Search - Petula on DVD

What You Need To Know

Cary E. Mansfield | Studio City, CA USA | 02/28/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Grammy-winning, international singing star Petula Clark, the most successful female vocalist to emerge from the musical British Invasion of the United States in the 1960s, racked up an impressive string of hit records, including the number one smash, "Downtown." In 1968, she starred in her first American TV special Petula, featuring Harry Belafonte. The critically acclaimed show, produced and directed by Steve Binder (Elvis `68 Comeback Special), stirred controversy after Petula and Harry touched while singing an anti-war duet.

* Includes a wealth of previously unavailable bonus material.

* The special is loaded with hits, including "Downtown" and "Don't Sleep In The Subway."

* DVD bonus features include recent interviews with Petula Clark, Harry Belafonte and producer Steve Binder, in addition to vintage TV and radio commercials performed by Petula, and a photo gallery.

* "Smart, stylish and utterly sophisticated" -- Newsday

Features the following songs:
1. Music
2. Who Am I
3. The Life & Soul Of The Party
4. The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener
5. Elusive Butterfly
6. Imagine
7. Come Rain Or Come Shine
8. Just Say Goodbye
9. Color My World
10. Both Sides Now
11. On The Path Of Glory
12. Live For Life
13. Don't Sleep In The Subway
14. How Are Things In Glocca Morra?
15. Have Another Dream On Me
16. Downtown

DVD Bonus Features:

New interviews with Petula Clark, Harry Belafonte and Steve Binder

Petula TV Promo & Photo Gallery

Vintage Petula TV Commercials

Vintage Petula Radio Interview

Stereo TV Song Remix: "Live For Life"

Petula Clark Movie Trailer"

A Must For Any Petula Fan!

W. Schultz | Detroit | 02/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It was a Monday Night in April and I was a kid, but I loved PETULA CLARK! This special was indeed "special" and it is a MUST have for any fan of this woman who is still going strong in her mid 70's. Not only are the Hits included but her excellent "Just Say Goodbye", "Dream Another Dream of me" (that was to be a Single, and should have been) and "Music". Also Petula's famous duet with Harry Belafonte that cause a stir cause she touched his arm "on the path of glory" hails from this special as well. Be great to have "Path" released as a single today, the message is needed as much now as it was in 1968.
"

What TV was like in 1968

Andre M. | Mt. Pleasant, SC United States | 06/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The DVD of the 1968 special "Petula" featuring Miss Petula Clark, one of the most deservedly popular British songbirds of her time (Her song "Downtown" and the 5 Stairsteps' "Ooh Child" were my favorites as a small child) is somewhat of a history lesson with a beat you can dance to.

In the late 1960s and early 70s, television specials like this were commonplace. Lots of extravagant set pieces with dances and backup singers to buttress the popular songs of a particular artist. This kind of thing vanished from television in the late 70s, so this is certainly a museum piece for the children of today.

Petual does some things of added interest here to put this above the ordinary. Harry Belafonte is along for the ride, for one thing. He and an unidentified black kid do the "Hambone," a street precursor to what we now call rap. After his take on "Both Sides Now," he joins Petual in a song she wrote called "The Path of Glory," a thinly disguised antiwar anthem. Then, Miss Clark actually (gasp) hold hands with Harry in the midst of the duet. Of course this is no big deal today and would not get any attention even from hardocre bigots today, but this caused a firestorm of controversy in 1968 and Harry and Petula had to stick to their guns to keep this segment in the show. Glad they did. (Historical irony-this was telecast on April 2, 1968-two nights before the assassination of Harry's pal Dr. Martin Luther King!)

Interestingly, the song itself would cause more controversy today. Listen to the lyrics, compare them to current events, and you'll see what I mean.

Petula only does a couple of her signature tunes, such as "Dont' Sleep in the Subway, "Color My World," and (of course) "Downtown" at the end. Sorry folks, "My Love" and "I Know a Place" are nowhere to be found. The rest are lesser known tunes by her.

We also see some rare Plymouth commercials by Miss Clark that were quite typical of the times (trying to be hip by doing the jingle to the beat of Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe"-all that's missing are the go go dancers).And a rare and candid radio interview from the time about the show that is minus the Belafonte controversy (that is covered in a DVD extra).

Overall, watch, enjoy, and learn what TV was like in 1968."