Just piping in about HALF A SIXPENCE, which I watched in its entirety on Monday night - - - I'm curious as to WHICH version was filmed, the London or the Broadway, which are radically different.
It's disconcerting to hear the cut song, "Long Ago" being played thematically throughout the film, but without the payoff of its being sung.
I'm not the one that BK mentions in his notes, but, I will readily admit to having seen HALF A SIXPENCE in 1967's initial run, several times, when I was a mere lad of ELEVEN! (I'll also support THE LITTLE PRINCE - but only with a "What went wrong?" attitude).
Maybe an eleven-year-old doesn't know any better, but, this time around, I found the film to be as charming as the first time I saw it, but, asked myself, "How far can "charm" take a film?" And the answer is, unfortunately not as far as it should.
The other question which popped into my mind during a big production number ("Flash, Bang, Wallop") was where did the Sherman Brothers find the music for CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG'S "Me Old Bamboo?" These two song are as near to each other as the Engs and Daisy & Violet Hilton!
I think that George Sidney concetrated on getting a real performance from Tommy Steele, who is not nearly as nerve-wracking here as he is in his other American movies.
On the Tommy Steele front - - did you know that the fine British film EXPRESSO BONGO was more than loosely based on Steele's rise to fame?
I'm pleased enough with HALF A SIXPENCE, though at times, the sound is far from pleasing - - and with that new receiver I bought last week - - each and every one of the soundtrack's flaws is all the more noticeable.
So, my questions for ASK BK DAY sould be:
Why isn't the musical HALF A SIXPENCE revived?
What are the major differences between the London and the Broadway versions?
If it were to be revived today, is there a more than triple-threat performer who could play the part of Kipps?
What George Sidney films do you like most?
What George Sidney films do you like least?