IMDb > Pocketful of Miracles (1961)
Pocketful of Miracles
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Pocketful of Miracles (1961) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 14 | slideshow) Videos
Pocketful of Miracles (1961) -- Boozy, brassy Apple Annie, a beggar with a basket of apples, is as much as part of downtown New York as old Broadway itself...

Oscar Nominations    Photos    more »

Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   2,274 votes
Your Rating:
Saving vote...
Deleting vote...
/10   (delete | history)
Sorry, there was a problem
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 7% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Hal Kanter (screenplay) and
Harry Tugend (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Pocketful of Miracles on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
25 December 1961 (USA) more
Genre:
Plot:
Boozy, brassy Apple Annie, a beggar with a basket of apples, is as much as part of downtown New York as old Broadway itself... more | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Glenn Ford: 1916 - 2006
 (From IMDb News. 31 August 2006)

Hope Lange: 1931-2003
 (From WENN. 22 December 2003)

User Reviews:
"The World's A Bright And Shiny Apple That's Mine, All Mine." more (33 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Glenn Ford ... Dave the Dude

Bette Davis ... Apple Annie

Hope Lange ... Queenie Martin
Arthur O'Connell ... Count Alfonso Romero

Peter Falk ... Joy Boy
Thomas Mitchell ... Judge Henry G. Blake

Edward Everett Horton ... Hudgins
Mickey Shaughnessy ... Junior
David Brian ... Governor
Sheldon Leonard ... Steve Darcey
Peter Mann ... Carlos Romero

Ann-Margret ... Louise
Barton MacLane ... Police Commissioner (as Barton Maclane)
John Litel ... Police Inspector McCrary
Jerome Cowan ... Mayor
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
136 min
Country:
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Final film of Frank Capra. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: Hope "Queenie" Lange is wearing 1950s stiletto heels. more
Quotes:
Junior: She's like a cockroach what turned into a butterfly! more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Deck the Halls more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
6 out of 7 people found the following review useful.
"The World's A Bright And Shiny Apple That's Mine, All Mine.", 29 April 2007
6/10
Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York

Frank Capra got out of the directing feature film business right after Pocketful of Miracles, creating a symmetry of sorts in his career because this is a remake of Lady for a Day, his first film to garner any kind of award nominations. He felt that it was a mistake going into partnership with a star, in this case Glenn Ford because it meant yielding creative control of the product.

You never know what you get with collaborative efforts. It could be something like Gone With The Wind or Mister Roberts. Or it could be something as disastrous as Desire Me (go check my user comments on that one). Pocketful of Miracles falls somewhere in the middle of that. I still remember seeing it and enjoying it as a lad.

Originally Frank Capra wanted to do Pocketful of Miracles with Frank Sinatra with whom he had done good work in A Hole in the Head. Sinatra proved unavailable except to record the title song for a best selling record with a kid's choir.

Lady for a Day back in 1933 boasted the performance of May Robson as the disheveled Apple Annie who has the secret daughter in a convent school in Spain. All the panhandlers and street grifters chip in and support the girl who's about to marry into nobility. But she wants to visit her mother before the vows are taken. She thinks Robson is a society matron.

Stepping in and doing more than an adequate job in the remake is Bette Davis. Capra did put a curb on the Davis grand manner during her scenes as the apple seller in Depression era New York. And he gave her free reign as society matron, Mrs. Worthington Manley.

Robson got an Academy Award nomination for Lady for a Day. Pocketful of Miracles boasts an acting nomination itself in the Supporting Actor category. In this case for Peter Falk as Glenn Ford's second in command in his gang. Capra had nothing but praise for Falk as an actor in his memoirs. I agree, the man's range is astonishing, he's capable of a lot more than Lieutenant Columbo.

Capra gathered his usual outstanding group of identifiable supporting players including a few who've seen service with him before. This film marked the farewell performance of Thomas Mitchell who graced so many classic films for Frank Capra and others. He's wonderful as the smooth talking pool shark that Ford drafts into being Davis's husband.

One career ends, another begins; this was the debut film for Ann-Margret playing Davis's daughter. She even gets to sing to her intended, a rather stiff young actor named Peter Mann of whom little was heard after this. Both were given billing as being introduced in Pocketful of Miracles.

Both Lady for a Day and Pocketful of Miracles were based on a Damon Runyon short story and Runyon certainly lavished love on the Broadway characters he created. One of the problems I've always had with both versions of this story is that for all everyone's good intentions which surprise everyone, a fraud is being perpetrated here. Will there be a happily ever after ending when it's discovered?

I guess the moral of the story is that if you get enough VIPs involved in the fraud it's OK. That's not a great lesson to learn.

But when written by Damon Runyon and directed by Frank Capra it's not something we think about too much.

Was the above review useful to you?
more (33 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Pocketful of Miracles (1961)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
A Remake PhilSom
Being Outed romero_vincent
DVD version missing scene? freesharon
question about mother/daughter relationship foxystoat
Classical Music? leojbramble
the ending armau
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Lady for a Day Pygmalion Titanic Rushmore Bride & Prejudice
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Comedy section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.