PENNIES FROM HEAVEN, PART III: EASY COME, EASY GO (TV)
Summary
The third in this six-part drama about the experiences and fantasy life of sheet-music salesman Arthur Parker (Hoskins), written by Dennis Potter. When characters need to give expression to their deepest desires and feelings, they break out into song, miming the words to the actual renditions of such songs as "Seein' Is Believin'" and "The Glory of Love." Potter uses more than 60 songs of the era featuring such singers as Al Bowlly, Alan Kane, and Elsie Carlisle. Over six episodes, the salesman Arthur fails at his business, ruins his marriage, abandons his mistress, and is arrested for murder, yet still believes life can be like a song. For Potter the music provides a special type of redemption: "No matter what pain, what degradation, and despite failure, humiliation, injustice, sickness, and death itself, there is something unquenchabley resilient in the human spirit which does indeed survive beyond the far side of darkness." Continues with T:23499.
Details
- NETWORK: BBC (United Kingdom)
- DATE: March 21, 1978
- RUNNING TIME: 1:27:03
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:24166
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; International Collection - United Kingdom; Music, popular (songs, etc.)
- SERIES RUN: BBC (United Kingdom) - TV, 1978
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Kenith Trodd … Producer
- Piers Haggard … Director
- Dennis Potter … Writer
- Tudor Davies … Choreographer
- Bob Hoskins … Cast, Arthur Parker
- Gemma Craven … Cast, Joan Parker
- Kenneth Colley … Cast, the Accordion Man
- Cheryl Campbell … Cast, Eileen
- Sam Avent … Cast, the Pianist
- Jenny Logan … Cast, Irene
- Freddie Jones … Cast, the Headmaster
- Spencer Banks … Cast, Maurice
- Michael Bilton … Cast, Dad
- Philip Jackson … Cast, Dave
- Bill Dean … Cast, Alf
- Frederick Radley … Cast, the Miner
- Maryann Turner … Cast, the Woman Patient
- Yolande Palfrey … Cast, the Blind Girl
- Roger Forbes … Cast, the Police Constable
- John Malcolm … Cast, Det. Inspector
- Betty Hardy … Cast, Railway Passenger
- Frank Lazarus … Cast, Railway Passenger
- Norman Warwick … Cast, Railway Passenger
- David Rowlands … Cast, Railway Passenger
- Bella Emberg … Cast, Mrs. Corder
- Children from the Forest of Dean