Half A Sixpence (1967)

Set in Victorian England, an orphan (Geoffrey Chandler) is apprenticed to work in a drapery store. When he (Tommy Steele) grows up he discovers he's the heir to a fortune left to him by his grandfather. Alas, the money will prove a detriment to his happiness. Based on the 1963 British musical (which had a successful Broadway run in 1965) by way of the novel KIPPS: THE STORY OF A SIMPLE SOUL by H.G. Wells and directed by George Sidney (BYE BYE BIRDIE) in his final film. As movie musicals go, this one is very near the bottom of the barrel. A simple story is overblown into a big "roadshow" musical and (save one number: Flash Bang Wallop) promptly falls flat on its face. The show was a big hit in London and did well enough on Broadway and its star, the toothy Tommy Steele, was a big star in Great Britain. An attempt was made by Hollywood to make him a star (this film, THE HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE, FINIAN'S RAINBOW) but he confused acting with mugging and like certain stars who are great on stage (Carol Channing comes to mind), he was just "too big" for films. The film was a hit in England but flopped in the U.S. With Julia Foster, Cyril Ritchard, Grover Dale, Penelope Horner, Pamela Brown and James Villiers.