My Review:
The movie version of “Half a Sixpence” did not work as well as the stage version, even though the film starred Tommy Steele, who originated the part on the stage. The supporting cast included many stage actors and they were all excellent, so the weakness of the film is not due to any of the performances. Still, the film seems to drag and does not have the vitality and excitement I remember from the Broadway production, which I enjoyed enough to see twice.
The film begins with a young Arthur and Ann and how they first found the sixpence they share as a symbol of their affection for each other. The background music to this scene is for a song, “Long Ago,” that was, unfortunately, cut from the film. The scene then follows Arthur to his new home as the credits are rolled over the screen and we switch to the adult Arthur.
“Half a Sixpence” has enjoyable, lively songs that are conducive to dance numbers. However, they worked better on the stage. Some of the movie’s dance numbers are very long and probably should have been shorter. This is particularly true for “Money to Burn” and “If the Rain’s Got to Fall.” One of the songs in the film is visually annoying. While Tommy Steele and the cast are singing and dancing to “Money to Burn,” the colors in the scene keep changing and it creates a distracting affect.
“Half a Sixpence” has some touching scenes, such as the scene where Arthur and Ann meet for the first time since their childhood. The scenes where Arthur tries to fit into high society are humorous and add to the enjoyment of the film.
The DVD of “Half a Sixpence” is a good digital enhancement of the original film. The video is sharp with natural colors and, in some scenes, you can see the clear blue of Tommy Steele’s eyes. The DVD has good clear sound, although the songs are sometimes louder than the dialog. Overall, the DVD of “Half a Sixpence” is of good quality, especially for an NTSC DVD.
Despite some limitations, “Half a Sixpence” is an enjoyable movie musical with delightful music and dancing and excellent performances, especially from Tommy Steele and Cyril Ritchard. The film is suitable for all ages, but younger children might get bored with some of the longer scenes.