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.
