Customer Reviews

The Mikado [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This film is a great adaptation of what's been called the most popular musical of all time...if you are able to accept the edits. In bringing the production to an end at least 30 minutes quicker than a typical stage version, they opted to cut Katisha's role down to a mere plot mechanism, which works fine if it must. In the 1960 TV production, overseen by Martyn Green himself, she didn't even show up until the second act, and it worked just fine (though it did help that she got her two big numbers at the end, which sweetly helped to layer Groucho Marx's under-rehearsed but hilarious Ko-Ko). The other cuts are of lesser-known numbers (the packaging says only one song was omitted!), except for the "List" song, and the abrupt and jarring fade to black after Ko-Ko's wonderful entrance sequence indicates that it may have been filmed (as I have seen written) and dropped, either because this was a few years before the official "banjo" lyric substitution, or because of some business involving a Hitler image. As great as it is, that song always seems stuck-in (as it was) and counter to Ko-Ko's personality.
The mouthing of pre-recorded lyrics is exceptionally well-done, and until I read Green's account of lip-synching experiences I wondered if the songs were actually recorded live...he is particularly sharp, especially in the "Criminal Cried" sequence. Some of his business seems over-done, especially in the "encores," and inside-jokes like the stubbed-toe bit seem weird and out-of-place (I think the film would have benefited from editing out both encores). But he is the classic Ko-Ko, and his changing motivations and emotions expertly show why this complex character is one of the great characters of the theatre.
Sydney Granville's Pooh-Bah perfectly calibrates a character that can be very tiresome if presented too one-dimensionally. John Barclay's Mikado is not like the buffoon we're used to, but his ghoulish countenance seems to work here. There is something jarring about the sound of his voice when speaking, however, almost as if it were dubbed by another person. Kenny Baker's Nanki-Poo is fine but, well, his hair is distractingly effeminate.
As for the prologue, I found it a bit long and frustrating, seeming almost like a pantomime, or even a silent movie. If they had worked the "Wandering Minstrel" song in where it should have been, I don't see why they couldn't have avoided it altogether. In all, however, this is a beautifully shot, very effective adaptation. (And the numbers are much more spirited than the beautiful but flatly-performed ones in "Topsy Turvy.") There are filmed stage productions out there if you are sensitive to the editing process...enjoy this if nothing else as a historical record, and be grateful it's on DVD!

True love never runs smooth in the classic operas of W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. When the son of the Mikado of Japan falls in love with the fair Yum-Yum, he must not only out-wit the man she is to wed (Ko-Ko), but the lovesick Katisha and his own father as well. What follows is a tuneful comedy of errors that has become one of the classics of the musical stage. If nothing else, THE MIKADO has long been regarded as one of the best of the Gilbert & Sullivan creations, with it's sharp satire wedded to the lovely music and Japanese trappings. However, many fans of the Savoy operas have tended to view this 1939 film adapation as somewhat of a mixed bag. While they appreciated the use of stars from the D'Oyle Carte Opera Company, they didn't enjoy seeing the opera trimmed to fit into a 90 minute time frame. Having said that, I will state that this version is a solid enough introduction to the classic show, while preserving the great performances of D'Oyle Carte veterans Sydney Granville and Martyn Green.
Green truly makes the most of his role as the nervous Lord High Executioner, Ko-Ko. His dances of glee in the "Here's A How De Do" number are a great highlight. In contrast, Granville is the epitome of pompous officialdom as Pooh-Bah, the Lord High Everything Else. Kenny Baker's Nanki-Poo doesn't quite have the flair of the others, but he's pleasant enough in the role.
In the title role, John Barclay makes an absolutely gleefully ghoulish Mikado. Some of the costumes are a little strange and the "prologue" which basically sets up the story is charming, if a little strange to those familiar with the opera. If you're a solid G & S fan, you might not appreciate the abridgement, but the performances of Green and Granville are truly classic.....and that alone makes this film worth recommending.

This is not a review as such, but a response to the earlier question regarding Martyn Green as a ham. I was privileged to see him perform as Ko-Ko either at the Schubert Theater in Manhattan or the Philadelphia Academy of Music (I'm too old to remember which!). It was in the late '40s or early '50s, when I was an early teen or pre-teen, and before he lost his leg in an elevator accident. He was so hammy that at one point during one of his many "Here's a How-De-Do" encores he actually shinnied about 30 feet up on a piece of scenery just inside the proscenium! I've seen many Ko-Kos since. He was the best, and I'll always treasure that luminous performance. How did the world ever let itself lose the D'Oyly Carte???

It is certain that the biggest problem with this make of the Mikado is that so many good songs were cut. However, I am glad that they cut out "As someday it may happen" I never liked that in the least. I mostly compare this to the Statford 1986 version. Overall, it wasn't as good, but it is worth seeing both. I think that this is definitely the Mikado to watch first because it is shorter and the sets are so excellent the watching is easier. I tried watching the Statford version and was desparately bored, until I became enough of a Mikado lover from watching this version to watch it again.
I thought that Kenney Baker made a fine Nanki-Poo, he was much better than Stratford's Henry Ingram, who overacted even more, if that's possible. Baker's voice was good for the role. The accent wasn't much of an impediment, though getting an English one may have helped.
I liked this Yum-Yum because she was much different than the Stratford one, she was quiet and graceful while the other was bouncy, active and perky.
I like the way that Martyn Green hammed up the role, he is the best Ko-Ko I know and did that very well. The Mikado, however, I thought was very bad because he was nothing compared to Gidon Saks of Stratford, a better Mikado than Saks never did in DVD exist.
My favorite character was certainly Sydney Granville, he really captured and haughtiness and snobbery perfectly. While the Stratford Pooh-Bah makes one laugh more, this Pooh-Bah had the correct personality and was better. I loved his fake stomach.

For those of you spoiled by TOPSY-TURVY, this will come as disappointed relief or some such thing. There are several missing songs (As someday it may happen, So sir we much regret, etc.) which is unforgivable because they are important and famous (imagine writing a biography of Shakespeare and never mentioning Hamlet, As you like it, Romeo & Juliet - you get the picture) and the performance feels hushed. Ko-ko is tremendous and the Behold the Lord High Executioner entrance is the best I've ever seen. You must compare this with the 1983 Canadian production which is better in sound and lacking in sets. Miscasting is quite obvious, most faces are forgettable, though the Mikado seems appropriately stern. There is absolutely no chemistry between the lead actors and Yum-yum is as much part of the background as everything else. Until the TOPSY-TURVY cast is recalled to shoot the remainder songs not included in the movie, we are not likely to get a decent Mikado on video. Pity

Overall I enjoyed this. Without knowing quite what to expect, I liked most of the performances very much - they're pretty traditional Doyly Carte stuff - with the exception of Kenny Baker, who is woefully miscast. Nice crooner voice, but his very American accent and wooden acting made him totally out of place. Loved the over-the-top MGM-style sets and costumes. Gilbert and Sullivan lovers should know, however, that there are MANY cuts, both musical numbers and dialogue scenes. Some were welcome, but there were some I was disappointed in. If you've never seen the Mikado, this should not be your first pick.

After careful consideration I finally ordered this DVD- all the reviews I read either loathed it or adored it, & there wasn't much room for the middle ground. Well, after watching I must say that is is in all probability the best 'Mikado' on DVD or video. Sure, songs are cut & the plot has been altered a bit, but you must keep in mind that this film was made for the general public. In my view, if you want to enjoy this film you should not approach it as a straight-out presentation of the opera, but as an adaptation. Nine times out of ten any play, book, or what have you that is transferred into a film is altered. We should just be more thankful that they didn't mangle it so badly as to be unregonizable. A prologue in which it shows Nanki-Poo running off has been added to help the plot run more smoothly, (which I can see the logic of, Gilbert couldn't quite get away with that in the theatre). Baker is fairly decent as Nanki-Poo, though his accent clashes a bit too much for my taste with the english cast. Green makes a wonderful Ko-ko, and even if he hams it up, it doesn't hurt anything as to hinder the film. (and I do not think it is a discredit to G&S, the original Ko-ko was a bit of a ham too) As the Mikado, Barclay is gleefully sadistic & and a bit ghoulish, but still has the pomp to be the ruler of Japan. Katisha, played by Constance Willis, by far suffers the most from the cuts made to the score, she comes off as one-dimensional; a sort of Japanese Valkyrie (with a moustache no less!) with wide staring eyes, chewing up the scenery wherever she goes, and I don't think her voice is quite suited to the role. The rest of the cast is excellent, (read the other reviews for more info on them, this is just a review to clarify some things, and not the rantings of a rabid purist). The color as well as the sound are really amazing since this was made in the late 30's, though there are some pops & clicks in the sound which probably could have been fixed. The bass also has a bit of distortion, as well as when the chorus sings full out. From what I remember, the editing is far better than on the video version, though I still would not rate it as great. As towards the sets, they a rather odd mixture, but we are dealing with a fairytale Japan. As a last comment here are the cut songs: (off the top of my head) A stanza out of 'Our great Mikado'. 'Young Man despair', 'As someday it may happen' (this was due to the fact that it included the dreaded 'N' word, so it was cut out shortly after the film was made) 'So please you sir, we much regret', The Finale of act I is cut up quite a bit, with Katisha's Solos completly gone. 'Braid the Raven hair' also has cuts to it, As well as "the Sun whos rays' Though Nanki-Poo sings it also in the prologue. The Mikado's song is missing the first stanza (I don't know if that is due to the 'N' word sneaking into the score again or not), The orchetral score of 'The flowers that bloom in the Spring' has been altered. 'Alone & yet alive' & 'There is beauty in the bellow of the blast' are gone as well, & the finale to act II only includes the choral parts. As a final word, this DVD is great fun & if not for the cuts probably never could be matched. If you can stomach the cuts, then you will enjoy this immensly; if you can't, I sorry for you, for you are missing out on a throughly enjoyable film.

Well, the artistic and authentic value of this film may be argued indeed, but, what makes it worth watching, is the technical data of this transfer: the picture and color quality of this 1938 production is simply amazing, and the sound is very good as well. Plus - if you are a devoted G&S fan, you will want to know what treatment it has received, and if you are a benevolent fan, the somewhat ridiculous mood of this film will make you giggle healthily, but not curse and spit. In no ways Japanese, but fun nevertheless!

This wouldn't be my first choice for a DVD or VHS Mikado, but it IS interesting in its own way. A big technicolor production from 1938, one has the opportunity to see D'Oyly Carte greats Martyn Green and Sydney Granville in action as Ko-Ko and Pooh-Bah. I must disagree with most about Kenny Baker as Nanki-Poo; sure, it is an American approach, but this role isn't high drama--he's a young prince in love, and I think Baker is just fine in the role, and sings it as well, and at times better, than most of the recorded Nanki-Poos, and I've heard them all on records. A pure, sweet, naturally high lyric tenor. I'm not surprised he also gets Yum-Yum's song--he was the main star of the film (this was his heyday in radio and movies.) The costumes are bizarre, and sometimes the sets, and, yes, the plot is messed with, but it still is a fun watch if you can put purist notions aside about Gilbert & Sullivan production. I was a bit amazed, though, how much Martyn Green "hammed-up" the role; did he get away with this on stage for years with the esteemed company? The DVD presentation is wonderful--very sharp and clear, and the color outstanding for its age. At this price, give it a try!

This wouldn't be my first choice for a DVD or VHS Mikado, but IS interesting in its own way. A big technicolor production from 1938, one has the opportunity to see D'Oyly Carte greats Martyn Green and Sydney Granville in action as Ko-Ko and Pooh-Bah. I must disagree with most about Kenny Baker as Nanki-Poo; sure, it is an American approach, but this role isn't high drama--he's a young prince in love, and I think Baker is just fine in the role, and sings it as well, and at times better, than most of the recorded Nanki-Poos, and I've heard them all on records. A pure, sweet, naturally high lyric tenor. I'm not surprised he also gets Yum-Yum's song--he was the main star of the film (this was his heyday in radio and movies.) The costumes are bizarre, and sometimes the sets, and, yes, the plot is messed with, but it still is a fun watch if you can put purist notions aside about Gilbert & Sullivan production. I was a bit amazed, though, how much Martyn Green "hammed-up" the role; did he get away with this on stage for years with the esteemed company? Oh well, at this price, give it a try!