Half a Sixpence

"Half a Sixpence" was written for Tommy Steele and he dominated both the play and the movie. He performs in most of the songs and his delightful and energetic performance makes the film worth viewing. The rest of the cast is fine and Cyril Ritchard, in a supporting role, is, as always, a joy to watch.

Tommy Steele(1936-)

Tommy Steele was born Thomas Hicks in London in 1936. He began his career as a British rock singer in the 1950s. He was the lead singer in a group called The Steelmen and Steele achieved British fame with their first hit, "Rock with the Caveman." He had several top hits in Britain in the mid- to late 1950s, with his version of "Singing the Blues" reaching number one on the British charts in 1957.

In the 1960s, Steele did something few rock stars have been able to accomplish - he made the successful transition from rock star to stage actor. He started on London's West End and moved to Broadway in 1965 with the already successful play of "Half a Sixpence." His delightful performance on stage as Arthur Kipps earned him a Tony nomination.

Steele appeared in three movie musicals during the 1960s - "Half a Sixpence," "The Happiest Millionaire" and "Finian's Rainbow." He made his last film, "Quincey's Quest," in 1979.

In the 1980s, Steele returned to London's West End in the stage version of "Singin' in the Rain." He has continued performing in musicals, appearing in road tours of "Some Like it Hot" (1991), "Scrooge: The Musical" (2003) and, most recently, in "Doctor Doolittle" (2008).