Topsy-Turvy

1999

2h 40m

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

161

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4 Videos

30 Images

Drama

Music

Comedy

History

For nearly a decade, Gilbert and Sullivan’s collaborations have delighted the English people. But in 1884, as a London heat wave cuts into the theater trade, their latest work, "Princess Ida", receives lukewarm press. In an effort to reconcile their creative differences and drawing inspiration from Japanese culture, they went on to create the hit opera "The Mikado", one of the duo's greatest successes.

Directors

Mike Leigh

Writers

Mike Leigh(writer by)

William S. Gilbert(lyricist by)

Stars

Jim Broadbent

Allan Corduner

Timothy Spall

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Videos4

Photos30

Top cast

Jim Broadbent

W. S. Gilbert

Allan Corduner

Sir Arthur Sullivan

Timothy Spall

Richard Temple (The Mikado)

Lucy Gilbert

Richard D'Oyly Carte

Helen Lenoir

Durward Lely (Nanki-Poo)

Shirley Henderson

Leonora Braham (Yum-Yum)

Jessie Bond

George Grossmith

Fanny Ronalds

Richard Barker

John D'Auban

Gilbert's Father

Rutland Barrington

Sybil Grey

Mr. Seymour

Wilhelm

Directors

Mike Leigh

Writers

Mike Leigh(writer by)

William S. Gilbert(lyricist by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

User reviews1

Review

Featured review

7/10

I particularly like most of Mike Leigh’s movies, so it is surprising that I took so long to get around to watching Topsy Turvy. A few of his films are on my list of favorite films out there, but sadly this effort did not threaten to crack that list. Not that I didn’t enjoy it overall. It was entertaining and fun, though it hovered on minor scenes sometimes on its way to lasting two hours and forty minutes. And it was interesting to see how the Gilbert and Sullivan characters worked together, assuming it is somewhat accurate portrayal of the actual historical duo. Finally, it features four of my favorite British actors: Lesley Manville, Timothy Spall (who disappears into the role of the Mikado), Alison Steadman and Jim Broadbent. One element that kept me from enjoying the movie even more was the tendency for the characters to mutter to each other when conversing. I turned up the volume at those times, which not only failed to solve the problem completely, but then when the scene changed into one of the great choruses from the Mikado, it blasted me out of my seat. Then I’d turn it down, wait and repeat. So I cautiously recommend watching Topsy Turvy, especially if you like understated British movies, or for that matter, The Mikado.

narrator5621 Aug, 2021