Pennies from Heaven Movie Review 1936

Bing plays Larry, a singer wrongly imprisoned, who promises to help the family of a man killed by a death row inmate Larry has befriended. Once on the outside, Larry finds the family, sassy little girl Patsy (Fellows) and her grandfather (Meek), enduring hard times. A social worker (Evans) is trying to keep Patsy out of the orphanage, and the gift of a home that Larry brings may help accomplish that. Complications arrive, however, when they try to turn the place into a cafe and find it may even be haunted. Typical of Crosby's 1930s work, it's pleasant enough and relies on Bing's charm and singing. He sings the Oscar-nominated title song no less than three times. Louis Armstrong appears to great effect, for the film and his subsequent career.

Distribution

Movies Unlimited, 3015 Darnell Rd., Philadelphia, PA 19154, Phone: (215)637-4444, Toll-free: 800-668-4344, Fax: (215)637-2350, Email: movies@moviesunlimited.com, URL: http://www.moviesunlimited.com

Available on DVD
Running time 80 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Musical Drama, Ex-Cons, Death Row, Grandparents, Adoption & Orphans, Diner, Carnivals & Circuses

Screenplay

Jo Swerling

Cast

Bing Crosby, Madge Evans, Edith Fellows, Donald Meek, Louis Armstrong, John Gallaudet, Tom Dugan, Nana Bryant, Charles C. Wilson, Harry Tyler, William Stack

Cinematography

Robert Pittack

Director

Norman Z. McLeod

Music

Johnny Burke, Arthur Johnston, John Scott Trotter

Awards

Oscars 1936: Song ("Pennies from Heaven").