Stop the World: I Want to Get Off (1966)

Stop the World: I Want to Get Off (1966) poster

The Anthony Newley/Leslie Bricusse London and Broadway musical hit Stop the World, I Want to Get Off is given literal treatment in this filmization. Newley stars as Littlechap, whose allegorical rise to success is countered by the instability of his private life. Like the play, the film is staged impressionistically, with Newley decked out in mime makeup and periodically stopping the action to address the audience, and with all the women in his life -- German, American and "Typically English" -- played by a single actress (Millicent Martin, taking over from the stage version's Anna Quayle). In Wizard of Oz fashion, the play itself is lensed in color, while the brief prologue, showing the actors preparing for their performance, is in black-and-white. The production includes such standards (and perennial audition pieces) as What Kind of Fool Am I? and Gonna Build a Mountain.

Director: Philip Saville
Genre: Music
Runtime: 100 min
Release Date:

Cast

Screenplay

Music: Al Ham
Cinematography: Oswald Morris
Production: Warner Bros. Pictures
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English
Original Language: en

Themes

Musical Spectacle

Keywords

musical, based on play or musical

More Films by Director: Philip Saville
More Films in Genre: Music

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Stop the World: I Want to Get Off about?
The Anthony Newley/Leslie Bricusse London and Broadway musical hit Stop the World, I Want to Get Off is given literal treatment in this filmization. Newley stars as Littlechap, whose allegorical rise to success is countered by the instability of his private life. Like the play, the film is staged impressionistically, with Newley decked out in mime makeup and periodically stopping the action to address the audience, and with all the women in his life -- German, American and "Typically English" -- played by a single actress (Millicent Martin, taking over from the stage version's Anna Quayle). In Wizard of Oz fashion, the play itself is lensed in color, while the brief prologue, showing the actors preparing for their performance, is in black-and-white. The production includes such standards (and perennial audition pieces) as What Kind of Fool Am I? and Gonna Build a Mountain.
Who directed Stop the World: I Want to Get Off?
Stop the World: I Want to Get Off was directed by Philip Saville.
Who stars in Stop the World: I Want to Get Off?
Stop the World: I Want to Get Off stars Tony Tanner, Millicent Martin, Leila Croft, Valerie Croft, Neil Hawley.
How long is Stop the World: I Want to Get Off?
Stop the World: I Want to Get Off has a runtime of 1h 40m (100 minutes).
What genre is Stop the World: I Want to Get Off?
Stop the World: I Want to Get Off is a Music film.
Where was Stop the World: I Want to Get Off produced?
Stop the World: I Want to Get Off was produced in United Kingdom.
What are the themes of Stop the World: I Want to Get Off?
The themes of Stop the World: I Want to Get Off include: Musical Spectacle.