If I had to pick just one dance number that never fails to amaze me, it would be Gillian Lynne's staging of the epic seven-minute "Money to Burn" production from George Sidney's 1967 film version of “Half a Sixpence.”Set on a bare stage, the number starts modestly, slowly building in momentum before it takes off and soars. The ensemble is led by Tommy Steele but it's the athletic Grover Dale who dominates. Geoffrey Unsworth's camera moves with the dancer and, surprisingly, keeps up.
Dale is the dancer with the walking stick. Watch and be astonished.
The number: “Money to Burn”
The composer: David Heneker
The choreographer: Gillian Lynne
The singers-dancers: Tommy Steele, Grover Dale, Elaine Taylor, Cyril Ritchard and company
The cinematograper: Geoffrey Unsworth
The editors: Bill Lewthwaite and Frank Santillo
The production designer: Ted Haworth
Caught my eye with this one, as I'm a huge fan of dance, and I actually had 7 minutes to relax and watch it. I'd never seen this! Yes, it is amazing, the build and variety wonderful, and I was reminded of one of my favorite moments in film, too--the Donald O'Connor "Make 'Em Laugh" number in "Singin' in the Rain."
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