British Lion. Director Peter Brook; Producer Herbert Wilcox, Laurence Olivier; Screenplay Dennis Cannan, Christopher Fry; Camera Guy Green; Editor Reginald Beck; Music Arthur Bliss; Art Director William C. Andrews
Laurence Olivier
Stanley Holloway
George Devine
Hugh Griffith
Athene Syler
Dorothy Tutin
A bold experiment which does not come off, The Beggar's Opera is an example of the uneasy partnership between screen and opera.
Herbert Wilcox, who promoted the production, cast his net over a wide field for new and promising talent. Peter Brook was recruited from legit to direct his first motion picture. Denis Cannan, the noted playwright, authored the screenplay and additional dialog and lyrics were penned by Christopher Fry. Most important of all was the casting of Laurence Olivier in his first singing role.
At constant intervals events are brought to a standstill by the John Gay lyrics and, attractive though they are in their own right, they do not merge too happily in the film.
Brook brings an obviously arty approach to his direction, resorting to a surplus of subdued lights. He is at his best in handling the big crowd scenes. The sequence in which Macheath is being driven from Newgate Gaol to the gallows is boldly and imaginatively presented.
Apart from Olivier and Stanley Holloway, the singing voices of the cast are dubbed by leading British vocalists and the contrast is clear and distinct. Olivier's light baritone, pleasant enough in its own way, is no match for the other voices. This apart, his performance is as robust and as lively as could be expected.
Holloway as Lockit, the jailer, is a polished singer as well as being a first-class thesper and his is one of the best individual contributions to the pic. Arthur Bliss' score is outstanding.
(Color) Available on VHS. Extract of a review from 1953. Running time: 94 MIN.
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