Dennis Potter's 'Pennies From Heaven' - 'Pennies From Heaven'

'Pennies From Heaven' by Dennis Potter. Episode 1: Down Sunnyside Lane'. Sheet music salesman Arthur (Bob Hoskins) has encountered a weird busker called The Accordion Man (Kenneth Colley) whose entire repertoire consists of three hymn tunes. Buying him a meal, Arthur tries to explain his feelings hopes and dreams, unaware of how his fate is to become inextricably intertwined in a strange chain of events. The mysterious Accordion Man seems interested only in the food but as Arthur's doppelgänger he can understand and express Arthur's feelings in song.

The title song, written by Johnny Burke and Arthur Johnston, is heard several times in the show. Instead of a grand studio-style production number, here producers deliberately opt for an understated version from American vocalist Arthur Tracy with slow, staged movements well suited to the scene, so as not to detract from the lyrics. By staging the scene as a simple musical number with a slight change in lighting filters - not a dance number - the actions are more meaningful within the song. The audience is invited to accept the sincerity of the number as the words are put into the tramp's mouth.

Music: 'Pennies From Heaven'. (Vocal: Arthur 'The Street Singer' Tracy). Recorded 1937. A slight crackle is heard in the recording which producers readily admit could have been avoided if they had used a new needle!

Dennis Potter's award-winning 'Pennies From Heaven' (BBC 1978). Directed by Piers Haggard, produced by long-time Potter collaborator Kenith Trodd, with choreography and design by Tudor Davies and Tim Harvey. One of the finest pieces of television the BBC has ever produced.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Dennis
• Potter
• Pennies
• From
• Heaven
• 1978
• 1937
• Bob
• Hoskins
• Kenneth
• Colley
• Arthur
• The
• Street
• Singer
• Tracy

[edmund184]

Ken Colley is such a great actor.

[willip50]

I love the song - thank you for the post