The story of a 19th century English music hall (vaudeville) performer and life behind the scenes.The story of a 19th century English music hall (vaudeville) performer and life behind the scenes.The story of a 19th century English music hall (vaudeville) performer and life behind the scenes.
Bill Shine
- Mogador Stage Manager
- (as Billy Shine)
Andreas Malandrinos
- Gatti
- (as Andrea Malandrinos)
Peter De Greef
- Lord Petersfield (His Son)
- (as Peter De Greeff)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFilm debut of Hazel Court, who had one line of dialogue.
- Crazy creditsOpening credits prologue: In the year of Grace 1860, two brothers set out from the mining village of Leybourne for London Town . . . .
- ConnectionsFeatured in Those British Faces: A Tribute to Stanley Holloway (1997)
- SoundtracksThe Man on the Flying Trapeze
(uncredited)
Music by Alfred Lee
Lyrics by George Leybourne
Arranged by Ernest Irving
Featured review
Champagne drinking is his game.
This film is the nearest that Ealing Studios came to making a musical, but the final result is something quite different from that of MGM or Warner Bros. Imagine a full blooded b/w Victorian etching, lit by gas lamps and studded with glittering period detail. The songs are brash, catchy and bright. The direction by Cavancanti brings in his documentary realism with fast cutting, high and low angle shots - breaking with convention at every chance. The result of all this is that the film has hardly dated. It isn't well known, but it ought to be rediscovered. The photography sparkles and shines on carefully recreated 1860 London settings. If the film has a fault, it is that in trying to avoid formula, it often skips over details. For example, we aren't given time to understand how many of the songs are written. The title character was a real life singer - George Leybourne. Wartime comedian Tommy Trinder is obviously enjoying the part and Stanley Holloway provides strong support. In 1944 this film was designed to raise morale and generate goodwill. It still does.
helpful•150
- mfgen-consultant
- Jan 22, 2005
Details
- Runtime1 hour 12 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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