Mr Quilp [The Old Curiosity Shop] *** (1975, Anthony Newley, David Hemmings, David Warner, Michael Hordern) – Classic Movie Review 9490

After putting songs and smiles to Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer in 1973 and Huckleberry Finn in 1974, Reader’s Digest Films try the format on Charles Dickens’s The Old Curiosity Shop.

Director Michael Tuchner’s 1975 Mr Quilp [The Old Curiosity Shop] stars Anthony Newley, who makes a rich huge meal of the vile, villainous greedy landlord Quilp, and Sarah-Jane Varley, who is a winsome Little Nell. Michael Hordern also stars as her grandfather, Edward Trent, a kindly shop owner evicted by Quilp.

Newley also writes the music and lyrics. The screenplay is by Louis Kamp and Irene Kamp. The score is by Elmer Bernstein.

Mr Quilp is pleasing, often vivacious entertainment, in which Gillian Lynn’s choreography is outstandingly lively, though some distinguished British character actors go to waste. Newley’s songs include ‘Sport of Kings’ and ‘Happiness Pie’.

It is the film debut of Philip [Phil] Davis, aged 22, as Tom Scott. Future Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan, 21, plays Kit Nubbles.

Also in the cast are David Hemmings, David Warner, Michael Hordern, Jill Bennett, Paul Rogers, Yvonne Antrobus, David Battley, Windsor Davies, Brian Glover, Chris Greener, Rosalind Knight, Bryan Pringle, Maxwell Shaw, Norman Warwick, Mona Washbourne, Malcolm Weaver, Sarah Webb, Tony Caunter and Harry Markham.

It is made at Ardmore Studios, Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9490

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