Dennis Potter's 'Pennies From Heaven' - 'You Couldn't Be Cuter'

'Pennies From Heaven' by Dennis Potter. Episode 2: 'The Sweetest Thing'. Sheet music salesman Arthur (Bob Hoskins) finds Eileen (Cheryl Campbell) near her father's cottage in the Forest of Dean, a sheltered, enchanting place. Arthur professes his love for the shy schoolteacher, only to be interrupted by Eileen's Dad (Michael Bilton) and brothers Maurice (Spencer Banks) and Dave (Philip Jackson) who have come out looking for her. Arthur has found the girl of his dreams - and she couldn't be cuter.

Shot on location with the subtle texture of 16mm film, the number uses a hint of mood lighting to enhance the backdrop of an enchanted forest. As Hoskins bursts into lip syncing to the soft, tender crooning of Al Bowlly, the syncopated dancing to Lew Stone and his Orchestra from Hoskins, Campbell and the trio add to the pleasure of Jerome Kern's music and Dorothy Field's lyrics, capturing the dance rhythms and syncopation of Broadway and Hollywood musicals in a delightfully staged and choreographed musical number.

Music: 'You Couldn't Be Cuter'. Lew Stone and His Orchestra. (Vocal: Al Bowlly).

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
• You
• Couldn't
• Be
• Cuter
• Bob
• Hoskins
• Cheryl
• Campbell
• Michael
• Bilton
• Spencer
• Banks
• Philip
• Jackson
• Al
• Bowlly
• Lew
• Stone
• Jerome
• Kern
• Dorothy
• Field

[Dion1957]

This and "The Singing Detective" also by Dennis Potter were the greatest TV ever.

[crashmonitor]

I fell in love with Cheryl Campbell, that year 1978, just as Arthur had in fiction. I was still at school and it was a lunchtime Crown Court episode.

Best series ever IMO. Cheryl Campbell was extraordinarily good looking, and reminds me of screen legend Margaret Sullavan in looks. she still looks beautiful today in television dramas. can't believe she has no cult following or fan site.

[mrbigarms]

I had forgotten how good this was,

marvellous stuff!

[noahsarcmurcia]

WHAT A BELTER ....... BRILLIANT

THANKS FOR POSTING THIS

[newrochellephoenix]

Of all the fantasies-this was my favorite.