Dennis Potter's 'Pennies From Heaven' - 'Love Is Good For Anything That Ails You'

Описание: 'Pennies From Heaven' by Dennis Potter. Episode 3: 'Easy Come, Easy Go'. Eileen (Cheryl Campbell) is pregnant and forced to leave her post as an infant teacher. Unaware of her misery, the children snigger as she tells them the story of Rapunzel. How does she come to have twins when she's not married? Instead of responding 'normally' to her scolds, the whole class turns into a toy dance-band, soothing fears, syncopating terrors. Whatever's wrong, love will cure.

The children's dancing and straight to camera gestures give a perfect backdrop to Campbell's lip-synched lyrics and syncopated dance routine. The scene was shot on location in Potter's home county of the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire with the subtle texture of 16mm film. The school is the actual Forest school Potter attended and many of the local children were cast as extras. The children's toy 1930s dance-band and cheeky choreography add to the fairytale feel of this delightful musical number.

Music: 'Love Is Good For Anything That Ails You'. Orlando and his Orchestra. (Vocal: credited to Phyllis Robins TV series DVD, Evelyn Dall, CD soundtrack). Recorded 1937.

Dennis Potter's 'Pennies From Heaven' (BBC 1978). Directed by Piers Haggard, produced by long-time Potter collaborator Kenith Trodd, with choreography and design by Tudor Davies and Tim Harvey. One of the finest pieces of television the BBC has ever produced.