Long before Mike Leigh's Topsy-Turvy, there was this lavish sprint through the lives and comic operas of the creators of The Mikado. Not all Gilliat's hopes were realised - he wanted more social history, and an easier flow between music and drama. But there's plenty still to feast on: winning performances, spectacle, the script's glancing wit, and the authentic G&S magic. Many hands shaped this Technicolor romp, with Alexander Korda-fueled creative disagreements to rival those of the film's subjects. Ultimately, however, the wit, spectacle and performances are a feast for the senses.