Gilbert and Sullivan (1953) - full transcript

Subtitles by Seglora

There must be so many
much more amusing ways

of spending Saturday
afternoon than at Crystal Palace

That is precisely why Papa
insisted on the Crystal Palace

Grace,it's really all your part

for allowing Mr Sullivan to
fall in love with you

Everyone agrees that one day Mr Sullivan
will be our greatest composer of music

I'm proud to be inspired his affection

You can wake up now,Willie

Fine composition,Gilbert

You should make a point
of hearing it sometime



I shall tell Sullivan,it's damned
sprightliness to another world

I was so proud of you,Arthur,so very proud

When can we be married?

-One day
-Soon?

Your old professor from
Leipzig was enraptured

There are no heights of music,
which you may not scale,he says

How soon?

You were right,great music for me,
will you not Arthur?

Grace

Oratories,symphonies,serenades
and grand,grand opera

When can we be married?

Soon,I said soon

Arthur,what is Mr,what was his name,
Mr Gilbert doing at the Crystal Palace?

Gilbert?



I invited him there, you know

And the man with him?

D'Oyly Carte

Another theatrical person?

Arthur,you are not working
again with Mr Gilbert?

-Well
-Arthur!

Grace

I wish I could make you understand,
what am I beside you? A nobody

Only the son of poor Lambeth
bandmaster,with nothing but my music

I freely admit I'll turn my hand to
anything to make our marriage possible

last week if you must know,I

I sold half a dozen pot boilers to
Mr Chapel at five guineas a time

Pot boilers?

Grace

What is it?

And I thought I was helping you

You are,you know you are,it was
for you that I wrote my oratorio

And from all the stories in the Holy
Script,which did you choose?

The Prodigal Son

Unless I have the means how
can I ever approach your father?

When you worked with Mr Gilbert
once before,was it successful?

I admit "Thespis" didn't do too well

How will another failure help you?

-But D'Oyly Carte think..
-Darling,Arthur

If you really love me you'll go
your theatrical friends this very night

and tell them that you are sorry but
you cannot compose their comic operetta

How can I? I've already started it

You were taught by the
pupil of Beethoven himself

You must learn to dedicate
yourself to your art

religiously,like the great masters

the theatre,dearest Arthur,
is not your world

Grace,are you there?

Yes,Papa

Our guests are waiting for you,my dear

Then I must go them,Papa,must I not?

I'm afraid Mr Sullivan has to leave us

He has a very important appointment

Curious girl,Grace, do you
understand her,Mr Sullivan?

Well,Sir I.

I don't

Never else her mother either

She seems to think you
are a genius,are you?

Well,Sir..

I hope not, a genius so often has
to be supported,by his father in law

But,Sir,I wouldn't dream of approaching you

unless I have the means of supporting Grace

Assure me you have means that
there was an early prospect of

let's be exceedingly modest,
a thousand a year?

Thousand a year?

There you are my boy

I hope you are not going to feel
that you are not welcome here

you are a brilliant fellow they've told me

Though I must say I feel happier if
you were on the stock exchange,eh

Well,consider it,my boy,consider it

Think it over

-Good Night,Sir
-Good Night,Mr Sullivan

Mind you

Two thousands a year would be better

Sullivan,my dear chap,congratulations,
congratulations

Your first batch of music is really superb

Gilbert and I are absolutely delighted,
aren't we,Gilbert?

We are indeed, and I know
what I'm talking about

I once succeeded in distinguishing

“Pop! Goes the Weasel” from
"God Save the Queen"

The point is can you be ready
with the rest by the next week

I'm sorry,gentlemen,but I can't do it

We have to make the week after then

No,you misunderstand me

Well,if you can manage it earlier,
I'm presenting it on the 25th

What?

With a new opera by Offenbach

Stiff competition,you know Offenbach

we have to try to beat the
Frenchmen at his own game

I'm sure you will

What Offenbach can do,Sullivan can do

Offenbach made a fortune

Yes,what I mean

why shouldn't the two of you start
a new school of English light opera

Why not,indeed,I have no personal
objections to making a fortune

Gilbert?

Speaking of Offenbach

How much would you say he makes a year?

I think of thousand out of London alone

Thousand a year?

Probably two

Two thousands a year

I mark that Allegro vivace should go
faster like this,let me show you

Wait,please

I felt sure you would come,Mr Sullivan,
but I had nearly giving you up

There were no cabs in
this rain,where is Grace?

It's no use,Mr Sullivan,I assure you

Lettie,is that Mr Sullivan?

Grace,what happened?

Why did you leave like that,Grace,
without a word?

There was no chance to explain

I could forgive you for squandering
your gifts on triviality

it was wrong and wicked

yet I did forgive you,but when
I saw you glory in it

Grace,I beg you

I watched you conducting your little
operetta,I saw you afterwards out there

bobbing and bowing,and,also
I could scarcely believe my eyes

I saw that you were proud of it,
you were in your element

you liked it,Arthur,you actually liked it

Grace,Grace,Grace

You must listen to me,Grace

Well,well,Good Evening Mr Sullivan,
or is it Good Night

Good Morning to be absolutely accurate

Sir,I must talk to Grace at once

It will serve no purpose

Sir, she has just declared
that she'll never forgive me

What more my boy,she undoubtedly means it

So you don't understand

Nor do you therefore we are on equal terms

Sir,I must have one last word with her

Take my advice,my boy,
have one last word with me instead

I got a very good idea

you sit yourself down there,I won't
be a moment,don't run away

"You soon get used to the looks

and a very nice girl you find her

She may very well pass for forty-three
in the dust with the light behind her"

Capital little tune arioso, my boy,
hold that moment will you?

Thank you

"I'm a judge,and a good judge too"

So I am hopeful,if nothing else

I fear you are right,Sir,
I don't understand her

I suppose she wanted a Bach and
found he was only a Offenbach

No pun intended

Here is to you,Mr Sullivan

Your health,Sir

If it is any consolation to you,Arthur

I suppose I can call you Arthur
now when we are not to be related

if there is any consolation to you

I think you might have had
a lucky escape,you know

How can you say that,Sir?

Well,genius,Arthur,isn't the
delicate plant Grace thinks

oh no,no,no,it's as hardy
as a Jerusalem artichoke

Grace would have begun by mothering
but ended by smothering

It is curious situation,isn't it,Sir?

We are a curious slavery,my boy

Grace wanted me because of my art

you rejected me because I have no means

now she won't have me and
I suppose you would

Like a shot,like a shot as you garb
wherever marrying me,my boy

there is only one thing to do

What's that ,Sir?

Finish the bottle

It is proposed that Gilbert and Sullivan

shall enter into partnership with
D'Oyly Carte,Sullivan and Gilbert's fees

to be four guineas per performance for each
opera the profits to be equally divided

How's that?

I don't think we need a formal contract?

No,no,no,of course here we are

Are we too early?

No,of course not Mrs D'Oyly

To seal the contract

Happy Thoughts,Mrs Gilbert

Thank you

I remember gentlemen you mustn't
work me too hard,this is only a side line

Of course,the college of
music must come first

We are very lucky to have got you at all

Here's to the partnership

Come on, Grossmith ,let's give it a try

Come on,Sir,we'll promise

Go on,say something,Sullivan

Oh,no words by Gilbert

Shall I tell them why we
are going to America?

Why not

At this moment in New York eight pirate
companies are presenting our HMS Pinafore

In Philadelphia is presenting
a German version

Chicago is presenting
a negro version

No one is presenting our version

And what's makes even more heartbreaking

is no one is paying us a penny
for presenting any version

Shame

Are we going to take this shocking
state of affairs lying down?

Are we?

No

What are we going to do?

To begin with we are taking
our own company of Pinafore over there

I knew there was some reason why
we were going the United States

And then my dear Gilbert,you may recall

we are going to do something that
we've never done before

We are writing an entirely new comic opera

Which is to have its opening night
in New York,instead of London

What's it about?

Pirates,Madame

Let's hear something from it

I beg you pardon,Captain

Sing us a song from the new opera

What as?

You brought it upon yourself,
you know

you really don't know my voice is like

Did he know he had one?

Go to your piano,my dear fellow

Ladies and Gentlemen in our
new piece we introduce

the no warm but hither to neglected
figure,the British policeman

Girls,girls,quiet,please

Mr D'Oyly Carte

-Good Evening,ladies
-Good Evening

Mind the intrusion but I simply
had to come and thank you personally

for your wonderful contribution
to our great success

Are you all looking forward for
going home to your mama?

It should be lovely getting back
to London and the old theatre

The old theatre

Ladies.Don't you think that
the opera comique is a little small

for the Gilbert & Sullivan company now?

Why? Are we going to move,Mr D'Oyly Carte?

I can't tell you that ,it's a secret

All right,between the seventeen
of us,you won't say a word?

No

I'm sure you won't

I have bought a site in the
Strand for a completely new building

within a couple of years and a couple of
operas,we shall have our very own theatre

The Savoy

-Good Night,ladies
-Good Night

And a very happy trip over

I know I can rely absolutely
on your indiscretions

Aren't you ready yet, dear, Good gracious,
I've been waiting for half an hour

What have you been doing?

It's only half past seven

Oh Willie

I do wish you wouldn't work yourself
out of such a state on every first night

You don't seem to realize,dear,
this is no ordinary first night

Carte built this theatre specially
for us,if Iolanthe fails

in the full glare of this
confounding new electric light

you find yourself married to a ruined man

Dear,dear,dear

We ought to had a fortnight
extra rehearsal at least

Why don't you go away sit
down and smoke a cigar

Sullivan is enough to
undermine anybody's nerve

He is not at all well,as you
know,he is a sick man

He will get about hobnobbing with
half the crowned heads of Europe

leaving everything till the last moment,
what's the result?

He has to sit up all last
night,scoring the music

And very nice music, it is too

Willie,I do wish..

I don't feel like a cigar,the distractions
scaring me in the face

Brandy and soda then

Are we going to celebrate afterwards?

Arthur Sullivan is giving
a party at Romano's

We certainly are not, I'd soon
think of celebrating a first night

as I would have forthcoming amputation
of the hip joint,do hurry up

-Hello,Jenny
-Good evening,Mr Sullivan

Good evening

The best,glad to meet you

-Arthur
-Ellen

My dear,how do you feel?

Feeling better every moment

The ozone of the theatre

It's nothing like it

How is he Louis?

He should never have come out,Madame

Nonsense,how is the house,
that's much more important

Wonderful,come and see,
everyone will be here tonight

The Prince of Wales,Duke of Edinburgh,
Mr Gladstone,Oscar Wilde,Mr Irwing

They are singing the Pirates

-Good Evening,Grossmith
-Good Evening,Mr Gilbert

-How are you feeling?
-I'm a bit nervous,I'm afraid

You mustn't be nervous,you
are playing the Lord Chancellor

Lord Chancellors are never at a loss

No,I suppose not

And you must remember,nervousness always
communicating itself to other people

Yes,of course

I know you won't forget

that every syllable of the nightmare
song must be absolutely distinct

It is very good,Mr Gilbert

No man can do more than his best

No,Sir

I've just been putting Paul
Grossmith at his ease

Grossmith.Good luck old chap,
all the very best

Not that you've anything to worry about
you've always rise to the occasion

You really think so,Dr Sullivan?

Think so? I'm sure of it.Gilbert
hates first nights,I love them

Now you are quite sure you know what to do

On the first signal you turn down the
gas,on the second the electric power

The Royal Highness carriage
just entered the Strand

The Strand? Come with me

He Royal Highness

Royal Highnesses,Your Excellencies,
My Lords,Ladies and Gentlemen

Welcome to our theatre

The new home for the genius of
Mr Gilbert and Doctor Sullivan

This is the first time

that it has been attempted to light
any public building with the electricity

In order that you may judge the difference
I have withheld the electric lightning

until His Royal Highness gives his
gracious assent to the new illumination

Your Royal Highness

Thank you,thank you

Now some anxiety has been expressed

as to whether there is any danger to the
public,what is termed an electrical shock

but as you will see,the lamps are
quite safe and easy to handle

however,some of you may ask,
supposing the lamps were to break

surely then they would danger of fire

As you can see quite untouched

Well done,well done

Thank Goodness for that

Quite ready

Good Luck

-Going out ?
-I'm going out for a long walk

Be ready to take out the house light

Ten past nine

The night mare song

Yes,Sir

Large nightcap and soda

Beg you pardon,Sir

Large brandy and soda

Be a minute,yes,Sir

Four pence ,please

What?

That'll be four pence,please,Sir

Sir!

Cab! Cab!

Faster

Thank you,my dear fellow,thank you

Thanks

Congratulations,Mr Gilbert

Thank you,thank you

-May I congratulate you,Mr Gilbert
-Thank you,my dear,you were charming

My Queen of the Fairies

My friends of authors

Congratulations,Willie darling,
it went wonderful

Thank you, my darling,what a relief,
I feel a different man

Grossmith,my dear fellow,how
did the night mare song go?

Marvellously,thank you,
Mr Gilbert,a double encore

Capital,capital

What is it? Brandy

What happened?

He is ill

No,it's nothing,nothing, a little giddy

Sit down a minute

-Pillow
-No,this will do him much more good

-There you are
-Thank you,Gilbert

He had no sleep for three nights

How are you feeling now?

Much better

He should never have come,Mr Gilbert

Rubbish,Louis,rubbish,
I'm perfectly all right

Louis,put him to bed and call a doctor

Yes,Madame

Is he all right,Mr Gilbert?

Yes,of course

Just a bit overtired,be all
right in the morning

Mr Sullivan's carriage

Would you like us to come with you?

No,no I'll be all right

Oh,Gilbert,my supper party at Romano's.
Would you look after it?

Of course,I'll see to it,don't
worry about that

Sorry,Gilbert

Look after him,Louis

Yes,Sir

Poor Sullivan,amazing

Too much for him,you know?

All too much for him

Well,now come along everybody,
Romanos,Romanos

We must celebrate

That's better.Where was I?

I hope you forgive me,my dear Gilbert

Oh,yes,my dear Gilbert,
I hope you forgive me

but it is the first time a new plot
of yours has not appealed to me

Frankly your idea of a magic lozenge is
one that I cannot bring myself to swallow

Although I'll be only too glad
to resume my happy collaboration

on a story of really human
interest and probability

Meanwhile there is no hurry
as I accepted an invitation

to compose a dramatic cantata for
the Leed's festival for which my friend

Joseph Bennet the eminent critic

is adapting Longfellow's beautiful
poem the Golden Legend

so very much is expected of me
by the world of serious music

that I must devote myself during the
coming weeks to this ambitious work

How does that sounds to you?

I'm more delighted than I can say it

Gilbert is not going to like this,you know

Your friends are asking themselves
what are you going to give us?

Another Pirates or Pinafore
that will be dead and forgotten

in another ten years or a stream of
glorious harmony that will live forever

What's wrong with both?

Oh,Arthur

Will you see that this goes over
to Mr Gilbert by hands at once?

Yes,Sir

It's almost half past,Sir

What?

Good heavens,so it is

Well,I must be going

No,my dear Joseph there is no need for that

No,I must not take up your time,it is too
valuable and we haven't much time to spare

My dear Arthur,the path of the
two Arthurs is beset with temptations

Thank you

I'm glad you are devoting yourself
to work of a more earnest character

-Au revoir
-Good Bye,Joseph

Louis,preserve your master
from distractions

we are expecting great things of him

Yes,Sir

To resume our happy
collaboration on a story

of real human interest and probability

Human interest and probability?

My dear Sullivan

Willie,darling

I thought you might like some coffee
as you don't seem to be coming to bed

How does it feel to be married
to a transcendent genius?

I suppose I'll always taken
it for granted, dear

-Milk?
-Thank you

Kitty,I had a magnificent idea

How nice,biscuit?

Will you telephone Sullivan for me?

But it is past midnight,Willie

He never goes to bed

Are you there?

Metropolitan Exchange 3684 please

I'll give him human interest
and probability

-Yes
-Sullivan,can you hear me?

It's you,Gilbert

-I've got something to read to you at once
-What?

I'm sending my carriage

But I'm working,I'm in bed

Never mind,get up

Get dressed,we are going to Japan

Capital,bravo

May I ask ,what was it?

From Mikado

Another comic opera?

Well,yes

Well,thank you ladies,that was
very nice,that'll for today

Good Bye,Dr Sullivan

Thank you,Dr Sullivan

Thank you,Sir

Such a lovely tune

I thought you might like to know
that Her Majesty the Queen

has graciously consented

to attend the first London performance
of the Golden Legend

The Queen?

That is of course if you ever
have time to finish it

Gilbert

What is it,D'Oyly Carte?

I think you ought to know,I've
still haven't heard anything from Sullivan

You mean he hasn't fit the music?

Not a crotchet

But he promised me faithfully

here we are the first full costume
rehearsal and still three numbers missing

I shall speak to him on the
telephone at once

I have tried that, apparently Louis
can't get him near the machine

-That's absurd.Give me my hat
-Yes,Sir

You keep the mettle,Carte

The time has come to extract these
numbers from Sullivan if necessary by force

Arthur Sullivan,Doctor of Music

First Principal of the National School
of Music,for services to music

Doctor Sullivan,Your Majesty

Good Morning,Doctor Sullivan

I'm very pleased your name has
been submitted by the prime minister

for recognition of your music,
which we all so greatly admire

Your Majesty is most gracious

Sir Arthur

May I say so,Arthur,how greatly
I admired your cantata

the Golden Legend,I frequently play
passages from it on the pianoforte

I'm deeply honoured,Mam

Why don't you write a grand opera?

A grand opera,Madam?

You do it so well

Yes,Mam

Ladies and gentlemen,to the new opera

To Ruddigore,may it be the best yet

We all drink to that

Ruddigore what a score

What a title of it

Gilbert,what would you say
our doing a grand opera together

A grand opera?

Yes,one of them

I though Gilbert might like
to write the book

My dear fellow I'm tremendously flattered

but whoever heard the word grand opera
always the triumph of sound over sense

If I don't hear my words you
know how it upsets my digestion

I only raised the point

because I thought I'd like to write
in a new field for a change

Quite so,I understood perfectly

A field where the music doesn't
have to take second place

Second place?

The second place for the words

You are joking

You know I believe in serious

you are not suggesting that's
what happened with me,are you?

But everyone knows that,Gilbert

What? My dear Sullivan you can't
expect me to take you seriously

Are you really under the impression

you've been effacing yourself
during the last twelve years?

I can assure you that time after time

I have had to reduce my music
to a mere "rumpti-tum"

so every syllable of yours could be
heard at the back of the gallery

You've getting a touch of the sun,
you'd better put your hat on

My dear fellow,anyone can tell you that
I always had to play second fiddle

While my words been consistently drowned

by your first fiddle more than
your confounded fiddle

Gentlemen,please think of the company

I am thinking of the company

if Sullivan turns to grand opera,
they all will be out of work

I'm perfectly willing to go on
as we are apparently he isn't

No one has the company more at heart

just because I refuse to consider
myself chained to comic opera

Very few people would object
being chained to a gold mine

A gold mine that may very soon be exhausted

I don't really see what's that
has to do with grand opera

It has this to do with it

I'm not content to go on with
the old way one moment longer

Then I am not content to
go in any other way

if we work together we must work as
master and master,not as master and servant

Exactly,so far it has always been Gilbert's
comedies with music tacked on by me

Tacked on? I do not what to say.How can
I reply to such preposterous nonsense

Don't try,Willie

Dear,this was such a happy occasion

I am sorry,Helen,but the truth
chooses its own time to come out

and the truth is I lost my liking for comic
opera and I'll have no more to do with it

Ladies and Gentlemen,I give you
Mr Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan

It would be nice if you would sat down

Sullivan is an hour and half late already

do you suppose he is coming
at all this morning?

Come,come,we both know better than that

After what what happened yesterday
there is no telling what he will do

Gilbert,do try to make allowances

Thank you,that was excellent

I'm terribly sorry to be so late

He is coming along

Shocking night

I apologize for keeping the company waiting

Good Morning,Sullivan

How are you?

I'd like to begin with numbers four
and five,if Mr Gilbert has no objections

Mr Gilbert has no objections to rehearsing
numbers four,five or any other number

Sir,Roderick Robin,callers and
ghosts,position,please

-Helen
-Yes,I know I heard

Don't worry,they'll never keep it up,
it will be all right after the first night

-Good Morning,Sir Arthur
-Good Morning,Sellier

Line after e gentlemen

Cab

Give us back,the Mikado

Give us back the Mikado

Whatever the press may say the
advance booking was excellent

I think we ought to tell that
to Gilbert and Arthur quickly

Yes,of course

Are you there?

Mr Carte want's to speak
to Mr Gilbert,please

What?

Has he?

Thank you

Apparently Mr Gilbert is not answering
the telephone this morning to anyone

Please telephone to Arthur
Sullivan immediately

Mr Carte,this is Louis speaking

Sir Arthur left this morning

What? Where to?

He took the first train for the Continent

Sullivan has gone abroad

What is the address?

I'm afraid he didn't leave one,Sir

All he said that he was going to devote
himself to work of more earnest character

Faites vos jeux ,Monsieurs,Medames

Helen,what are you doing here?

D'Oyly thought a little slug
would be good for me

to my belief it was quite right,I think
you've done rather well as you are, Arthur

How did you know I was in Monte Carlo?

It isn't tactless to quote Ruddigore
"Paragraphs got into all the papers"

Did they I didn't see them

Of course not you were applying
yourself to work of more earnest character

Really,Helen

Ruddigore is still running although
no one knows for how long

Helen,dear,I'm delighted
to see you,of course

if you come all this way with any idea
of trying to make me change my mind

-Have a little stimulant,Arthur
-A little one

You are going to need every drop of it

Helen,surely you can understand,
time is slipping by

already I've spent too much
of it on trifles

from now on I'm determined to devote
myself entirely to serious music

Believe me,we do understand,you
jump to the quite wrong conclusions

It is simply that D'Oyly has sent me
here to give you a small message

He has decided to build another theatre

Another theatre? What for?

He is going to call it the
Royal English Opera House

And I'm here,Arthur

to invite you to compose the first
grand opera to open the theatre

Are you serious?

Completely serious,D'Oyly is very
ambitious too,you know

Helen,Helen,how can I ever thank you

Then you accept?

Accept? Of course I accept,
I must leave at once

But there is time for coffee,the theatre
hasn't been designed yet

What? Oh yes,thank you black

So much to do I must see
D'Oyly about a subject

Have you ever read Scott’s Ivanhoe,
a magnificent story for a grand opera

If only one could find the
right man to adapt the book

Btw,Mr Gilbert is sending
his kindest regards

Gilbert ? You know,he would
never touch grand opera

Of course not,I merely indicating
he is willing let bygones be bygones

And in any event he is too busy
for his new libretto for the Savoy

I wonder if the young Pinero

What new libretto?

It's another comic opera,I think it is
the best thing he has done

It's a charming romance set in
the Tower of London,I think you like it

I'll what?

There is plenty of time
to do both,isn't it?

Helen

Sugar,Arthur?

Helen

You aren't by any chance trying
to bribe me with a grand opera?

I said,sugar?

On the desk

Helen

Thank you,thank you

What do you think of this?

The Royal English Opera House as it
will look in twelve months time

D'Oyly it's magnificent

Gilbert says it will never pay,
calls it Carte's Folly

Yes,but he admits that he and Arthur
has never worked together so happily

Thanks to our peace maker

Now Kitty,my dear,are you listening?

Yes,Willie

Very well,The Gondoliers,Act 1 Scene 1,
the curtain rises,the scene is Venice

Once upon a time,that's how
all the best stories begin

there were two gondoliers

there names were Marco and Giuseppe,
Giuseppe is the stout one

At last we have arrived at our destination

this is the Duke of Paris and it is
here the grand inquisitor resign

Until it is ascertained which of
you two gondoliers is to be king

I have arranged that you shall
reign jointly as one individual

as one individual like this

something like that

-Good Afternoon,Mr Gilbert
-Good Afternoon,James

-Good Afternoon,Madam
-Good Afternoon

It good to see you again

I hope you had a nice holiday in India

Wonderful,half killed me

An accident,Sir?

Gout

Oh,dear,Sir,I am sorry

This hasn't seen the inside of a boot
for the last three months

Tell Mr Shank that I like to
have a word with him,will you?

He's down at Shaftesbury
Avenue at the moment,Sir

Didn't he know we were coming home today?

It's all been repainted

So it has,got a new carpet too

That's right,Sir

Great improvement,I'll go straight
up to Mr Carte's office

Yes,Sir

Must have cost Carte a pretty penny

Don't rush after him,William

All right,don't fuss I'm still in what
humorously is referred as the private life

Carte is not here

I expect he is back stage then

I sent him a telegram,if there is one
thing Carte expects,it's a telegram

He is sure to be here in a minute

I think we both feel a benefit
if you sat down

Nobody there either

Come in,the place is inhabited after all

-Perhaps I was rather overstating it
-Yes,Sir

Tell Mr Carte that Mr and
Mrs Gilbert have arrived

He is not in,Sir

Where is he?

Shaftesbury Avenue

What is this devouring passion
for Shaftesbury Avenue?

He is at the new Opera House,Sir

The new opera house,I see

Tell Mrs Carte then

She is out too,Sir

Where is she? Thank you boy,that'll do

The new Mecca apparently

Never mind you can meet him tomorrow

I particularly want to see him today

here I am after months abroad
teeming with new ideas

Can you hear me?

This is Mr Gilbert,is Arthur
Sullivan in London?

He is,oh capital,will you?
Thank you

Savoy Theatre Quarterly Accounts,
copy for Mr Gilbert

Don't you think you ought to
put your foot up,my dear?

I feel more like putting it
down at the moment,dear

Quite bad enough,not being
met at the station

How on earth

Good Heavens,Carte deducted 4500 £
from our profit for so called expenses

he is actually charging us
500 £ for that new carpet

Hello,yes I certainly do,will
you connect him,please

Hello,Sullivan,how are you? Have you seen..

Where is he gone?

The new opera house,there
you have the answer in a nutshell

Kitty you take a carriage home
I have business to attend to

Do wait till you calm down,dear,
where are you going now?

I'm joining the gathering procession
to Shaftesbury Avenue

Where is Mr D'oyly Carte?

Up there,Sir

-Take me up
-What?

Don't argue,man,take me up

All right

Magnificent.If you think
of the classical music

should I feel we take out in gold

Quiet.Isn't it Gilbert? How are you,Gilbert

Back I see.What do you think of all this?

I must apologize for intruding
on your private Valhalla,gentlemen

I realize I'm only a figure
from the popular theatre

What's the matter Gilbert?

I have just left Savoy,you may
recollect that there is such a place

to find it deserted by the management
and other evidence of gross neglect

What do you mean,gross neglect?

Exactly what I say,if you
have seen these accounts

of course you haven't,
I always have to attend to them

Can't you get this thing down?

4500 £ deducted from our profits,
do you hear that,Sullivan?

I'm not interested

250 £ for a gondola, 150 £ for iron
mongering,iron mongerer,

capital,500 £ for that carpet the
carpet for the front of the house

while Carte has been building
his white elephant

you and I have been refurbishing
the Savoy fully unaware

White? Are you calling
this a white elephant?

Gilbert,I should be sorry to lose
the advantage of the production

of your future operas but the
earth doesn't contain the money

that will pay me to put up
with these sort of things

Very well,then,I'll write no
more for the Savoy

Wait for me,Warlock

Sir Arthur Sullivan,beg you
pardon Sir,I'm from the Chronicle

I was afraid you might be

-About these rumours,Sir
-What?

That your long partnership with
Mr Gilbert is likely to come to an end

I can't say anything now,excuse me

I'm merely insisting,Madame

that he has no rights to charge any
part of that carpet to Sullivan or myself

And I insist that it comes under
the simple heading of fair wear and tear

clause 7 of our agreement

Mumbo jumbo

I don't know quite what you are suggesting

-D'Oyly,Gilbert,listen to me
-Sullivan,please

No,let me speak.For over fifteen years our
three names have been linked in harmony,

wherever where our operas
are played,you often said that

Gilbert and Sullivan are as much a
national institution as Westminster Abbey

And here we are bickering
over the price of a carpet

Gentlemen,please remember

you are quarrelling in the very
theatre built out of your success

Listen why don't you take a
leaf out of your own book

The Gondoliers at two

Free from every kind of passion

some solution we must find,your
words,Mr Gilbert,your music Sir Arthur

Thank you,Helen

I'm sure we can forget

what been said and talk over our
difficulties calmly like reasonable men

I'm more than willing

All right,Carte you'll be reasonable first

I'm sure if Gilbert looks at it calmly

he is bound to see that
my attitude is reasonable

In other words no advance
on fair wear and tear

Don't you think we could forget
the carpet if only for a moment

Nothing would delight me more Madame

to shake the dust of clause
seven from our feet

besides we all know the carpet is
only a symptom of the disease

which has been rotting the fabric
of this partnership since 1883

If we must quarrel,at least can't
we quarrel in the present tense

I can well understand your reluctance
to embark on the past imperfect

I'm only reluctant..

So it has come to this end

It has

After fifteen years wonderful
association over a mere carpet

No,Madame,people may say so

but Sullivan knows and I know
that it goes deeper than that

I said it before and I 'll say it again
a cobbler should stick to his last

There is nothing more to be said

I'm physically and mentally ill over
this whole wretched business

Very well,God Day,Madame,Good Day Carte

I think you may find it was a mistake to
kick down the ladder by which you've risen

Dedicated by special permission to
Her Most Gracious Majesty The Queen

at whose suggestion this work was
written in grateful acknowledgement

of Her Majesty's kindly encouragement

by her humble and devoted
subject and servant,Arthur Sullivan

Thank you indeed,Sir Arthur I shall treasure
this always,such a very beautiful volume

So this work was written on my suggestion?

Indeed yes,Mam,Your
Majesty may perhaps recall

Yes,yes I believe I do

How very gratifying

I've been thinking it's time we
had a performance at Windsor

a stage can very easily be
erected in the Waterloo Gallery

and the company could be
brought down from London

It's an honour and a privilege,Mam

It shall be arranged shortly

Since the Prince of Wales
told me all about it

I have always wanted to see the Gondoliers

The Gondoliers,Mam?

Yes,of course I know all the
tunes very well already but..

What is it Sir Arthur?

Would it not be practical?

Certainly,Mam,of course

It's just I'm overwhelmed

The cobbler should stick to his last

Happy New Year,my dear

Happy New Year,Helen

You know,it's not everyone who is privileged

of watching the old year and the old
century go out hand in hand

The old century,Victoria's century

sad to see it go,so many
things has gone with it

I know what you are thinking

You always do

Sullivan and Gilbert?

Gilbert and Sullivan

They may come back after all

No,they are not even on speaking terms

Besides it's never quite be the same

This is a night for looking
forward,not back

You are right,come to think of it,
you always are right

The new century

To the new century

No,no.That wasn't how I taught
it to you years ago

Mr Gilbert!

Now,once again,please,and
I helped that man to escape

And I kept his secret

And pretended that I was
his dearly loving sister

That was much better,my dear

Punctuate,punctuate

Mr Gilbert,it's wonderful to see
you again after all this long time

I thought the quartet was
quite beautiful rendered

but you must remember your consonants
your ms and your ns and your ts

Mr Gilbert

-How are you?
-Good Afternoon,Mrs Carte

I came up to London
to lunch at the Garrick

as I happened to be passing
I thought I'd look in

We are all very glad that you did

Mr Cross,I think we might all have tea now

How's D'Oyly?

He is a little better,he got
up the first time yesterday

Good

-Been a long time
-Yes

I think the Yeoman was favourite,you know

Best thing Sullivan and I ever wrote

I hear he has been ill too

Very ill,indeed

-Is he back in England?
-Yes

-He got back last week
-Good,good

Poor fellow

He suffered a great deal

You know it is over two years since
he and I spoke to each other

That's nothing less than
a tragedy,Mr Gilbert

Things were never the same after our quarrel

nothing seemed to go right for us,you know

Is Sullivan coming to the
first night of our revival?

He might if you were to ask him

I?

I think it would mean a great deal to him

Can't you send him a message?

I really don't think that's necessary

-My dear Gilbert
-My dear Sullivan

I was lunching at the club
and happened to be passing

-So I heard
-Oh,did you?

I'm sorry to see you like this

Yes,he gave me up for
lost in the south of France

Prince of Wales sent his own doctor

but I am a good deal better
now as you can see

Yes,yes,quite yes,obviously

Gilbert,what would you say to
burying the hatchets once and for all

and smoking the pipe of peace

There is nothing I should
like more,just a minute

How's the gout?

That's taken a back feet,arthritis has
now moved up in the first place

Same old Gilbert

Couldn't we make this
a public reconciliation?

What do you mean?

Take our calls together on the first night
like we used to do,all three of us?

-Including Carte?
-Why not?

The old firm or should I say the infirm

This thing presents certain problems

Not at all Louis can wheel you off

What a trio of old crocks we pick up,
what we really need is three wheel chairs

So we..That's a brilliant idea

What?

We all take our calls in wheel chairs

Gilbert,you are quite right,three wheel
chairs it'll look wonderful from the front

It'll bring the house down

Helen,put down two wheel
chairs for the opening night

the the third one will do for D'Oyly

Yes,I heard you,I think
it is a charming idea

You can wheel D'Oyly on,Helen

Arthur,I don't want to hurry you

but I think it is time Louis
would taking you home

Already?

You know he has very strict
instructions,isn't that so,Louis?

I have Madame D'Oyly

I suppose orders is orders,looking
forward to give some moan again soon

-Good Bye Gilbert
-See you on Tuesday night

Rather I wouldn't miss
an opening for the rouse

Mr Gilbert,what do you
think of his appearance?

His appearance,Mrs Carte,
is of no consequence

what we couldn't stand would
be his disappearance

I got this to a tee now

Is Sullivan here?

It would be wise for him not
to come before the finale

Now let see,I should make my
entrance from the prompt side

Sullivan from the op like
we always used to do

when we had the full use of our legs

Carte I want you to go in
centre through the players

Yes,but I'd always have to
argue with the producer

but shan't I look rather prominent?

My dear fellow,that's the whole idea,
after all,you started it

So I think you are fine

-Where?
-Here

Get in my dear fellow,Cary

will you wheel Sir Arthur's chair in from
over there when I give the signal?

Mrs Carte,you wheel in
D'Oyly from over there

Right,positions,please

Ready everybody,right,off we go

Thank you Harry

Probably we are getting due for an encore

Sullivan is here

No,Sir

What is it,Louis?

We sent for the doctors at six,Madam

He asked me to give this to Mr Gilbert

He insisted

My dear Gilbert,I feel the
disappointment so very much

Good Luck to you all,three wheel chairs
would have looked wonderful from the front

How is he,Louis?

Are you sure you have everything?

No,no

Mr William Gilbert

Barrister of Law,Justice of the Peace

Deputy Lieutenant of
the County of Middlesex

playwright,for services to the theatre

Subtitles by Seglora