Gilbert & Sullivan Movies

Monty Python alum Eric Idle stars in an English National Opera production of Gilbert and Sullivan's classic comic opera, which relocates the setting of the original story from ancient Japan to a 1920s-era seaside resort in England. The Mikado has declared flirting to be a capital crime. Sentenced to death for his amorous banter, Ko-Ko (Idle) subsequently experiences a strange twist of fate that finds him assuming the role of "Lord High Executioner." But before Ko-Ko can sever the heads of any prisoners, he must first behead himself. Later, when the Mikado calls for an execution, Ko-Ko finds himself in the middle of a dire predicament involving his fiancée Yum-Yum and the ruler's son. Now, if Ko-Ko is to make it out of the situation alive, he must use his skills as an entertainer to keep the Mikado distracted from the grim task at hand. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Joseph Papp's notion of staging one of Gilbert and Sullivan's best-loved operettas with two pop singers (Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith) in the leads paid off as a surprise Broadway smash in the early 1980s, and this film faithfully reproduces Papp's production, featuring most of the original cast and the original director. Frederic (Smith) has been taught since childhood to be a sea-going bandit by the Pirate King (Kevin Kline), but with his 21st birthday imminent, Frederic wants to leave pirating behind, especially after he becomes infatuated with innocent Mabel (Ronstadt). But the Pirate King informs Frederic that since he was born on the last day of February on a Leap Year, his 21st birthday won't roll around for some time yet, and he still owes the King some raiding on the high seas. To Frederic's embarrassment, the Pirate King's next target turns out to be Major General Stanley (George Rose), Mabel's father! The Pirates of Penzance also features Angela Lansbury as Ruth (the sole major casting change from the Broadway production -- Estelle Parsons played the role on stage). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

An introverted girl who yearns for popularity (Kristy McNichol) attends a pirate festival in her seaside community, featuring a swordplay demo led by a curly haired hunk (Christopher Atkins). After selecting Mabel (McNichol) to participate in the act, the instructor invites her aboard his boat for a real ride on the high seas -- at which point a gaggle of her catty acquaintances latches on for the trip. Sent to get hamburgers for the outing, Mabel is "accidentally" left behind when one of her "friends" pulls the anchor prematurely. Determined not only to fit in, but to track down her dream guy, Mabel steers a tiny sailboat into stormy waters in pursuit, and gets shipwrecked. Thus begins a fantasy in which the unconscious Mabel imagines herself in a real pirate adventure, complete with her dashing pirate hero, a legion of his crusty shipmates, and dozens of unwed sisters who must rise to the altar before she can. The fantasy mixes film parodies, love songs, animation, and the score of Gilbert & Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance. The story also loosely follows the structure of said operetta. ~ Derek Armstrong, Rovi

Claire Powell stars as Phoebe Meryll in this production of one of Gilbert & Sullivan's more serious operas, which revolves around the impending execution of Colonel Fairfax. Phoebe's father, who has twice saved Fairfax's life, devises a plan to disguise him as a yeoman to help him escape. Meanwhile, the jester Jack Point arrives with his sweetheart Elsie, and both are caught up in the escape plans with results unlike any other Gilbert & Sullivan opera. Conducted by Alexander Faris, the London Symphony Orchestra provides the music. The Yeoman of the Guard also features Joel Grey, David Hillman, Alfred Marks, and Elizabeth Gale. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi