Petula
“An infamous television special with Petula Clark, which is remembered for what happened off screen.”
Synopsis
In 1968 Harry Belafonte and Petula Clark sang together her song On the Path Of Glory for this special on NBC. Not such a remarkable event in itself, but Petula touched Harry's forearm during the duet and made TV history. It was the first time a white woman had touched a black man on US television. The sponsor insisted the touch be cut from the programme, the programme makers refused. In the decade’s “year of revolt”, Clark found herself at the centre of a media controversy involving race, censorship and endemic bigotry in a newly desegregated yet depressingly divided US.
Top Cast
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Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Steve Binder
- Screenplay & Story
- Allan Blye, Steven Hilliard Stern, Mason Williams, Gordon Farr
- Original Title
- Petula
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 0m
- Production Studios
- NBC Productions, Rodan Productions, Steve Binder Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Steve Binder
Allan Blye, Steven Hilliard Stern, Mason Williams, Gordon Farr
Department Leadership Roster
Bill Belew
Costume Design
Allan Blye
Writer
Steven Hilliard Stern
Writer
Steve Binder
Director
Mason Williams
Writer
Gordon Farr
Writer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
G: General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
International Certification Matrix
General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Petula.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About Petula
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Petula about?
In 1968 Harry Belafonte and Petula Clark sang together her song On the Path Of Glory for this special on NBC. Not such a remarkable event in itself, but Petula touched Harry's forearm during the duet and made TV history. It was the first time a white woman had touched a black man on US television. The sponsor insisted the touch be cut from the programme, the programme makers refused. In the decade’s “year of revolt”, Clark found herself at the centre of a media controversy involving race, censorship and endemic bigotry in a newly desegregated yet depressingly divided US.
Who directed Petula?
Petula was directed by Steve Binder.
Who stars in Petula?
The principal cast of Petula includes Petula Clark, Harry Belafonte.
When was Petula released and how long is it?
Petula was released in 1968 with a total runtime of 1h 0m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Petula?
Petula holds official age classifications: US: G (General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.).