Category: Petula Clark

The One and Only Miss Petula Clark!

Petula on Nashville

Posted a few minutes ago by Petula Clark on her Facebook page:

I feel the need to express my shock and disbelief at the Christmas Day explosion in our beloved Music City. I love Nashville and its people.
Why this violent act – leaving behind it such devastation?
A few hours later – I was told that the music in the background of that strange announcement – was me – singing “Downtown”! Of all the thousands of songs – why this one?
Of course, the opening lyric is “When you’re alone and life is making you lonely you can always go Downtown”. But millions of people all over the world have been uplifted by this joyful song. Perhaps you can read something else into these words – depending on your state of mind. It’s possible.
I would like to wrap my arms around Nashville – give you all a hug – and wish you Love, a Happy and Healthy New Year – and, as we sometimes say in the U.K., steady the Buffs! (Look it up!)
Love,
– Petula

Gorging on McHuggetts

Continuing my latest fascination, Here Come the Huggetts with Petula Clark. The dialogue is filled with clever throwaway lines that are easily missed, making a second viewing very worthwhile.

Pet gets a singing spot that lasts only a minute.

Playing a distant Huggett cousin “on the mother’s side,” 16-year-old Diana Dors also had a minute to show off what she could do.

Everyone shines in the movie, but if anyone’s character is underplayed it’s Susan Shaw as the middle Huggett sister. Shaw was such a stunning beauty that she didn’t need much screen time to make a big impression.

Follow-up: I thought that MGM owned Here Come the Huggetts, and maybe it does, but the Internet Archive has the complete film. It has a DogRat ***** rating!

The Dors on Sgt. Pepper

Here Come the Huggetts (1948) is a surprisingly thoughtful comedy that effectively conveys a feeling of British post-war life. The cast includes precocious Diana Dors and England’s sweetheart Petula Clark.

Diana was only 13 months older than 15-year-old Pet! I wonder if working with Diana had an effect on Petula? Because as she told me herself she was surprised and amused that the French later called her “Sexy Pet.”

From the “Funny Because It’s True” file, Dors’ real name was Diana Fluck. And, yes, that’s Diana on the “Sgt. Pepper” album cover!

The Carol Brunette Show

My mother passed away ten years ago this month, and along with many other people of her generation she loved watching CBS on Saturday nights. Especially the lineup that began in the 1973-74 season, with Mary Tyler Moore, followed by Bob Newhart and Carol Burnett. The color coding on this chart from Wikipedia shows that Burnett was only a top 30 show, but I think Mom enjoyed it more than anything else on television.

CBS TV Saturday schedule, 1973-74
CBS-TV Saturday schedule, 1973-74

I was starting college at the time, and watched next to no television, but if I had I would have enjoyed seeing Petula Clark as a guest on the Carol Burnett Show. Pet makes her appearance at exactly 14 minutes into the show. She returns halfway through for a funny a soap opera parody (except Tim Conway’s bit is too long) and a duet with Carol.


Season 7, Episode 9
Airdate: Saturday, Nov 10, 1973, 10:00 PM

Just last night the SNL 40th anniversary show included this soap opera parody.