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In Heaven There Is No Beer?

  • 19841984
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 51m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
323
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • IMDbPro
In Heaven There Is No Beer? (1984)
  • Documentary
  • Music
A portrait of the life, culture and food surrounding the lovers of Polka music. The title is taken from an old Polka standard. Stars of the Polka world are highlighted.A portrait of the life, culture and food surrounding the lovers of Polka music. The title is taken from an old Polka standard. Stars of the Polka world are highlighted.A portrait of the life, culture and food surrounding the lovers of Polka music. The title is taken from an old Polka standard. Stars of the Polka world are highlighted.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
323
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Les Blank
  • Stars
    • Dick Pillar
    • Walter Szczypula
    • Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra
Top credits
  • Director
    • Les Blank
  • Stars
    • Dick Pillar
    • Walter Szczypula
    • Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1User review
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 2 nominations

    Photos

    In Heaven There Is No Beer? (1984)
    In Heaven There Is No Beer? (1984)
    In Heaven There Is No Beer? (1984)
    In Heaven There Is No Beer? (1984)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dick Pillar
    • Selfas Self
    Walter Szczypula
    • Selfas Self
    Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra
    • Selfas Self
    The Marion Lush Orchestra
    • Selfas Self
    Marv Herzog
    • Selfas Self
    Janice E. Kleeman
    • Selfas Self
    • (as Dr. Janice E. Kleeman)
    Flaco Jiménez
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    Lil' Wally
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    • (as Li'l Wally Jagiello)
    Henry Cygan
    • Selfas Self
    Alvin Sajewski
    • Selfas Self
    Jeannette Terlikowski
    • Selfas Self
    Ken Ostrowski
    • Selfas Self
    Cheryl Ostrowski
    • Selfas Self
    Henry Jasiewicz
    • Selfas Self
    The Versa-J.'s
    • Selfas Self
    Louis Dolinic
    • Selfas Self
    • (as Father Louis Dolinic)
    Louie Dusseault
    • Selfas Self
    • (as 'Happy Louie' Dusseault)
    Michelle Osowiecki
    • Selfas Self
    • Director
      • Les Blank
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Connections
      Featured in Polka Happiness (2014)
    • Soundtracks
      In Heaven There Is No Beer
      Performed by The Dick Pillar Orchestra

    User reviews1

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    "Polka People are Happy People!"
    What? No reviews for this film as I write this? What a travesty! With a title like "In Heaven There is no Beer?", what else could this picture have been about but for the Polish dance tradition known as the polka. I actually caught this on Turner Classics along with some other virtually unknown musical documentaries and was quite entertained by them all. This one hearkens back to 1984, so it's already thirty years old, and while watching it looks almost like it could have been made in the 1950's. Not being critical here, the production company Flower Films almost certainly worked on a shoestring budget and did the best they could with what they had to work with.

    Most of the picture seems to have been shot in Polish communities in Pennsylvania, with cameos by easily a dozen different polka bands. Of particular interest to me was whether the Polka King from Florida, New York (my home town) would show up, and sure enough, there he was leading the Jimmy Sturr Band about the middle of the picture with a Rock of Ages medley. Other notable names from the Polka community included Eddie Blazonczyk, Walt Solek, Marion Lush, and Dick Pillar, founder of the Silver Springs Polkabration. I know, I know, the names probably won't mean anything to the casual reader here, but for Polka fans, this is a veritable nostalgia trip down memory lane.

    What certainly comes across in the documentary is the sense of community and identity that people of Polish background find by attending polka dances in their own towns, a tradition that seems to be maintaining it's popularity if I can judge by my own observations. I began polka dancing only a few short years ago, and it's a great way to have fun and get some exercise, especially when you start to get up there in age. Referring to my summary line above, I challenge anyone to find a person that isn't smiling while doing the polka.

    Like the man sang - "Walter Cronkite's got the news, but he ain't got no polka shoes."
    helpful•6
    0
    • classicsoncall
    • Aug 2, 2015

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 23, 1984 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Polish
    • Also known as
      • I himlen finns ingen öl?
    • Filming locations
      • New London, Connecticut, USA
    • Production company
      • Flower Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      51 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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