Topsy-Turvy (1999) : The Trio Rehearsal/To Sit In Solemn Silence

From the 1999 film Topsy-Turvy, dir. Mike Leigh.
Keep in mind: this is all one take, all two minutes and forty-six of it.
Copyright 1999, USA Films
Please don't sue me; I'm just a fan.

[@royliberman8894]

Probably the best film of the last 20 years. Shocking that the acting and directing were almost totally ignored by the Academy Awards

[@valerieharris5969]

G

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

Creativity has 99% disappeared in American film. Can you imagine ANYTHING like this being made nowadays? It was a miracle that it got produced in 1999. Now, all we've got is cartoon-features and comic-book "heroes"...

[@quietside3734]

Very true. If only films like this came along more often.

[@thisisajang]

Yeah. The only category they won at the Oscar was for Best Costume Designer

[@tomshea8382]

@@thisisajang It won makeup as well. But it was very much the best film of that year.

[@WBCRO]

This is one of my favourite scenes from this marvellous film. The rehearsal process is so satisfying and it’s so interesting to watch this in the context of the men learning a brand new song. I presume they were depicting the original players sight-reading Sullivan’s handwritten sheet music. That’s why they didn’t each have copies of the song and why they were peering over Sullivan’s shoulder. Allan Corduner (who played Sullivan) did a masterful job, playing the piano and calling out to the singers. Impressive!

[@monkeymouse]

This scene, like many scenes from "Amadeus", actually show people making music and having FUN doing it!

[@Maybethistime15]

This and Amadeus are two of my favourite films for that exact reason!

[@nebuly1]

One of my favourite scenes from a great film. Love the interplay between all four men; a wonderful insight into what it's like to create something.

[@quietside3734]

I agree, Barbara. It works beautifully.

[@charlesgoold2257]

the way Grossmith does his signature dance is so funny plus all the jokes

[@MStrat1106]

The real delight of this is that the music is played at rehearsal speed; you get to appreciate it far more than at the speed-freak tempo some companies give it. The malice under the civility is a charming touch also, and Corduner's Sullivan is splendid.

[@JoshFreilich]

While this is delightful, I’m afraid I’m gonna have to go with the speed freaks.

[@markhager2216]

The civilized nature of rehearsal at Sullivan’s house with Louie bringing in coffee for the four of them. So much fun

[@mikerichards9377]

I so admire the Sir Arthur's (well the actor) piano skills. I know that he is a very accomplished piano player in real life, but this accompaniment that he does here with such an ease is simply amazing!

[@royliberman8894]

Coming back after my original comment of 7 years ago, it should be noted that the New York Film Critics Circle rated "Topsy Turvy" as the best film of 1999. Also, It's rather amazing to realize that all the singing in the film was done by the actors. Maybe not up to pure D'Oyly Carte standards, but still wonderful and beautiful. And I can say that having seen the D'Oyle Carte opera company perform both in New York and Brighton, England (1977, not long before it went out of business)

[@WuOysterCult]

Re: NYFCC 1999…. All the greater accomplishment considering what a loaded year for film 1999 was.

[@peterscrafton2628]

I agree with all of the comments below. A really stupendous effort by Mike Leigh and the whole team; and I found it disgraceful that they were passed over for the awards which they so richly deserved - still, there were no car chases and nothing blew up - so I suppose we should not be too surprised Apart from showing us the genesis of so much of this celebrated light opera, we see some of the tragedy which underlay so much of the comedy.

[@Falstaff85]

I love how Grossmith (Martin Savage) is bouncing to the beat at 0:24

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

It's a genuine Irish Jig!! (Genius!)

[@styven77]

This is one of my favorite scenes in any film. The whole movie is a masterpiece, I have watched it dozens of times and I always laugh and cry throughout.

[@GizmoBeach]

I love the little flourishes Mr. Savage does during his parts, this entire movie is miraculous.

[@neesasuncheuri]

I love this scene... omg. Martin Savage is so amazing it's sick.

[@imcnagpc2]

I love this movie!

[@suzannebeatty4648]

That movie is one of my all time favorites. They are not making movies like this anymore. Such a shame.

[@althesmith]

The late Victorian age, when everyone from the fellow serving you your coffee to the ones entertaining you at the theatre had full committment to their craft or trade. You could mail a letter on Monday to a restaurant halfway across the country asking them to prepare a formal dinner for a dozen club members on Friday- by Wednesday the restaurant would have received the request, by Wednesday night the Maitre-D'Hotel would have organised the menu and by Thursday the ingredients would have been purchased and you would have the details of the bill in your hand by the time you sat down for dinner on Friday evening.

[@DellDuckfan313]

When everyone was "The Slave of Duty", as G&S saw it!

[@quietside3734]

Such a brilliant film, one of my favourites. I really feel the enjoyment they had in making this scene, and many others in the film.

[@lawrenceehrbar8667]

Way back in the 1960's as a child, my Dad challenged me to memorize it. To this day I still remember it. Some years ago I read that many professional singers sing it in warm-ups but I forgot the reason.

[@jonburt9168]

They do it to remind themselves of their diction--that they have to enunciate to get some words out in an understandable way. I'm an actor who was taught similar warmups.

[@smokingbrush2498]

One of those magical films where I actually care about all the characters. A quite magnificent achievement.

[@merledoughty5787]

My dear Aunt used to play this G&S among other tunes and as kid I recall her saying sing the lyrics is probably why I still love this many years on

[@christiananderson4909]

This is my favorite Mike Leigh film.

[@Kimllg88]

Mine, too! Adore it and keep finding new things to watch.

[@hugoverdeguer6891]

Simply, I love and enjoy this film all around.

[@SticksB1]

Just excellent.

[@Th0ughtf0rce]

Martin Savage would have been a great principal comedian had he joined the D'Oyly Carte.

[@mdir7127]

What a genius act

[@mrkiplingreallywasanexceed8311]

The TRAGEDY of the underestimation of this film remains a NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL DISGRACE to this day. Even if you haven't the slightest interest in G&S - and aren't even Anglocentric - unlike with religion, colonialism or English - the entire face of the planet is simply a better place for the existence of this SUPERLATIVELY imaginative, creative and BEAUTIFUL film that SCREEEEEEAMS cleverness, subtlety and subversiveness to those with the wit to appreciate it. Do you know what, until (I confess) I looked him up, I did not realise Mike Leigh was married to the sainted Alison " it will SEEEEEERVE as a corset" Steadman!!! If ANYONE should be canonized while still alive it is St Mike Leigh and St Alison... St Timothy Spall has a marvellous ring to it too❤❤❤❤ Topsy Turvy was a work of unparalleled genius which I doubt will ever be repeated..... the fact those involved are not saints is a travesty and let us not for one second concern ourselves with the minutiae of the New Year's Honours List ....

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

**WOW!!** At ~ 0:24, notice how George Grossmith goes into a *GENUINE IRISH JIG*...GENIUS!!!

[@hypercomms2001]

With Gilbert and Sullivan... that must have been the easiest of takes to make.... it is easy to have fun with Gilbert and Sullivan, and I am sure in 1000 years they will as well...if we can get the jokes from "A Funny thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" , from the farces of the ancient Roman playwright Plautus (251-183 BC).. then they will get the jokes as well...

[@janetkizer5956]

Oh. I want to take part in some kind of musical performance again. Anything. Sigh. 2020 sucks.

[@Garmiet]

Genuine question: what was the “trip” thing about? What was Bovill doing first, and what did he do later?

[@BrianBisetti]

Garmiet It’s a really subtle difference, but the first time through he sang it more like slightly-swung 4/4 eighths, and the second time is was more of a 6/8, quarter-eighth quarter-eighth pattern. The actor could have made more of the contrast between the two, but it delves perhaps a little deeper into music theory territory than there was time for in the film’s rehearsal schedule.

[@JustSomeCanadianGuy]

You know if you're a classy person or not if you were expecting something else that rhymes with lock when they say "Big black....." 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@nope24601]

How suffocating!

[@googleisgay3289]

Mike Leigh used to write scenes like this, kitchen sink, I suppose. Now he runs for US president and invades Ukraine. Not saying I'm surprised. I was more surprised to learn he directed this song, which I happen to think is a very good song indeed.

[@tomshea8382]

What the fuck

[@anthonyhenrysmith]

great acting but not up to the standard of singing required by Sullivan

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

Oh, hush...

[@BruhBruh-pg3dj]

I think the actor who did Grossmith was excellent

[@nickgee461]

It's a depiction of a rehearsal, you picky boy!

[@tamerlanenj]

"There is a story about when Gilbert hired George Grossmith to take the parts with the patter-songs ("When I Was A Lad", "Modern Major General", etc.). George, who did not have a traditionally good singing voice, asked why he was hired. "I would think you would want a fine man with a fine voice," George commented. "No," said Gilbert, "that's exactly what we don't want."

[@gdj6298]

@@tamerlanenjA fine backhanded compliment from WSG there ! (My favourite one from him... Preening Actor: Well, Mr Gilbert, did you think I was good ? WSG: My dear fellow, good is not the word !)

[@ekwnskxo8972]

👎👎👎👎👎👎