Dennis Potter's 'Pennies From Heaven' - 'Serenade In The Night'

'Pennies From Heaven' by Dennis Potter. Episode 5: Painting The Clouds'. Seeking refuge for the night in a Salvation Army hostel, the mysterious Accordion Man (Kenneth Colley), whose entire repertoire consists of three hymn tunes, is haunted by the murder of a blind girl (Yolande Palfrey). While the weird busker is involved in a chain of events in which salesman Arthur is forced to go on the run wanted for her murder, he cannot escape the memories of the girl as the ambiguity of the Accordion Man and Arthur's guilt by association becomes clear and he is trapped in the English words of a classic italian love song.

Potter continues to explore his theme of good and evil, corruption and love, setting up a quite eery connection between the two, as Colley lip syncs to the lyrics which hint at a motive for the murder - "she gave not a sign that she'd ever be mine" - with a seedy and dark backdrop to the Italian love song 'Violino tzigano', typical of Potter's sweet and sour style.The scene is given the full on tango treatment with over the top Latin 'gusto' and, as Colley is swamped by a motley band of accordion players, the Accordion Man's entrapment in his own guilt is palpable.

Music: 'Serenade in the Night' (song: Violino tzigano). Ronnie Hill with Primo Scala's Accordion Band (aka Harry Bidgood).


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:

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• Dennis
• Potter
• Pennies
• From
• Heaven
• 1978
• Kenneth
• Colley
• Yolande
• Palfrey
• Serenade
• In
• The
• Night
• Violino
• Tzigano
• Ronnie
• Hill
• Primo
• Scala
• Accordion
• Band
• Harry
• Bidgood

[Rebness]

Thank you so much for posting this! I remember watching this haunting scene when I was a child. Really affecting to see it again.