Half a Sixpence (1968)

Here is a funny BIG frilly musical that is also a good comedy. Imagine someone moaning that it is too big, or even dreary! What a silly thing to feel when there is many musical scenes and easy comedy with which to have a great time. HALF A SIXPENCE is a British hybrid of TWO WEEKS WITH LOVE and HELLO DOLLY and belongs in that cinematic hat box of visual candy delights. If my mixed metaphors make sense (to those who know grammar...and grammar jokes). There is lovely film is all respects. It is raucous and silly and loaded with enough art direction and 'whalloping' stereo musical numbers to please even (Darling) Lili or even Leslie Caron at champagne best. HALF A SIXPENCE is actually a Teen musical but set in Victorian England. The dance numbers are just plain great, and humorous MGM veteran musical director George Sidney has delivered yet again. The music and tunes are memorable and if you see this film with educated kids, they get it and the experience is is a genuine family delight. A 'zac' in Oz vernacular is a sixpence...and there is more value than that in this DVD box of musical chocolates. Just enjoy it. Like those films also mentioned above. It has to be better than seeing Adam Sandler urinating on a door in BIG DADDY, the s-bend of 'family' movies for this clever new century.

Tommy Steele helps salvage a somewhat labored production of a London-cum-Broadway musical hit. As far as musicals go it really strives for an A, and nearly hits its mark, but there's a distinctive lack of umph in the production. That and it also feels simplified, as per rube2424's comments.The other part of the problem with "Half of Sixpence" is that the plot, what little there is of it, hardly plays any kind of roll in the film. The story suffers for it as the film seems to move from one scene to the next with little reason. The plot's there, but there's a kind of reserve holding back what could've been a stronger impact, and hence a better film.The musical numbers are OK, and on par with a lot of other stuff that came out at the same time, but I'd be hard pressed to remember any single tune or song that really stuck out.The British effort at a Hollywood musical was a step in the right direction, and, if one keeps an open mind, creates a respectable film as far as musical's go. It captures some of the magic of other big budgeted musicals, but the genre at the time was waning, and it shows somewhat in this film.Even so, it has a kind of appeal. Much of the comedy is flat, though energetic, and, as I stated earlier, the score and other musical numbers (except for maybe the title song) aren't all that memorable.It's worth a night's rental if you're into musicals, but don't say I didn't way ya!RESCREENED Feb 25th and 25th Seeing this film again with perhaps a more cogent mind, I see that perhaps I was a bit hard on this film. One of the problems I had with this movie is that the story is essentially a classic British romance Austen like novel put into musical format. We essentially watch a couple that are coupled to one another at a very young age. We follow their progress, and explore their highs and pitfalls. So, unlike lot of American musicals, this one is not plot driven; i.e. Prof. Hill trying to pull a fast one on River City in "The Music Man", or Kelley's Don Lockwood trying to make a star out of Cathy Selzden, or Prof. Higgens trying to make a princess out of a common flower girl. "Half a Sixpence" is more thematic, and grander in scope in terms of it actually explores the combined heart of a couple that were meant for one another. Not quite my "cup of tea" (to borrow from our friends across the Atlantic), but still a very decent watch.Enjoy it for what it is.

I remember seeing this movie alot when I was little. They used to show on Tv here in NY in the late 60s and early 70s. I think the first time I first saw it was like in 67 or 68 I was like 5 or 6. The music is great most of the numbers are uplifting and Tommy Steel delivers them wondefully and so does the rest of the cast, especially the the ones with all the dancing like when they sing Money to Burn and Flash Bang Whallop. The one thing I didn't like about this movie was it had a great storyline that should of been developed stronger. The whole thing about the love between Artie and Ann and how it was almost destroyed because of new found wealth and the way it changed him and caused a rift between them and also between him and the boys he worked with could of been emphasized a little stronger. Other than that this movie is a gem, a wonderful, romping musical that you can watch with your whole family because theres's no excessive violence, sex or crude humor o

If you're a fan of Tommy Steele this is a must watch movie. It's Tommy at his best. If you're a fan of musicals then this has to be on your list. It's warm, funny and has a great feel-good factor. Watch it when you're feeling down, you're bound to feel better.