[1][2][3][4] The film stars Raúl Juliá as Captain Macheath (reprising his Tony-nominated role from Richard Foreman 1974 revival of Opera), Richard Harris as Mr. Peachum, Julia Migenes as Jenny Diver, Julie Walters as Mrs. Peachum, and Roger Daltrey as the Street Singer.

Brecht and Weill's score and libretto was adapted by Golan, Marc Blitzstein, and Dov Seltzer.

In 19th century London, young Polly Peachum falls for the famous womanizing criminal Macheath and they decide to get married, but because of her family's disapproval, her father ("the king of thieves") has Macheath arrested.

Juliá reprises the role of Macheath which won him a Tony nomination for a 1976 revival on Broadway.

The film shows obvious signs of last minute editing, including several musical numbers that appear on the soundtrack album but are not in the final cut.