Also appearing is the popular French singer Sacha Distel who joins Petula singing “Love Is Blue”. In a scene that brings Renoir’s Montmartre in Paris vibrantly back to life they are both then joined by Andy Williams, to sing “The Poor People Of Paris”. It is unashamed homage to all good things French.
It was her French husband Claude Wolff who originally encouraged Petula to record in French. Needless to say she became a huge star in his homeland even challenging the legendary Edith Piaf in popularity. Petula’s European credentials were established when she also recorded in German and Italian. Her songs became hits across Europe.
It was songwriter Tony Hatch who persuaded Petula to record again in English and handed her the song “Downtown”. It was a huge number one hit. She has, in fact, charted a massive 159 top 40 hits across the world. By the seventies she was a major Vegas star and appeared regularly on US television.
British performer Ron Moody makes his bow with a comedy Jekyll and Hyde routine, and later as an early Captain Jack Sparrow character which looks strangely like a cross between Johnny Depp and Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson.
Chelsea’s Kings Road provides the backdrop for a good old London knees up, in a scene oddly reminiscent of an Austin Powers film. Petula can then be seen performing one of her major hits with “I Know A Place”.
The bonus material includes up to date interviews with both Petula, and Andy Williams, who expresses his fondness and admiration for her. It is clear from his comments that he thoroughly enjoyed working with Petula either as guest on her show or inviting her to be a guest on his.
Petula tells of how working with Dean Martin taught her to adopt some of his laid back rehearsal techniques. Both Perry Como and Bob Hope are also briefly shown. This was a hugely popular television series. It is, of course, very much of its time and can be considered somewhat cheesy by today’s standards and yet, therein, arguably, also lies some of its charm.
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