IMDb on iPhone and iPod touch Learn more Learn more Download from the App Store
IMDb > "Pennies from Heaven" (1978)

"Pennies from Heaven" (1978) More at IMDbPro »TV mini-series

Photos (see all 3 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
8.7/10   444 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 18% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Contact:
View company contact information for Pennies from Heaven on IMDbPro.
Seasons:
Release Date:
7 March 1978 (UK) more
Genre:
Plot:
Arthur, a sheet music salesman, has an ear for the hit tunes, but nobody will trust it. And his imagination often bursts into full song... more
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
2 wins & 9 nominations more
NewsDesk:
DVD: Review: Dennis Potter: 3 To Remember
 (From The AV Club. 17 February 2009, 10:00 PM, PST)

User Reviews:
Truly original more (17 total)

Cast

 (Series Cast Summary - 16 of 17)

Bob Hoskins ... Arthur Parker (6 episodes, 1978)
Cheryl Campbell ... Eileen (6 episodes, 1978)
Gemma Craven ... Joan Parker (6 episodes, 1978)
Kenneth Colley ... The Accordion Man / ... (5 episodes, 1978)
Jenny Logan ... Irene (3 episodes, 1978)
Freddie Jones ... Headmaster (2 episodes, 1978)
Dave King ... Police Inspector / ... (2 episodes, 1978)
Sam Avent ... Pianist (2 episodes, 1978)
Arnold Peters ... Barrett (2 episodes, 1978)
Spencer Banks ... Maurice (2 episodes, 1978)
Michael Bilton ... Dad (2 episodes, 1978)

Philip Jackson ... Dave (2 episodes, 1978)
Bill Dean ... Alf (2 episodes, 1978)
Bella Emberg ... Mrs. Corder (2 episodes, 1978)
Children From the Forest of Dean (2 episodes, 1978)
Yolande Palfrey ... Blind Girl (2 episodes, 1978)
(more)
Create a character page for: ?

Series Directed by
Piers Haggard (6 episodes, 1978)
 
Series Writing credits
Dennis Potter (6 episodes, 1978)

Series Produced by
Kenith Trodd .... producer (6 episodes, 1978)
 
Series Cinematography by
Ken Westbury (6 episodes, 1978)
 
Series Film Editing by
David Martin (6 episodes, 1978)
 
Series Production Design by
Tim Harvey (6 episodes, 1978)
Bruce Macadie (2 episodes, 1978)
 
Series Costume Design by
John Peacock (6 episodes, 1978)
 
Series Makeup Department
Jenny Shircore .... make-up (6 episodes, 1978)
 
Series Art Department
Sid Sutton .... graphics designer (6 episodes, 1978)
Bob Cosford .... illustrator (3 episodes, 1978)
Tom Taylor .... illustrator (3 episodes, 1978)
 
Series Sound Department
Mervyn Broadway .... film sound (6 episodes, 1978)
Alan Dykes .... dubbing mixer (6 episodes, 1978)
Brian Hiles .... sound: studio (6 episodes, 1978)
 
Series Camera and Electrical Department
Dave Mutton .... senior studio camera (6 episodes, 1978)
Dave Sydenham .... studio lighting (6 episodes, 1978)
 
Series Editorial Department
Shirley Coward .... vision mixer (6 episodes, 1978)
Howard Dell .... editor: video tape (6 episodes, 1978)
 
Series Other crew
Alan Charlesworth .... production team (6 episodes, 1978)
Chris Cherry .... production unit manager (6 episodes, 1978)
Bill Craske .... production assistant / studio production assistant (6 episodes, 1978)
Tudor Davies .... choreographer (6 episodes, 1978)
Irene East .... production team (6 episodes, 1978)
Simon Hinkly .... film production assistant / production assistant (6 episodes, 1978)
Diarmuid Lawrence .... film production assistant / production assistant (6 episodes, 1978)
Neil Zeiger .... production team (6 episodes, 1978)
 

Production CompaniesDistributors
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
UK:75 min (6 parts)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The BBC original was composed of six episodes, each a bit over an hour long. Their titles are: 1: Down Sunny Side Lane 2: Love Is The Sweetest Thing 3: Easy Come, Easy Go 4: Better Think Twice 5: Painting The Clouds 6: Says My Heart more
Quotes:
Arthur: Hang on! I've got an itchy conk. I said hang on! Will somebody scratch me nose for me? Bloody hell. more
Movie Connections:
References King Kong (1933) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
6 out of 6 people found the following review useful.
Truly original, 4 March 2000
10/10
Author: Daniel Will-Harris from Marin, California

I remember seeing this on TV when it first came out. I was changing channels, and here were these woman, tap dancing on a coffin, lip syncing, "I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal you." I was hooked.

It was the first time I ever saw Bob Hoskins, who managed to make a character who was truly awful somehow loveable.

It's a depression-era story, and while the story itself is grim, somehow the telling is joyful, with the cast breaking into "song." The songs are wonderful old songs, and they just mouth to them, and it creates a surreal feeling, but one that works, because it's as if this is what they are feeling (and could have felt at the time in the vernacular of the old songs).

The whole telling of this story is so original and vivid that you must watch it when you can.

==> Don't confuse this with the movie version, directed by Herbert Ross, with Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters has spectacular production values (unfortunately, the biggest production number was actually cut), but Steve Martin, great as he is, just doesn't make you like and feel for him the way Hoskins does. Bernadette is sufficiently waif-like, but she lacks Gemma Craven's grittiness.

Christopher Walken is the highlight of the film, doing an incredible song/dance/striptease on a bar that shows what a great dancer he is.

Was the above review useful to you?
more (17 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for "Pennies from Heaven" (1978)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Dennis Potter's Ideas For Casting MickAstonDavies
BLind Girl *Spoilers* zanefforier
How does it compare to the remake? shere73
The (UK) BBC DVD les-107
Somebody out there taped this !!!! igorshump
The Headmaster! TracesOfLove
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Pennies from Heaven Lost Horizon Taare Zameen Par If.... Liam
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Episode guide Full cast and crew Company credits
External reviews News articles IMDb TV section
IMDb Drama section IMDb UK section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.

You may add a new episode for this TV series by clicking the 'add episode' button