Marjorie Bilbow , in Cinema TV Today , described the production as ' very plodding and unimaginative ' , and Clyde Jeavons wrote in the British Film Institute 's Monthly Film Bulletin , ' Apart from accommodating a number of half - hearted and totally unmemorable songs and dance routines , William Sterling has taken few liberties with the original narrative , but at the same time he has divested it of both its charm and its potential for cinematic comic invention .
Marjorie Bilbow , in Cinema TV Today , described the production as ' very plodding and unimaginative ' , and Clyde Jeavons wrote in the British Film Institute 's Monthly Film Bulletin , ' Apart from accommodating a number of half - hearted and totally unmemorable songs and dance routines , William Sterling has remained faithful to the original narrative , but at the same time he has divested it of both its charm and its potential for cinematic comic invention .