The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan

. In addition to describing the ups and downs of the partnership between Gilbert and Sullivan, and their relationships with their producer, Richard D'Oyly Carte, the movie also depicts many of the people who performed in the original runs of the operas and includes extensive musical excerpts from the works, staged with the assistance of Martyn Green, who advised on the performance practices of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. The film is similar in style to other popular biopics of the era, such as "The Great Caruso" and takes considerable dramatic license with factual details and moves events in time. For example, the opening night of "Iolanthe" is depicted as being the opening of the Savoy Theatre, whereas the Savoy Theatre actually opened earlier, during the run of "Patience". The music in the film is played by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent.

The film starred Robert Morley as W. S. Gilbert, Maurice Evans as Arthur Sullivan, Peter Finch as Richard D'Oyly Carte, Eileen Herlie as Helen Carte and Martyn Green as George Grossmith. Appearances were also made by Dinah Sheridan as Grace Marston, Wilfred Hyde-White as Mr. Marston, Leonard Sachs as Smythe, Owen Brannigan as the company's principal heavy baritone, Thomas Round as the company's principal tenor, Isabel Dean as Mrs. Gilbert, Arthur Howard as the Usher in "Trial by Jury", and Michael Ripper as Louis.

References

* [http://www.cris.com/~oakapple/gasdisc/greatgns.htm The film on the Gilbert and Sullivan Discography website]
* [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/513001/index.html The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan at Screenonline]
* [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/513001/synopsis.html Synopsis of the film]

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045839/ The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan on the] Internet Movie Database
* [http://math.boisestate.edu/GaS/gandsstory/index.html Many photos from the production]
* [http://math.boisestate.edu/GaS/gandsstory/green.html Martyn Green's reminiscences about making the film]
* [http://britishpictures.com/photos2/photo154.htm Photo of the Gilberts from the film]
* [http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/movies/title/0,,1822891,00.html Review and lists of cast and crew]