MovieChat Forums > The Mikado (1939) Discussion > Vote?

Vote?

posted 18 years ago by Britney-Keira
5 replies | jump to latest

How did this film get such a high vote?
It has only 60 odd voters, but it is a very ordinary film.

I have an eternal hope.

[–] Aredhel_Ar_Feiniel 18 years ago

in case anyone stumbles across this, I have decided to post a reply....
I found this film extremely average. Admittedly, I've never seen any other version of the Mikado, on stage or screen, so maybe I just don't "understand" Gilbert and Sullivan... but I was vastly disappointed that "I've got a little list" was cut from the film, and I thought Kenny Baker was not thrilling at all in the title role. As for Martyn Green as Ko-Ko, who everyone is praising, I thought he was far too corny.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] aegisthus 11 years ago

I was also most mystified by the early appearance of the song. Only knowing the operetta from my numerous viewings of Topsy Turvy, directed by Mike Leigh, I had thought "The Sun Whose Rays" would fit better later in the work. However, it is such a beautiful song, and it was a delight to hear Baker sing it.

[–] Bargle77 10 years ago

I'd heard this was a very fine production, but I've seen ones I liked better. The most annoying things for me were the cut songs and scenes and Martyn Green's Koko. It seemed like he was borrowing schtick from The Three Stooges. Also his duck tail style costume just seemed silly.
On the good side, I liked the sets. I found Kenny Baker agreeable, as well as the rest of the cast.

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It's all like some bad movie.

[–] sul-4 9 years ago

Just saw this on TCM, first time I've seen this.

I performed the Mikado in college and it is quite endearing to me. So it was very frustrating to see the amount that was cut from it. Still, what was there was delightful, and it's wonderful to have genuine G&S performers from 75 years ago preserved for eternity.

Green's Koko sealed it for me, he was wonderful. I particularly enjoyed his silly dance during the "Here's a how de do" trio, classic farce and so appropriate to the song, a clever song where two people of the trio are angry/sad and one is delighted!

As to the costume, remember that Koko was a cheap tailor! I thought that clever as well...

They did quite a bit of schtick with costumes (pooh bah sinking into his collar).