Stop the World: I Want to Get Off *** (1966, Tony Tanner, Millicent Martin, Leila Croft) – Classic Movie Review 10,884

Director Philip Savile’s 1966 Stop the World: I Want to Get Off is a funny and appealing, if creaky old Technicolor film of Anthony Newley’s memorable swinging sixties, experimental avant-garde stage musical, set against a circus backdrop.

Tony Tanner takes on Newley’s stage role of Little Chap [Littlechap], whose life unfolds from his birth to his death, and Millicent Martin delights as a series of characters, including Evie, Anya, Ara and Ginnie. It is an intriguing sixties time-capsule but it is a great pity that Newley did not do the movie.

The songs and book are written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley.

Little Chap shouts ‘Stop the world!’ whenever something bad happens and addresses the audience.

The film was experimental too, shot multi camera, shooting onto video tape and transferring to film via Technicolor tape to film process.

They advertised: ‘Now You Can See an Actual Performance of a Once-in-a-Lifetime Broadway Show at Your Own Movie Theatre!’ Well you could, but apparently people didn’t want to. In the UK it went on general release on 24 April 1966 beginning with the usual week on the ABC circuit in North London. It performed so poorly that it was pulled by the Wednesday before it could reach South London the following week.

The original Broadway production of Stop the World: I Want to Get Off opened at the Shubert Theatre on 3 October 1962 and ran for 555 performances. It was nominated for 1963 Tony Awards for Outstanding Musical, Distinguished Musical Actor, Best Composer and Lyricist, and Best Author (Musical).

RIP Tony Tanner, who died on September 8, 2020 in Los Angeles, age 88.  He was married to Henry Selvitelle. 

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 10,884

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