Stop The World I Want To Get Off! (1966)

Set against a circus backdrop, the musical follows an average bloke called Littlechap (Tony Tanner) as he climbs the ladder to success starting with marrying the boss's daughter (Millicent Martin). Based on the hit musical by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse and directed by Philip Saville (BEST HOUSE IN LONDON). The film makes some inexplicable changes to the stage musical (like making the German mistress in the play to a Japanese mistress for the film version) but on the whole is faithful to the original source material. It was filmed both on a Pinewood soundstage and in front of a live audience in London's West End. Anthony Newley created the role of Littlechap in both the London and Broadway productions and is replaced here by Tony Tanner who took over for him in the London cast. Unfortunately, Tanner doesn't have much of a stage presence or Newley's distinct vocal delivery as both singer and actor. Why Newley didn't do the movie is a mystery. If you dislike mimes as much as I do, much of the staging is intolerable. It's not really a movie but filmed theatre and doesn't translate well to cinema. What saves the film is the excellent score including such songs as What Kind Of Fool Am I?, Gonna Build A Mountain and Once In A Lifetime. With Leila Croft, Valerie Croft and Neil Hawley.