Pocketful of Miracles

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pocketful of Miracles
Directed by	Frank Capra
Written by	Robert Riskin
Starring	Glenn Ford Bette Davis Hope Lange Arthur O'Connell Peter Falk Edward Everett Horton Thomas Mitchell
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date(s)	December 19, 1961
Running time	136 min
Language	English
IMDb profile

Pocketful of Miracles is a 1961 film that was the last to be directed by Frank Capra. The screenplay was based on a story by Damon Runyon called Madame La Gimp and an earlier screenplay by Capra and Robert Riskin for Capra's Lady for a Day (1933). It starred Glenn Ford, Hope Lange, and Bette Davis. The supporting cast including Edward Everett Horton, Peter Falk and Ann-Margret in her film debut. The film proved to be director Capra's final production, and the last role of veteran actor Thomas Mitchell.

The film inspired the 1989 Jackie Chan film, Miracles.

Contents 1 Plot summary 2 Production 3 Awards and nominations 4 External links

[edit] Plot summary

Dave "the Dude" (Glenn Ford), a successful, but very superstitious New York City gangster, buys apples from street peddler Apple Annie (Bette Davis) to bring him luck. On the eve of a very important meeting however, he finds Annie in tears. It turns out that she has a grownup daughter, one she sent as a child to Europe for a fancy education and to avoid the shame of her family background. Now, Louise (Ann-Margret) is returning to introduce her mother, whom she has been led to believe is a wealthy socialite, to her aristocratic fiancé Carlos (Peter Mann) and his father, Count Alfonso Romero (Arthur O'Connell).

Dave's girlfriend "Queenie" Martin (Hope Lange) talks him into helping Annie pull off a deception. Dave acquires an instant husband for Annie, cultured pool hustler "Judge" Henry Blake (Thomas Mitchell), a butler named Hutchins (Edward Everett Horton), and all the props needed to fool Annie's guests, all while postponing his appointment with another powerful gangster, much to the exasperation and nervousness of Dave's right hand man, "Joy Boy" (Peter Falk). When nosy reporters get a whiff that something odd is going on, they are kidnapped. Finally, Dave manages to engineer a lavish reception, with the mayor and the governor as guests. Louise and her impressed future husband and father-in-law return to Europe none the wiser.

[edit] Production

Robert Osborne on Turner Classic Movies said Capra later complained about Glenn Ford's interference with the production.

[edit] Awards and nominations

• nomination for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor - Peter Falk

[edit] External links

• Pocketful of Miracles at the Internet Movie Database
• Pocketful of Miracles at the TCM Movie Database

v • d • e Films Directed by Frank Capra 1920s The Strong Man • For the Love of Mike • Long Pants • The Power of the Press • Say It with Sables • So This Is Love? • Submarine • The Way of the Strong • That Certain Thing • The Matinee Idol • Flight • The Donovan Affair • The Younger Generation 1930s Rain or Shine • Ladies of Leisure • Dirigible • The Miracle Woman • Platinum Blonde • Forbidden • American Madness • The Bitter Tea of General Yen • Lady for a Day • It Happened One Night • Broadway Bill • Mr. Deeds Goes to Town • Lost Horizon • You Can't Take It with You • Mr. Smith Goes to Washington 1940s Meet John Doe • Arsenic and Old Lace • It's a Wonderful Life • State of the Union 1950s-1960s Riding High • Here Comes the Groom • A Hole in the Head • Pocketful of Miracles