The Ghosts of Oxford Street (1991)
Malcolm McLaren, writes, directs and narrates the "history" of Oxford Street. With musical performances by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl, Tom Jones, Sinead O'Connor, Happy Mondays and more.
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Very best movie i ever watch
Pretty Good
Excellent but underrated film
This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.
I remember this being over-hyped when it was first shown on Channel 4. Then again directed by, co written by, starring and narrated by Malcolm McLaren what else can we expect.The has been Svengali who never could manage to find the next Sex Pistols or that number one record which he always claimed he could get with the click of his fingers turned his sights to the history of Oxford Street.The disreputable old fibber still manages to add some personal association to the history of Oxford Street, whether its some ancestor being hung or his mother having an affair with a retail magnate or a younger McLaren causing havoc in Selfridges.At least McLaren has toned down his attitude but the narration does get tiring. Still the images of early 1990s Oxford Street has itself become a period piece with some of the shops such as Ratners no longer in existence.However with the history of Oxford Street we have dance, music and songs. Choreography by Bruno Tonioli. Tom Jones as Gordon Selfridge is the most memorable singing Money (Beatles version). You have Happy Mondays doing Staying Alive, Rebel MC adds some street rap, and the late Kirsty Maccoll & Shane Pogue reprise The fairytale of New York to add some festive spirit.The whole piece is not as good as it was hyped to be, its a bit of a mish mash, Leigh Bowery could not act, some of the tales were not that interesting. Curious but not a festive classic.
I have to say I consider this to be a beautiful little film, with its intertwining plots and anachronistic images. The music is superb, the acting, well, appropriate but the theme and plotting is worthy of Dickens. Its a pity we don't see more of Malcolm's work... It works as a setting for some memorable songs (Magic's Back, Silent Night and,of course Fairytale...RIP Kirsty) but also brings history and magic alive. I loved it from the first time I saw it.Like Snowman it has become a part of my Xmas viewing and I can only recommend it to ANYONE!!!