Pennies from Heaven
1981 · Movie · R · 108 min · ★ 6.1 · 73% critics
In Depression-era Chicago, a struggling sheet-music salesman tries to outrun a bleak marriage and a failing livelihood by chasing pop-song fantasies and a risky romance with a seemingly innocent teacher. As reality presses in, the story swings between hard times and upbeat musical daydreams that offer brief escape.
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Details
- Years
- 1981
- Release date
- 1981-12-11
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 73/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.1/10 (104 votes)
About
You may like this if you’re up for a dark, strange musical where cheerful old standards clash with grim drama and messy relationships; Not for you if you want a consistently uplifting, feel-good ride like Little Voice.
Pros: bold Depression-era mood; energetic musical numbers; memorable dance moments | Cons: bleak and uncomfortable; uneven tone shifts; hard-to-like lead
Themes
- chicago, illinois
- marriage
- musical
- great depression
- teacher
- traveling salesman
- 1930s
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Costume Design · 1982 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 1982 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Sound · 1982 · nominated
Cast & crew
Steve Martin
as Arthur
Bernadette Peters
as Eileen
Jessica Harper
as Joan
Vernel Bagneris
as The Accordion Man
John McMartin
as Mr. Warner
John Karlen
as The Detective
Jay Garner
as The Banker
- RF
Robert Fitch
as Al
Tommy Rall
as Ed
- EK
Eliska Krupka
as The Blind Girl
Directed by Herbert Ross