GILBERT AND SULLIVAN

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27072, 22 June 1953, Page 10

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN

BRITISH FILM ON PARTNERSHIP The fruitful partnership of. Richard D Oyly Carte, W. S. Gilbert, and Arthur Sullivan, which produced the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, la the. subject of a film from the London Studios which had its Christchurcn preview at the Mayfair Theatre last evening. •Sullivan’s constant desire ,t o turn from comic opera to more serious compositions and the conflict between him and Gilbert are adequately shown in the film, which, however, gives) generous treatment to the operas produced by the partnership. Produced in colour, the film will pleasantly surprise those who declare that a ‘'live production” is the only way to do justice to Gilbert and Sullivan. The singing, setting and characterisation are all of a standard that could be expected of few productions,

even m ruigiauu. _ , The principal roles—D Oyly Carte (Peter Finch), Gilbert (Robert Morley) and Sullivan (Maurice Evans)— are filled with distinction, and among the lesser characters Wilfred HydeWhite gives his usual delightful performance as the father of Sullivan s sweetheart. , This is only the second film to. deal with any phase of the partnership. Before the Second World War a British version of ‘‘The Mikado” was successfully produced. The film “Gilbert and Sullivan” illustrates the technical advances made by the film industry in the last 14 years.