Tommy Steele helps salvage a somewhat labored production of a London-cum-Broadway musical hit. As far as musicals go it really strives for an A, and nearly hits its mark, but there's a distinctive lack of umph in the production. That and it also feels simplified, as per rube2424's comments.
The other part of the problem with "Half of Sixpence" is that the plot, what little there is of it, hardly plays any kind of roll in the film. The story suffers for it as the film seems to move from one scene to the next with little reason. The plot's there, but there's a kind of reserve holding back what could've been a stronger impact, and hence a better film.
The musical numbers are OK, and on par with a lot of other stuff that came out at the same time, but I'd be hard pressed to remember any single tune or song that really stuck out.
The British effort at a Hollywood musical was a step in the right direction, and, if one keeps an open mind, creates a respectable film as far as musical's go. It captures some of the magic of other big budgeted musicals, but the genre at the time was waning, and it shows somewhat in this film.
Even so, it has a kind of appeal. Much of the comedy is flat, though energetic, and, as I stated earlier, the score and other musical numbers (except for maybe the title song) aren't all that memorable.
It's worth a night's rental if you're into musicals, but don't say I didn't way ya!
RESCREENED Feb 25th and 25th Seeing this film again with perhaps a more cogent mind, I see that perhaps I was a bit hard on this film. One of the problems I had with this movie is that the story is essentially a classic British romance Austen like novel put into musical format. We essentially watch a couple that are coupled to one another at a very young age. We follow their progress, and explore their highs and pitfalls. So, unlike lot of American musicals, this one is not plot driven; i.e. Prof. Hill trying to pull a fast one on River City in "The Music Man", or Kelley's Don Lockwood trying to make a star out of Cathy Selzden, or Prof. Higgens trying to make a princess out of a common flower girl. "Half a Sixpence" is more thematic, and grander in scope in terms of it actually explores the combined heart of a couple that were meant for one another.
Not quite my "cup of tea" (to borrow from our friends across the Atlantic), but still a very decent watch.
Enjoy it for what it is.
The other part of the problem with "Half of Sixpence" is that the plot, what little there is of it, hardly plays any kind of roll in the film. The story suffers for it as the film seems to move from one scene to the next with little reason. The plot's there, but there's a kind of reserve holding back what could've been a stronger impact, and hence a better film.
The musical numbers are OK, and on par with a lot of other stuff that came out at the same time, but I'd be hard pressed to remember any single tune or song that really stuck out.
The British effort at a Hollywood musical was a step in the right direction, and, if one keeps an open mind, creates a respectable film as far as musical's go. It captures some of the magic of other big budgeted musicals, but the genre at the time was waning, and it shows somewhat in this film.
Even so, it has a kind of appeal. Much of the comedy is flat, though energetic, and, as I stated earlier, the score and other musical numbers (except for maybe the title song) aren't all that memorable.
It's worth a night's rental if you're into musicals, but don't say I didn't way ya!
RESCREENED Feb 25th and 25th Seeing this film again with perhaps a more cogent mind, I see that perhaps I was a bit hard on this film. One of the problems I had with this movie is that the story is essentially a classic British romance Austen like novel put into musical format. We essentially watch a couple that are coupled to one another at a very young age. We follow their progress, and explore their highs and pitfalls. So, unlike lot of American musicals, this one is not plot driven; i.e. Prof. Hill trying to pull a fast one on River City in "The Music Man", or Kelley's Don Lockwood trying to make a star out of Cathy Selzden, or Prof. Higgens trying to make a princess out of a common flower girl. "Half a Sixpence" is more thematic, and grander in scope in terms of it actually explores the combined heart of a couple that were meant for one another.
Not quite my "cup of tea" (to borrow from our friends across the Atlantic), but still a very decent watch.
Enjoy it for what it is.