The Beggar's Opera (1953)

Interesting facts

The Beggar's Opera is a 1953 British historical musical film directed by Peter Brook in his feature directorial debut, based on John Gay's 1728 ballad opera. It stars Laurence Olivier, Hugh Griffith, Dorothy Tutin, Stanley Holloway, Daphne Anderson and Athene Seyler.

Production

Laurence Olivier received a fee of £50,000, £30,000 of which he deferred because he was interested in working with Peter Brook. While the film was being shot, producer Herbert Wilcox was directing another film, Laughing Anne. Wilcox later wrote that during the film "Larry and I were in complete harmony but we could not get to first base with Peter." He claims Olivier and he constantly offered Brook practical suggestions which were ignored.

It was shot at Shepperton Studios outside London. The film's sets were designed by the art director William C. Andrews while Georges Wakhévitch was the costume designer on the production.

Most of the cast's singing voices were dubbed by professional opera singers, with the exception of Olivier and Holloway, who provided their own singing. The principal male parts were dubbed by Bruce Boyce and John Cameron, while the female parts were dubbed by Adele Leigh, Jennifer Vyvyan, Joan Cross, and Edith Coats (the latter also appears on-screen as Mrs. Coaxer).

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