As I’ve said before, I feel that Petula Clark’s career is one of the most impressive ever in popular entertainment. She started as an endearing child star in England, developed into a sexy adult actress, then became an international singing superstar — which was where we caught up with her in the States — and she’s still going strong!
I’ve spliced together about ten minutes of Petula as Lee Nicholls, a perky and resourceful stewardess in a 1954 comic caper flick, “The Runaway Bus”. It’s not the greatest print, but at least it’s available in the U.S., including Netflix.
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Oh, dear. Did I hear Pet ask for some uppers? No wonder she was so perky!
For a much more recent view of Petula, here’s a link recommended by David Moncur. Turn it up!
Dave — Thanks for the comment. Nice story about Petula and Dame Margaret. As you know, a year ago I had my two minutes sitting next to Pet and chatting, so yes, I concur with the pretty and sexy assessment!
He He… nice clip Doug. I love Dame Margaret Rutherford (the old lady in The Runaway Bus). The story goes that not long after she made that film, Petula was ill in hospital, and in those days hospitals were very strict about when people could visit. Rutherford arrived (in a chauffeur driven Rolls) late one night demanding to see Pet, with a very stern senior night nurse telling her that it was impossible; that visiting hours were 7-8 pm. Rather like her character in this, and many other films, she brushed the nurse aside got out a bottle of champagne and demanded that she be brought 2 glasses.
Petula never forgot her kindness, and talked about it in a mini autobiography that she wrote for a women’s magazine in the UK in 1964, just before Downtown was recorded.
Rutherford’s films are always worth a look if you get the opportunity to see them. She was an incredible comedienne, and played a mean Miss Marple (of Agatha Christie fame).
It was lovely to see Petula and Paulo Nutini ( a Scottish boy despite his name) in Switzerland. They clearly hit it off well, and enjoyed working together. Fifty odd years after the film Pet is still pretty and sexy, don’t you think?