.
I think the title Topsy-Turvy was a good choice as to call it anything with the words Gilbert and Sullivan included in the title would be a turn off for a lot of people who have preconceived ideas about G & S. The film runs for 2 hours 40 minutes but I did not realise the time flying by, becomming so wrapped up in the action.
There are quite a large number of excerpts from The Mikado and a few bits of Princess Ida and the revival of Sorcerer. (NB: That legitimises the opening of the act two chorus "Where be I".) These are staged in a replica of the Savoy Theatre which was constructed for the purpose. There is an error or two in that replication but it does not matter and is unlikely to be even noticed other than by those steeped in the history of the place. The costumes, on which I am no authority, were stunning in colour and very effective. I believe them to be copied faithfully from the original designs. The singing of the chorus was some of the best I have heard particularly as to diction. The principals came over well and the characterisation of Temple, Barrington, Grossmith, Durward Lely, Jessie Bond and others off stage was well done. There were no programmes for yesterday's showing so I am unable to fill in the names of the actors and actresses playing those parts with accuracy so I had better leave them all out.
We are nowadays more accustomed to singing of a more operatic calibre but I feel that the singing on this film is likely to be more realistic as to the standard of the time.
The myth of the falling sword was perpetuated but this time made much more believable as the run up to it was shown in great detail. The Gilberts visiting the exhibition at Knightsbridge where Gilbert bought the sword. One (or at least I) could sense in advance that the sword was going to fall off the wall by the rather perfunctory way Gilbert's butler knocked in the nail to hang it up. (The film portrays that kind of detail rather well). However by that time the thought as portrayed in Gilbert's mind was becomming evident that he would write up something Japanese and the sword falling merely clinched it. Very cleverly done.
Although anachronisitic, playing background music (never too loud for once in a modern film) of "Broken down Critter" when Gilbert was having toothache was another piece of cleverness. There was also music from Grand Duke played as background. Another anachronism was the basson twiddle in Three Little Maids. I always understood that was introduced by Sullivan at a revival of Mikado. But I don't think these rather purist views matter in the overall effect and who of the public would know anyway.
To me the character of Gilbert was the the best portrayal I have seen and was outstanding. Sullivan was good but missing was the showmanship of D'Oyly. Of course the Savoy Theatre was already built by the time portrayed so the opportunity to show off the new fangled electic lighting could not fit this film. It did portray in a short scene Sullivan being persuaded by D'Oyly to buy some shares in the new Savoy Hotel. In fact Sullivan, I understand, became a director of the Savoy Hotel company.
I offer my congratulations to all concerned with the making of this film and I hope it goes on general release and is a success. I am sure that SavoyNetters will love it and I hope the public does too. I hope this has whetted a few appetites.
Page modified 14 September 2011