Pennies From Heaven (Blu-ray)

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.