Martin Newell is Britain’s most published poet, has been writing lo-fi pop songs for almost 50 years and can include Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher among his fans. Yet you may not have heard of him.

That could change when the The Smashing Machine – starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson – opens in the US and UK on 3 October, as it features “Corridor of Dreams”, written by Newell in 1982, during a pivotal scene. Johnson plays MMA (mixed martial arts) fighter Mark Kerr in the film inspired by the 2002 documentary of the same name. Kerr had a highly successful career but also struggled with substance abuse.

“Corridor of Dreams” is played during a scene in which Kerr suffers a humbling loss. Early reviews suggest Johnson is “a knockout” in the role. The film’s world premiere earned a 15 minut

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