Pennies from Heaven [DVD]

Hard to get hold of series so perfect. Thank you

I was never a fan of Denis Potter until he eschewed socio-political themes and came up with this brilliant drama set in the 1920's/30s. The events unfolding are contrasted by the characters suddenly breaking into the wishful fantasy world of popular songs of the period.If you like this, "Lipstick on your Collar" is in the same genre.

I bought the cd for home entertainment, mysel and my wife have both enjoyed the content

This is a masterpiece, an all time great. Although it's a musical all the characters are well drawn and realistic with the viewer being able to relate them to real life people without any difficulty. Sadly, they don't make 'em like that any more. All the settings are redolent of Nineteen Thirties England and life in that decade is captured and portrayed very well indeed. As a small child in the Thirties I can recall people being dressed just as portrayed in this TV Drama and I can remember those kind of cars too. Of course, there weren't anything like as many cars around in those days when there were still quite a number of horse drawn vehicles on the roads, and, of course, no motorways. Bob Hoskins, Cheryl Campbell and Gemma Craven are all superb as are all the other actors in the drama.The songs are cleverly spaced and progress perfectly along with the drama. Listening to them I couldn't help thinking that popular music in those days was every bit as enjoyable as anything that has been composed since. I would say this is a folk opera of the very highest standard and I wonder what younger people think of it. One thing I can tell them is that it paints an accurate picture of what life was like for at least some people in the nineteen thirties. This is an all time winner paramount within its genre.

1978 was a superb year for popular culture and Dennis Potter's Pennies from Heaven was for many the high water mark in British television drama. Potter's story of travelling sheet music salesman, Arthur Parker, is beautifully crafted and is compelling viewing from the very beginning. The ingredients that are the hallmark of Dennis Potter - sex, class, guilt and dark humour - are all there, but with the addition of music. Whilst lip-synching to 1930s melodies might superficially appear rather corny, it works well and was repeated to a lesser extent with his later work, The Singing Detective.Incredibly the series has only been repeated twice in over twenty five years, the last time being in 1990. For those who despaired that they might never see Potter's masterpiece again, its issue on DVD will be welcomed with relief and is long overdue.This is television at its finest and for those who have never seen it before - you are in for a real treat!

Classic tv series from 1978. I was 16 at the time and I remember it well. Bob Hoskins, Cheryl Campbell and Gemma Craven were just incredible. You really must try and track down a copy of the DVD.

I first saw Pennies from Heaven in 1978 and have always remembered how much I loved it then. On viewing it almost 40 years later, it is still top class entertainment. The nostalgic music is so beautifully integrated with the story in a most quirky, but appealing way. Bob Hoskins and Cheryl Campbell give brilliant performances and I will most certainly be wanting to view it again (and again).

The first of Dennis Potter's trilogy of plays featuring the music of the thirties, forties "The Singing Detective" and fifties "Lipstick On Your Collar".While I loved the music, I began to find it intrusive because the story-line is so good.At the end, we are left wondering did a miscarriage of justice occur?Well written, well acted and a joy to watch.Watch it!

Be advised: this is a PAL UK 2+4 DVD that will not play on standard North American DVD players. So I assume the DVDs are great but can't really tell you because I can't play them! :(Since this vendor is selling these outside the UK and around the world, I think they should be a little more clear about the fact that these will not work on many non-UK style machines. Sure, I feel a little stupid for not thinking of it but if it's there in the description, it's buried fairly deep. I certainly wouldn't have ordered this if it had been made clearer.PS that's the only reason this gets a Single Star rating from me. Otherwise, the service was excellent.

It,s a great tv show with great performances from all the cast and the songs are sooooo wonderfull.I recommend it.

Pennies From Heaven is a sehr interessante film. Humorvoll und traurig. Bob Hoskins ist ein "Anti-hero" erste Klasse, und die Frauen sind die beste.