Pennies from Heaven DVD coming soon!

Pennies from Heaven Starring
Bernadette Peters and Steve Martin will soon be available on DVD!

7/27/04!!

So for all you Bernie fans, get ready!
VIEW DVD COVER ART

Ditto Namo. Some classic scenes - love the # at the bank...

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But, see, we're talking about the movie that's coming out on DVD, Jose'.

Craig, loved the scene that recreated Edward Hopper's Nighthawks.

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How can one not appreciate Christopher Walken's performance in the film version.

I'm not counting out the Bob Hoskins version as great. I just wouldn't consider Steve Martin's version tacky in comparison...

and actually, both are due out on the same day...

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Updated On: 4/2/04 at 08:52 PM

Is it fair to love them both? The BBC version is darker and more probing, but I also love the Hollywood version, and Danny Daniels' fantastic choreography, and the incredible art direction.

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If we're talking about the BBC and Hollywood versions of The Singing Detective...well, there's a world of difference and quality between those two films. But the two Pennies from Heaven? I really don't feel that Hollywood betrayed Dennis Potter's original vision with the movie version. And I'd like to echo Craig's sentiment about Christopher Walken...he's terrific with the tap dance/striptease to "Let's Misbehave". So fun to see Walken tap back into his chorus boy past. (He was in the ensemble of Broadway's High Spirits in 1964).

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Updated On: 4/3/04 at 11:41 AM

He's amazing in the Fat Boy Slim video, and also compellingly creepy in Madonna's "Bad Girl" video. (Anthony will be so proud of me.)

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Magruder, you got the word right, in my opinion, for Walken--creepy. A creep on stage in SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH with Irene Worth, and the creepiness never stopped. In CATCH ME IF YOU CAN he did catch me off-guard and it was the first time I didn't have a negative response to his performance.

As for PFH, of course one can like both. I generally liked Peters' numbers in the film. Martin was miscast. For my taste the Hollywood treatment of PFH was akin to turn ANNA KARENINA into a toe-tapping musical with a happy ending. PFH on film pales by comparison to the BBC mini-series, in my opinion.

Listening to the soundtrack of the BBC original as I type. Great songs!

Cheers!

Updated On: 4/3/04 at 01:02 PM

"As for Walken - he's one of the people I enjoy seeing whatever he's in."

I completely agree with that statement. I always list Christopher Wallken as one of my top three favorite actors (usually ranking number 1). People are always saying he's creepy and whatnot, but I've heard that he's very funny and nice...and I think he's one hell of an actor and dancer! Bring Christopher Walken back to Broadway!!!

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PENNIES TO HAVE IN YOUR POCKET


From The New York Times, Sunday, July 25, 2004

Before the Detective Sang
By JOYCE MILLMAN

Published: July 25, 2004


N a 1930's-style suburban bedroom, a sleeping man awakens and murmurs with haunted eyes, "Someday, if luck is kind, someday . . ." He wakes his wife, who is huddled on the far side of the bed, and makes a desperate plea for sex, but she calls him a "filthy beast." Suddenly the man begins to sing. But instead of his voice, we hear an old recording of a female vocalist singing the dance band number "The Clouds Will Soon Roll By." The woman's voice yearns for something brighter, softer, truer, and watching the song being mimed with heartbreaking conviction by this stocky, stubbly man is jolting and unforgettable.

(edited for copyright)

Updated On: 7/29/04 at 11:48 AM

Christ, I sure hope they charge you for all that bandwidth.

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