Pennies From Heaven (Blu-ray)

Remade by MGM in Hollywood in 1981 from the successful 1978 six part BBC television series, this film wasn’t the financial success MGM had hoped for. Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters starred, along with Christopher Walken, who shines as a dancer. Colour and widescreen add a certain something to the musical numbers, which hark back to the Busby Berkeley routines from the 1930’s. Something of an acquired taste (I loved it!)

One of the great underrated films of the 1980s gets a glorious upgrade and now looks and sounds better than ever. Martin, Peters and Harper are all superb - and the songs, of course, are unforgettable.

As ever, the Moviezyng service was impeccable - the film arrived safely and on time! What more could you ask for?

This is the Hollywood version of Dennis Potter’s UK television production. But don’t necessarily expect a more sanitized version. It’s slicker and more lavish in the musical numbers, yes, though the underlying story about the inability of escaping Depression-era grimness via Hollywood musical fantasies and Tin Pan Alley songs rings loud and clear. Martin, Peters, and Harper are all great. Though you’ll never forget that Christopher Walken always had a song and dance in his soul long before Spike Jonze ever got a hold of him for that Flaboy Slim video.