Topsy-Turvy
- Allan Corduner as Arthur Sullivan
- Jim Broadbent as William S. Gilbert
- Lesley Manville as Lucy Gilbert
- Timothy Spall as Richard Temple
- Ron Cook as Richard D' Oyly Carte
- Wendy Nottingham as Helen Lenoir
- Kevin McKidd as Durward Lely
- Shirley Henderson as Leonora Braham
- Dorothy Atkinson as Jessie Bond
- Andy Serkis as John D' Auban
Topsy Turvy - - Upside Down is a film about the Komponistenduo Gilbert and Sullivan by British director Mike Leigh in 1999, which won two Oscars.
Action
London in 1885. Savoy Theatre For the Arthur Sullivan and William S. Gilbert compose commercial operas. Sullivan composed the music and Gilbert writes the lyrics. For years, the two partners have been very successful, but her last piece, "Princess Ida ", no applause took place at the criticism. Especially Gilbert is accused by the press, unimaginative and being too succumb to the routine. The same is also suspected his partner Sullivan, the more important things, such as a symphony or a " grand opera " has in mind. Gilbert's next draft text is soundly defeated by Sullivan, but the two must be on the other side to meet their contractual obligations.
The uninspired Gilbert goes with his wife to an exhibition of Japanese art. And now he has an idea: ' Mikado ', a Japanese -themed drama. Also, Sullivan is impressed by the idea. Now problems are a: time pressure, problems in the samples, interpersonal problems among actors. The meticulous and hard-working Gilbert is leading the project, despite all these problems, along with his partner for the premiere performance.
Criticism
The filmdienst judges. " An exceptionally modern historical film about the theater in the theater, which describes not only the emergence of a stage work, but also focuses bitter interpersonal experiences through the human view of the director there is no distance to the figures, but the viewer is on the contrary, to the people and their motivations brought ".
Background
When Richard Temple, the aria A More Human Mikado is the best, missing the third verse, which includes, among other things, the line " blacked like a nigger". Leigh reportedly one would have taken the line " blacked like a nigger", which had been around since 1950 usually changed to " painted with vigor ", in the original version. This would have caused quite a stir. In the section of the film too long geratenen also this verse was then eliminated, which one had spared unnecessary trouble.
Andy Serkis was pretty upset after the end of shooting. He had learned to play the violin for a scene, but this scene was no longer included in the final film.
In one scene at the performance of ' Princess Ida ' is the date of Monday, June 10 to see in 1884. This day fell on a Tuesday ( Tuesday ).
When playing the piano in the bedroom, the positions of the keys you do not match the specified notes on the score.
About a fault of the director very angry afterwards: The Norwegian capital, which at that time was called Kristiania ( Christiania until 1877 ), is in the film "Oslo" called.
At the time in which the film is set (1885), Arthur Sullivan Sir allowed to call. In 1883 he was beaten by Queen Victoria knighted.