Cultural influence of Gilbert and Sullivan "Topsy-Turvy" (1999) is an award-winning film depiction of the team and the creation of their most popular opera, "The Mikado". Another G&S film is the 1953 "The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan" (or "The Great Gilbert and Sullivan" in the U.S.), starring Robert Morley as Gilbert and Maurice Evans as Sullivan, with Martyn Green as George Grossmith. In a short 1950 film called "The Return of Gilbert and Sullivan", Gilbert and Sullivan return to Earth to protest the jazz treatment of their work. In the 1951 film "The Magic Box" Sir Arthur Sullivan, played by the film conductor, Muir Mathieson,
Gilbert and Sullivan de Corneville"). Hundreds of unauthorised, or "pirated", productions of "Pinafore" appeared in America. During the run of "Pinafore", Richard D'Oyly Carte split up with his former investors. The disgruntled former partners, who had invested in the production with no return, staged a public fracas, sending a group of thugs to seize the scenery during a performance. Stagehands successfully managed to ward off their backstage attackers. This event cleared the way for Carte, Gilbert and Sullivan to form the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, which then produced all of their succeeding operas. The libretto of "H.M.S. Pinafore" relied on stock character types,