Half a Sixpence (1967)

Director:

George Sidney

Writers:

Beverley Cross (book)
Beverley Cross (screenplay)

Release Date:

26 June 1968 (Sweden)

Genre:

Musical

Tagline:

Flash BANG Wallop What a Picture!

Plot:

Arthur Kipps, an orphan apprenticed to a tyrannical owner of a mercantile, has a sudden abrupt change...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Play | Based On Novel

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Tommy Steele	...	Arthur Kipps
Julia Foster	...	Ann
Cyril Ritchard	...	Harry Chitterlow
Penelope Horner	...	Helen
Elaine Taylor	...	Victoria
Grover Dale	...	Pearce
Hilton Edwards	...	Shalford
Julia Sutton	...	Flo
Leslie Meadows	...	Buggins
Sheila Falconer	...	Kate
Pamela Brown	...	Mrs. Washington
James Villiers	...	Hubert
Christopher Sandford	...	Sid
Jean Anderson	...	Lady Botting
Allan Cuthbertson	...	Wilkins

Runtime:

143 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (35 mm magnetic prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (Westrex Recording System) (70 mm prints) | Mono (35 mm optical prints)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Ameran Films

Trivia:

The original Broadway production of "Half a Sixpence" opened at the Broadhurst Theater in New York on April 25, 1965, ran for 511 performances and was nominated for the 1965 Tony Award for the Best Musical. Tom Steele was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor and recreated his stage role in the film version. Grover Dale also recreated his stage role in the film version.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: In the song, "Money to Burn", where Kipps (Steele) is playing the banjo, it's obvious that he's simply playing along to an audio track. But the sound begins several times before he does the strumming to make it happen. This should have been watched/caught in the editing process.

Quotes:

[Kipps reveals his new-found fortune]
Kipps: [as Shalford] I don't like the way this place is run, so you better wake yourself up, or you'll find yourself out
[shouts]
Kipps: on your ear! 'Ficiency, Shalford! 'Ficiency, System,
[Kipps places a top hat on his head]
Kipps: and that to your blessed economy. And you can stick that on my account!

Movie Connections:

Version of Kipps (1921)

Soundtrack:

ALL IN THE CAUSE OF ECONOMY

Enjoyable Musical

When "Half A Sixpence" moved from London to New York, the producers added a lot of dancing to a show that had almost none. Because of this, a couple of songs were cut (to make-up the time taken by the dancing). The film version restores most of the music (even adds a number) and keeps the dancing. On Broadway, the incredible Onna White was the choreographer. Unfortunately, she was not used for the film (busy doing "Oliver!"), and the job went to Gillian Lynne (Cats), who's less than incredible. The cast gives it all they've got (especially Tommy Steele and Grover Dale), but each number falls short of being great. Regardless, "Half A Sixpence" is lots of fun, and while the plot and characters are a bit thin, it has wonderful musical numbers, a more than competent cast, and it's a joy to see, after all these years, in it's original widescreen splendor. Get the DVD and enjoy!