Though it boasts an American director and star, this Technicolor cinemadaptation of Gilbert and Sullivans comic operetta The Mikado is a faithful record of what it must have been like to attend a performance of Britains DOyly Carte opera company. Less annoying than in his other film appearances, radio tenor Kenny Baker stars as Nanki-Poo, the wandring minstrel who wanders into a curious set of situations in the Japanese village of Titi-Pu. DOyly Carte perennial Martyn Green plays the leading role of Ko-Ko, the timorous Lord High Executioner who must perform one execution per day or hell lose his job-and his own head. Ko-Ko finds a likely candidate for decapitation in the form of Nanki-Poo, who feels mighty suicidal when it seems as though his sweetheart Yum-Yum (Jean Cola) is out of his reach. Unbeknownst to Ko-Ko, Nanki-Poo is the son of none other than The Mikado, played with a combination of pomp, circumstance and Noel Cowardlike waspishness by Sydney Granville. Most of the delightfully satiric Gilbert & Sullivan songs have been retained, including The Lord High Executioner, Three Little Maids from School are We, Tit Willow, Heres a How-de-Do, and The Object Most Sublime. The grandiose musical accompaniment is provided by the London Symphony Orchestra. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide