Champagne Charlie

A rousing comedy musical with a loving recreation of London's Victorian music halls.

Champagne, ale, stacks of pork pies: pinstripe Britain and wartime rationing don't exist in Alberto Cavalcanti's musical delight about rival Victorian music-hall performers. The stars radiate personality; the period songs twinkle; lively details leap from Wilkie Cooper's deep-focus shots and Michael Relph's superb sets. Underneath, Cavalcanti the subversive stands up for liberty, fraternity, and intoxication.