Topsy-Turvy (1999)

Set in the 1880s, the story of how, during a creative dry spell, the partnership of the legendary musical/theatrical writers Gilbert and Sullivan almost dissolves, before they turn it all around and write the Mikado.

Director:

Mike Leigh

Writer:

Mike Leigh

Stars:

Jim Broadbent, Allan Corduner, Dexter Fletcher

Won 2 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 28 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Allan Corduner	...	Arthur Sullivan
Dexter Fletcher	...	Louis
Sukie Smith	...	Clothilde
Roger Heathcott	...	Stage Doorkeeper
Wendy Nottingham	...	Helen Lenoir
Stefan Bednarczyk	...	Frank Cellier
Geoffrey Hutchings	...	Armourer
Timothy Spall	...	Richard Temple
Francis Lee	...	Butt
William Neenan	...	Cook
Adam Searle	...	Shrimp
Martin Savage	...	George Grossmith
Jim Broadbent	...	William Schwenck Gilbert
Lesley Manville	...	Lucy Gilbert (Kitty)
Kate Doherty	...	Mrs. Judd

Storyline

After their production "Princess Ida" meets with less-than-stunning reviews, the relationship between Gilbert and Sullivan is strained to breaking. Their friends and associates attempt to get the two to work together again, which opens the way to "The Mikado," one of the duo's greatest successes.

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Plot Keywords:

gilbert and sullivan | creative differences | light opera | savoy theatre london | opera company | 

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Taglines:

Gilbert & Sullivan & So Much More

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama | History | Music | Musical

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for a scene of risque nudity

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the real-life opening-night performance of "The Mikado", the Act 2 finale began with "The Threatened Cloud Has Passed Away." That was felt to be too short, so "For He's Gone and Married Yum-Yum" was added later, as seen in the film and modern performances.

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Goofs

During the performance, Katisha's kimono is wrapped incorrectly. All Kimono wrap from the right side of the body to the left (i.e. the right side folds over the left), but her kimono wraps from left to right. Every other character has her/his kimono wrapped correctly.

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Quotes

Mr. Price: Hello, Mr. Gilbert.
[addressing Gilbert as he is leaving the theater at the head of the members of the opera chorus]
Gilbert: Good Afternoon, Price.
Mr. Price: Mr. Gilbert, might you spare us a moment of your time, please?
Gilbert: Of course, that's why we're here. We have to rehearse.
Mr. Price: Please, Mr. Gilbert...
Gilbert: [irritated] Yes, Price, what is it?
Mr. Price: [hesitating] We-uh...
Gilbert: Hmm?
Mr. Price: The ladies and gentlemen of the chorus...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in The South Bank Show: Mike Leigh (2002)

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Soundtracks

Behold! the Lord High Executioner
(1885)
from "The Mikado"
Music by Arthur Sullivan
Lyrics by W.S. Gilbert
Performed by Martin Savage and chorus

User Reviews

Positive, glowing recommendation

I am a violinist who has done a lot of theater shows and have seen lots of theater rehearsal.

For me this film has everything - the scenery is more lavish and beautiful than I've ever witnessed anywhere. For me, the interest _is_ the behind-the-scenes view of the actors. The fact that Allan Corduner (Sullivan) is actually a musician (not just miming the piano work) is a real plus. The scene of the recital of his "Lost Chord" was a marvelous musical moment. It captured the atmosphere of an old-style home recital, with earnest artists and elegant surroundings. And the rehearsal scene with the trio Grossmith (Koko), Barrington (Poo-bah), and Beauville each singing why they can't chop their own heads off is a marvelous view of what rehearsal can and should be like. Everyone has learned their words but now we're refining the artistry. The director assumes the viewer is well versed and doesn't beat him over the head. I feel honored that I am being treated as an intelligent watcher. When Gilbert says to Beauville, "I've gone to great length to give you triplets..... so let's do it again and let's ....'trip'", and they do, and it really works, I get the feeling that they live in and understand my world. Every moment of the film has for me a beauty.

The snippets of the other G&S operettas are astounding. The wake-up scene in The Sorcerer is probably only a minute long, but each word and glance is well chosen, and everyone is in perfect character. Like the cliché, "Every bride is beautiful.", every man and woman in this cast is beautiful.

Another remarkable moment in the film is Temple's "Mikado Song" when he dances, and the aftermath where Gilbert cuts the number and it then gets reinstated by the chorus men and women cornering Gilbert in the stairwell. My experience is that people in theater really do care for each other and they wish each other well. When someone does something of artistic merit, they know it, and want it to be displayed.

Almost every moment of this film rings true to me as a musician, and I treasure it. I can start this video at any random spot on the tape and find something to enjoy for 10 seconds or for another hour.

Because much of the film centers around Mikado, anyone who has ever worked on Mikado as an actor, crew, or musician will find much to enjoy. For someone who is not at all familiar with that operetta, I could understand them feeling that they can't see the continuity-- because the director has chosen not to repeat things. You will see this part and that part in preliminary stages of rehearsal but not again later, so if you saw the behind the scenes work, you won't see the 'finished product' except in the case of "Three Little Maids."

I was left wishing that this cast actually had created a full length version of Mikado, but alas I don't believe they did; all this work was for the sake of this film and it's not a documentary of an actual living repertory group.

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English French German Italian Japanese

Release Date:

11 February 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mike Leigh Untitled

Filming Locations:

Hertfordshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

GBP10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$31,387, 19 December 1999

Gross USA:

$6,208,548

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,208,548

Company Credits

Production Co:

Goldwyn Films, Newmarket Capital Group, The Greenlight Fund

Technical Specs

Runtime:

160 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1