Half a Sixpence

Tommy Steele originated the role of the draper's assistant who comes into money and moves up the social scale without automatically finding the happiness he desires in Beverley Cross's musical play adapted from HG Wells' novel Kipps. Made in the days when American studios were throwing money at anything British that could move under its own power, the film lays on the period charm rather exhaustingly, and the songs ('Flash! Bang! Wallop! What a Picture!' being the highlight) don't exactly sweep you along. The star smiles and smiles - and smiles.