Main Cast: Tommy Steele, Julia Foster, Cyril Ritchard, Grover Dale, Penelope Horner, Elaine Taylor
Release Year: 1967
Country: UK
Run Time: 148 minutes
Plot
British musical star Tommy Steele had starred in Half a Sixpence in London and on Broadway, thus he was first choice for this garish film version. Based on the H.G. Wells story Kipps (previously filmed in 1941 with Michael Redgrave), Half a Sixpence tells the tale of a humble London drapery clerk (Steele) who inherits a fortune. He briefly forgets his old mates and his faithful girl friend (Julia Foster), but soon discovers that High Society isn't his cup of tea. Filmed during the "monster musical" cycle fostered by The Sound of Music, Half a Sixpence isn't really suited for the spectacular approach dictated by co-producer Charles H. Schneer. Fortunately, the guiding directorial hand is the film's other producer: George Sidney, a veteran of MGM's Arthur Freed unit, who knew how to successfully weld music with story. Thanks to Sidney and star Steele, Half a Sixpence never gets too out of hand, though we'd argue with some of the eyestrain-inducing color choices in the bigger numbers. The film might have done better at the box office had the score yielded a few hit songs. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Like many other musical films produced in the wake of The Sound of Music's overwhelming success, Half a Sixpence was a resounding commercial failure. Even on Broadway, the material had been received very coolly; what had made the production work was its star and Onna White's exhausting choreography. The film version keeps star Tommy Steele, but replaces White with Gillian Lynne, whose work is fine, but nothing special. The story is exceptionally slight and overly predictable, and the weak dialogue doesn't help. The score is pleasant but not strong enough to overcome problems with the script, which places a tremendous burden on Steele and director George Sidney. Steele is consistent throughout, but Sidney's work varies wildly from sequence to sequence, and sometimes from frame to frame; there's an uncertainty in the cinematographic look of the film, with a helter-skelter use of soft focuses and gimmicks (altered-pace motion, etc.). However, several segments work very well, especially the Regatta, which is extremely well edited, and the subsequent dinner scene, which makes a clichéd situation seem somewhat fresh. Steele is good, although he doesn't have the commanding presence onscreen that one assumes he had live; his performance is a little too stagebound and a little too calculated. As Ann, Julia Foster is charming and very appealing, and Grover Dale's too-few dance moments are worth seeing. Sets and costumes are excellent, although they sometimes are diminished by inappropriate lighting. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Hilton Edwards - Shalford; Julia Sutton - Flo; Leslie Meadows - Buggins; Pamela Brown - Mrs. Washington; James Villiers - Hubert Walsingham; Jean Anderson - Lady Betting; Allan Cuthbertson - Wilkins; Aleta Morrison - Laura; Bridget Armstrong - The Maid; James Bolam; Sydney Bromley - Pub Character; Gerald Campion - Fat Boy; Golda Casimir - Pub Character; Roy Evans - Pub Character; Helen Goss - Dowager; Alastair Hunter - The Postman; Caryl Little - Dancer; Harry Locke - Weight Guesser; George Moon - Pub Character; Bartlett Mullins - Carshott; Julian Orchard - Photographer; Albin Pahernik - Dancer; Christopher Sandford - Sid; Sheila Falconer - Victoria; Queenie Watts - Pub Character; Iris Sadler - Pub Character; Sally Gilpin - Dancer; Reginald Hearne - Policeman; Norman Mitchell - Master of Ceremonies; Pat Ashton - Pub Character; Donald Barclay; Frank Crawshaw; Pamela Cundell - Pub Character; Ray Davies - Dancer; Sonny Farrar; Jane Kells; Humphrey Kent; John MacDonald; Jeffrey Chandler - Young Kipps
Credit
Peter Murton - Art Director, Gillian Lynne - Choreography, Joan Bridge - Costume Designer, Elizabeth Haffenden - Costume Designer, George Sidney - Director, Bill Lewthwaite - Editor, Frank Santillo - Editor, David Heneker - Composer (Music Score), David Heneker - Songwriter, Edward S. Haworth - Production Designer, Geoffrey Unsworth - Cinematographer, John Dark - Producer, Charles H. Schneer - Producer, George Sidney - Producer, Beverley Cross - Screenwriter, H.G. Wells - Short Story Author
