Topsy Turvy

Mike Leigh, UK, 1999, 160 minutes

Topsy turvey

The year is 1884. Gilbert and Sullivan, librettist and composer of some of the most popular musical entertainment in the world, are somewhat at a loss, their most recent work "Princess Ida" has been their first flop and the stakes are high to produce a new and successful work. W.S Gilbert's new script does not meet with the approval of Arthur Sullivan who wishes to stretch his musical genius beyond what he sees as the tired scripts of his collaborator. Gilbert meanwhile is sick of his attempts being rubbished by Sullivan and tempers are frayed.

One day Gilbert's wife persuades her spouse to attend the exhibition of Japanese culture that was on in London at the time and he enjoys himself and buys a sword. While mounting it on the wall it falls to the floor - and he gets an idea for a new play...

The whole film is first and foremost an extremely enjoyable romp with lovely music and good humour, there are dark patches (Sullivan's treatment of his mistress is a case in point) but they never overwhelm the light mood. Somehow Mike Leigh manages to steer clear of the self conscious quality of all too many period dramas (where pretty dresses and ponderous delivery seem to be more important than acting and production) and the performances are uniformly wonderful - Jim Broadbent delivers an astounding performance as Gilbert and manages to get to perfection the man's quirks, for example the sequence where he makes the Japanese girls display the manner in which they walk to add to the authenticity of the burlesque. Allan Corduner is fantastic as the depraved Sullivan. Among the supporting cast special mention must go to Lesley Manville as Gilbert's emotionally frustrated wife and Martin Savage as the Drug raddled George Grossmith.

This is no mere costume drama but a well portrayed picture of Victorian England and one of Leigh's most enjoyable films.

Review by Louise Oliver
Written for EUFS Programme Spring 2006