Pocketful of Miracles
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Movie Reviews of Pocketful of Miracles
Movie Review: A forgotten Christmas charmer.
Summary: 5 Stars
What do you get when you mix Frank Capra, Damon Runyon, Glenn Ford and Bette Davis? Just a pockeful of miracles that includes the first great performances of Peter Falk (Columbo) and Ann-Margret (Bye Bye Birdie) and the last great performances of Edward Everett Horton (Top Hat) and Thomas Mitchell (Gone With The Wind).
Ford plays Dave The Dude, a depression era (post prohibition) racketeer dominating New York city by sheer luck - luck from the charmed apples he purchases from and old beggar, Apple Annie (Bette Davis), who's been corresponding with her estranged daughter (Ann-Margret) in Spain, impressing the girl with a phony return address at a ritzy hotel. But luck's running out as Annie receives news of her daughter's impending visit with her fiance and his royal father, a Duke (Arthur O'Connell). Annie's at her wit's end with dread of exposing her true self to the young couple, and hits the bottle as The Dude's about to make the deal of his life with a Chicago mob boss (Sheldon Leonard), and if things go wrong for Annie, they can't go right for Dave The Dude. It's a group of beggars and The Dude's girl (Hope Lange) that suggest Annie must be put up in a penthouse suite during the Duke's visit.
The story takes on a sort of Cinderella aspect and romantic charm as the thugs, beggars and servants help transform Annie a la My Fair Lady, with the help of the penthouse butler (Edward Everett Horton) and a shady judge (Thomas Mitchell) to play her husband.
This was sort of a comeback and transitional role for Davis, absent from Hollywood movies in the late fifties. Falk is at his funniest as the Dude's top thug, with some great one-liners that must be heard in context. The cast is tremendous and studded with familiar faces like Hayden Rorke (Dr. Bellows on I Dream Of Jeannie), Mike Mazurki, Jerome Cowan (the D.A. on Miracle On 34th Street), John Litel (who played Nancy Drew's father), Barton MacLane, Frank Ferguson, Ellen Corby (Grandma Walton), Jack Elam, and even young Grace Lee Whitney in an uncredited bit (she was Yeoman Rand on Star Trek).
Pocketful of Miracles is a Christmas movie in the sense that it takes place during the Holiday season, with Christmas music, Santa Claus, etc. in the background, especially The Nutcracker Suite is used very effectively in some of Bette Davis's scenes.
Movie Review: Bette Davis' portrayal of Apple Annie is pure magic!
Summary: 5 Stars
Frank Capra's remake of his 1940 "Lady For A Day," is a mix of a Christmas story, Cinderella, and a 1920's gangster tale, all rolled into one! Bette Davis is excellent as a gin guzzling bag lady named Apple Annie, who has a daughter (named Louise and played sweetly by lovely Ann-Margaret) living in Spain, of whom she has never seen (except for an 8 X 10 photograph that Annie lovingly keeps in her room) since sending her there to be schooled. It isn't clear or even explained how the girl got to Spain or why that particular country was selected for Louise's schooling. Annie sends money to Louise, and collects much of it from her streetwise peddler friends, all of who she has named as Louise's Godparents. When Annie receives a letter from Louise, telling her she is bringing her fiancé' to meet her mother, Annie is devasted! Enter Mob boss "Dave the Dude" (Glenn Ford), his nightclub lady friend Queenie Martin (Hope Lange) and mob clown Peter Falk. Annie's peddler friends, along with Queenie, talk Dave into making Annie a lady of society. Dave pulls some strings and even gets Annie a penthouse suite! "Pocketful of Miracles" is a delightful story filled with sentiment, laughs, and magic! Watch as the gang transforms Annie from a street corner hag into a lady of high society. As mob member Junior delares when first seeing Annie's transformation, "She's like a cockroach what turned into a butterfly." Exactly! Hope Lange is great as Queenie Martin and Glenn Ford's "Dave the Dude" is excellent as the Mob Boss who believes Annie's apples are his key to good luck. This one belongs in every dvd collector's library of classic films, especially fans of Bette Davis and Hope Lange. It's truly special. The dvd transfer is flawless and the audio is good and clear. Dvd includes the movie trailer. This one is especially fun to watch during the Christmas holidays and will put you in the Holiday spirit!Movie Review: After 45 years, this remains great entertainment
Summary: 5 Stars
Pocketful of Miracles is a great Christmas movie, that current families should consider showing their kids. I realize it is 45 years old but it is a wonderful collection of great actors with a witty script and a heart warming message that remains timeless.
Other reviewers have discussed the history of this film and its relationship to other Capra films. Other reviewers discuss the extremely diverse and talented cast. But I want to mention the reason this film has remained a favorite of mine for many years. The theme of this film is that our character grows when we give to others. This is a more subtle message than the message that we should help the poor or the less fortunate. The message behind "Pocketful of Miracles" is that true giving is giving of yourself in relationship to the one who receives. Because the characters of Glenn Ford and Hope Lange are in relationship with Apple Annie (played by Betty Davis)they continually extend themselves and become better people for it. When the mobster, Ford, bought an apple from homeless Apple Annie every day, he was giving to the poor. When he takes the amazing leap of helping this woman create a vast hoax to protect her daughter's future, he has done more and he becomes more.
Call me sentimental, I don't care. I think the film is great!
Movie Review: A Lovely Film
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this movie on the big screen at its original release and found it charming, but I must admit it was not my favorite Bette Davis performance, so much had come before it showing Davis at her exceptional best. Now, these many years later, I have a greater appreciation for her portrayal here and I find that I am quite pleasantly surprised at her work. There is a subtle revelation of who Apple Annie really is that is quite beautiful to see. Her performance is so reserved that she seems to give the picture away to her co-stars, but what is actually happening is a remarkably intelligent development of character that only adds to Davis' range as an actor. She is, in a word, superb. All the actors are wonderfully cast in this truly delightful gem of a Capra film. For Davis, an excellent cast and the overall high production standards of this movie - 5 stars.Movie Review: Great Christmas Story
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of my favorite Christmas Movies. I searched all over till I fond it on Amazon.com. I even watch it just when I need to have to feel like Christmas in July kind of thing. They don't make good old glamorous hollywood movies like this any more. If you can think of any pass it my way. When I watch a movie to be entertained I want to feel good when it's over...sometimes I just don't want it to end.