Pocketful of Miracles (1961)

Director:

Frank Capra

Writers:

Hal Kanter (screenplay) and
Harry Tugend (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

25 December 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

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...

Plot Keywords:

Apple | Luck | Daughter | Dude | Mother

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

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
Jay Novello	...	Cortego
Frank Ferguson	...	Newspaper Editor
Willis Bouchey	...	Newspaper Editor
Fritz Feld	...	Pierre
Ellen Corby	...	Soho Sal
Gavin Gordon	...	Mr. Cole
Benny Rubin	...	Flyaway
Jack Elam	...	Cheesecake
Mike Mazurki	...	Big Mike
Hayden Rorke	...	Police Captain Moore
Doodles Weaver	...	Pool Player
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Betty Bronson	...	Mayor's Wife (uncredited)
Paul E. Burns	...	Mallethead (uncredited)
Marc Cavell	...	Young Reporter (uncredited)
Jacqueline deWit	...	Louise (uncredited)
Josip Elic	...	Darcey Henchman (uncredited)
Tom Fadden	...	Herbie - Hotel Employee (uncredited)
Bernard Fein	...	Darcey's Henchman (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Pedestrian Entering Queenie Martin's Club (uncredited)
Peter Ford	...	Elevator Operator (uncredited)
Eddie Foster	...	Man in Pool Hall (uncredited)
Byron Foulger	...	Lloyd (uncredited)
James Griffith	...	Briscoe (uncredited)
Chuck Hamilton	...	Truck-Driving Hood (uncredited)
Peter Hansen	...	Governor's Aide (uncredited)
Stuart Holmes	...	Bald Patron at Queenie Martin's (uncredited)
Richard Karlan	...	Detective (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp	...	Dock Extra (uncredited)
Kermit Maynard	...	Newspaper Editor (uncredited)
Joe McTurk	...	Powder (uncredited)
Paul Micale	...	(uncredited)
Billy Nelson	...	Hood (uncredited)
Paul Newlan	...	Hood (uncredited)
'Snub' Pollard	...	Knuckles (uncredited)
Amanda Randolph	...	Annie's Neighbor (uncredited)
Angelo Rossitto	...	Angie (uncredited)
Michael Ross	...	Detective #1 (uncredited)
William F. Sauls	...	Smiley (uncredited)
Edgar Stehli	...	Gloomy (uncredited)
Bert Stevens	...	Dock Extra (uncredited)
George E. Stone	...	Shimkey (uncredited)
Harry Swoger	...	(uncredited)
Hal Taggart	...	Man Who Helps Annie (uncredited)
Kelly Thordsen	...	The Weasel (uncredited)
Romo Vincent	...	Brisbane (uncredited)
Sailor Vincent	...	Pool Hall Extra (uncredited)
Dick Wessel	...	Governor of Florida (uncredited)
Grace Lee Whitney	...	Queenie's 'Broad' in Black Dress (uncredited)
Harry Wilson	...	Slop - Pretends to be Governor of Utah (uncredited)

Directed by
Frank Capra

Writing credits
Hal Kanter		(screenplay) and
Harry Tugend		(screenplay)
Robert Riskin		earlier screenplay and
Damon Runyon		story
Jimmy Cannon		dialogue (uncredited)

Produced by
Frank Capra	....	producer
Glenn Ford	....	associate producer
Joseph Sistrom	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Walter Scharf

Cinematography by
Robert J. Bronner		(director of photography) (as Robert Bronner)

Film Editing by
Frank P. Keller

Art Direction by
Roland Anderson
Hal Pereira

Set Decoration by
Sam Comer
Ray Moyer

Costume Design by
Edith Head		(costumes)
Walter Plunkett		(costumes: men's)

Makeup Department
Nellie Manley	....	hairstyle supervisor
Wally Westmore	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
C. Kenneth Deland	....	unit production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Arthur S. Black Jr.	....	assistant director
Ralph Axness	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Frank Capra Jr.	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Gene Lauritzen	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)

Sound Department
Charles Grenzbach	....	sound recordist
Hugo Grenzbach	....	sound recordist
Hugo Grenzbach	....	recording director (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Farciot Edouart	....	process photography

Editorial Department
Nick Archer	....	assistant film editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Walter Scharf	....	music conductor
Gil Grau	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Nick Castle	....	choreographer

Production Companies

• Franton Productions

Distributors

• United Artists (1961) (USA) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1962) (France) (theatrical)
• United Artists Europa (1961) (Spain) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1964) (USA) (TV) (original airing) (pan/scan)
• Key Video (199?) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• Image Entertainment (1991) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1991) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Continental Home Vídeo (2002) (Brazil) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Dear-Warner Home Video (????) (Italy) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (France) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Paramount Studios  filming location

Runtime:

136 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | American Sign Language | Spanish

Colour:

Colour (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:K-12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #20029) | West Germany:6 | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Franton Productions

Trivia:

Before Bette Davis accepted the role, Shirley Booth was approached about playing Apple Annie. Booth viewed the original version of the film, Lady for a Day (1933), and informed director Frank Capra that there was no way she could match the Oscar-nominated performance of May Robson in the original film, and politely declined the role.

Goofs:

Factual errors: While walking past Broadway Theater, Apple Annie hollers good luck "tonight" to unseen Tallulah Bankhead, presumably on that evening's opening of a play. However, Bankhead did not appear on Broadway from 1922-1933 and movie is set in 1931.

Quotes:

Spanish Consul: Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to be proven an imbecile.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Killing Floor (2007)

Soundtrack:

Jarabe tapatio (Mexican Hat Dance)

Smart and Joyfull, made in Capra

I used to watch this movie once and again when I was a child. Didn't even know who Bette Davis or Frank Capra were, but already loved the film. The story is a remake of one of Capra's films of the 30's. Easy to follow, filled with smart humor and better acting. I admire the transformation of Bette Davis, great work along with wardrobe and make up departments! Last Capra's film, it has the typical characteristics of his career. The importance of emotions, the rhythm, the magic and the happy ending. It was the beginning of the future sex-symbol Ann Margret in a great and extensive cast. It's a great movie to watch with kids, or for cinema addicts looking for a rest.