Petula Clark Movies

A proud but aging WW I war-horse is deeply offended when his offer to lead during WW II is rejected by the government that once lauded his bravery with a series of medals. Embittered and despondent over their callousness, he heads back to his isolated country estate where he plots his permanent escape from the cold cruel world. When the government sends six mischievous cockney youths to stay with him during the bombing of London, the despondent old man must abandon his suicidal musings and attend to the ensuing chaos of the rambunctious rapscallions. This touching British drama follows the tough general's attempts to control and understand the energetic little hellions. As he comes to know them, he reluctantly begins to care and in so doing, finds renewed zest for life ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

For a variety of reasons, mostly political, Charlie Chaplin left the United States in the early fifties living the final quarter-century of his life in Switzerland. Charlie Chaplin: The Forgotten Years documents this last act in the legendary director's life. The film intersperses personal footage of the man with interviews from those who knew him during this period. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

This program provides the viewer with a repertoire of some of the greatest hits of one of the most popular entertainers of all time. Dean Martin led a charmed life in the entertainment business. The singer found fame as the handsome straight man for comedian Jerry Lewis. Following their long run, Martin became a member of Hollywood's famous Rat Pack, which included his singing cronies, Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra. Dean Martin is shown here at his musical best, performing some of his standards. These include "Everybody Loves Somebody," "Pennies From Heaven," "Memories Are Made of This," (&"C'est Ci Bon," and "That's Amore." ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide

Dusty Springfield was one of the finest and most soulful vocalists to emerge from the "British Invasion" of the 1960s, and her rich voice and emotionally potent delivery helped her earn a handful of hit records. This collection preserves a number of television appearances in which she performs some of her best-known songs. Dusty Springfield: Reflections includes the songs "Wishin' and Hopin," "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me," "I Only Want to Be With You," "Son of a Preacher Man," "The Look of Love," "Since I Fell for You," and many more. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Nearly 20 years after it opened on Broadway, the E.Y. Harburg/Fred Saidy musical Finian's Rainbow was committed to film. Set in the mythical southern state of Missitucky, the story involves the whimsical Irishman Finian (Fred Astaire) and his daughter Sharon (Petula Clark) arriving in the community carrying a crock of gold, which they've stolen in the Auld Sod from Ogg the Leprechaun (Tommy Steele). Finian believes that if he buries the crock on American soil, it will grow into an even larger treasure--just as Fort Knox did (or so he thinks). Sharon falls in love with sharecropper Woody Mahoney (Don Francks), who like everyone else in the community is being threatened by the perfidy of Senator Rawkins (Keenan Wynn). While Finian haggles over three wishes with the tricky Ogg, Sharon runs afoul of the racially bigoted Rawkins. She wishes that Rawkins would turn black so that he could walk in someone else's shoes for a change--and this, thanks to Ogg, is exactly what happens. To rescue Sharon and Woody from being burned as witches, Ogg grants a last wish, which turns him into a human being; this is not an altogether bad thing, for Ogg has fallen in love with mysterious mountain gal Susan the Silent (Barbara Hancock). The racial tolerance subtext of Finian's Rainbow, considered radical in 1948, seemed rather antiquated in 1969, though it did allow for a hilarious scene in which a white associate of Judge Rawkins attempts to instruct young black botanist Al Freeman Jr. on the proper way to "act Negro". As Finian, Fred Astaire requested that the role be expanded to allow him to dance a little (as written, the character barely even sings). Most of the original score remains intact, including the hit song "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?" Francis Ford Coppola seemed a curious choice to direct a musical, and indeed the production was a troubled one due to Coppola's inexperience in the genre. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The fictional Hugget Family makes the first of three film appearances in this domestic comedy from Great Britain. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

London Town was painstakingly planned as a huge box-office smash--even unto hiring several Hollywood leading lights to work on the film, including producer/director/writer Wesley Ruggles, Technicolor cinematographer Ernest Hiller, costume designer Orry-Kelly and songsmiths Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke. Veteran music-hall entertainer Sid Field plays a washed-up comedian who hopes to stage a comeback in a glittering new revue. Alas, Field is hired as merely an understudy and bit player. His faithful daughter Petula Clark (yes, Petula Clark) pulls a few fast ones in order to get her dad back on stage in a starring role. Making her film debut in a supporting part is Kay Kendall, who'd have to wait a decade or so for full stardom. Far from a hit, London Town was one of the most notorious flops in the history of the British cinema. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Made in Heaven is predicated on one of Britain's most curious annual traditions. During the yearly Dunmow Flitch, a side of bacon is awarded to any married couple who can prove at a public trial that their union has been happy and argument-free for a full year. Among the contestants depicted herein are the members of the Topham family: husband (Charles Victor), wife (Sophie Stewart), son (David Tomlinson), daughter-in-law (Petula Clark) and grandfather (A. E. Mathews). Into this household arrives a saucy Hungarian maidservant (Sonja Ziemann), sending the menfolk into a tizzy. No surprises here, just plenty of laughs--and in Technicolor, to boot. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This drama is about a lonely young girl who fantasizes about adventures with Peter Pan and develops a friendship with a lonely old woman to escape her sadness. ~ Steve Huey, All Movie Guide

Shindig, the hit '60s music series, presents a collection of rare television performances by female rock & roll royalty. Jimmy O'Neill is the host as these women glide through their songs with style. The Shangri-Las sing "Give Him a Great Big Kiss," Petula Clark sings "Downtown," the Supremes perform "Baby Love," Ketty Lester blasts out "Love Letters," and Aretha Franklin sings "The Shoop Shoop Song." Fontella Bass, Jackie Deshannon, Lesley Gore, the Toys, Tina Turner, and the Blossoms also appear. ~ Karla Baker, All Movie Guide