在这部乞丐歌剧歌舞/历史/犯罪片中,乞丐歌劇不是現代的歌劇，而是約翰˙蓋伊所寫的敘事劇，一七二年於倫敦首演，以對抗韓德爾的義大利歌劇，劇情係用諷諭的手法呈現當時倫敦下層階級的生活，並對腐敗的政治極盡諷刺之能事，是敘事歌劇中最為成功的作品。所讲述的是在18世纪的伦敦，一个被囚禁的强盗，决定把自己的职业生涯以歌剧来流芳于世。彼得布鲁克用强烈，旺盛而独白的色彩将之于1952年搬上大银幕。
Authentic rendering of John Gay's eighteenth century musical, filmed in Technicolor, about Captain MacHeath, a highwayman, and his love for too many beautiful women. Betrayed by Jenny and Sukey, two of his bygone lovers, and temporarily freed by two others, MacHeath is arrested and condemned to death. While waiting to be hanged, the Captain is entertained by a musical beggar, who has written an opera of which the highwayman is the hero.
