|
Pocketful of MiraclesRating:
Release Date: 18 September, 2001 Retail Price: $14.95 OUR Price: $12.99 You SAVE: $1.96! Cast: Complete Cast (15 total) |
Pocketful of Miracles Reviews
A forgotten Christmas charmer.
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.
After 45 years, this remains great entertainment
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!
More Customer Reviews (12 total)
You like Pocketful of Miracles?
|
© 2004, 2005, 2006 DVD Booty | Don't Plunder Our Cache of Booty, Matey!
Hosting made possible by donations from Debt Management Department
