Pennies From Heaven

Rating:
Summary: Emotinally distancing oddity
Review: "Pennies From Heaven" is Herbert Ross' entry in the shattered-illusions-during-the-Depression group of films whose best examples are "Purple Rose of Cairo" and "Road to Perdition." This anti-musical remake of a BBC series mixes intentionally mechanical 1930s-style dance routines with a sad, downward-spiraling plot about a traveling music salesman (Steve Martin) whose self-absorption ruins the lives of his wife (Jessica Harper) and his schoolteacher-lover (Bernadette Peters) as well as his own.
Martin surprised critics at the time with his fine, smooth dancing, but in his comedy acts he always had displayed a dancer's grace. But the film is a musical tragedy, and it turned off a lot of audiences of the time, particularly since the actors lip-synch the ghostly voices of 1930s stars like Bing Crosby. Martin physically inhabits the character even if his line readings are a trifle flat. Harper (ubiquitous in the early 1980s) and Peters are riveting. Probably the best-remembered sequence is Christopher Walken's amazing number as a singing, dancing pimp, which is worth the price of the DVD alone. Gordon Willis shot the film, so it is beautiful and dark; but the film remains a sad, beautiful curiosity, one that you admire more than you like. Extras include a repetitious commentary by critic Peter Rainer.


Rating:
Summary: This title was stolen from a wonderful old movie!
Review: As a child I watched the wonderful movie; Pennies from Heaven, with Jimmie Durante. Wonderful. And certainly nothing a normal person with clean mind couldn't watch. I'm sick of rated R movies. Thanks I'll pass on this one!

Rating:
Summary: A SURREAL MUSICAL LET-DOWN - TRANSFER NOTHING TO TALK ABOUT!
Review: Director, Herbert Ross' "Pennies From Heaven" (1981) is the enchanting musical remake and amalgamation of the 1936 Bing Crosby film vehicle of the same name, and inspired by Dennis Potter's 1978 BBC miniseries starring Bob Hoskin. That it was ill received upon its initial release, and failed to find an audience eagerly applauding from their seats, speaks to the fact that musicals were sadly out of vogue during the 80s and that stylistically - realism was prided over fantasy. Ironically, the central appeal of this remake lies in its nostalgic commitment to a repertoire of songs that betrayed the conventions of pop culture circa 1981. And the dance sequences, accompanied by lip synced vocals, are nevertheless first rate and staged with a vitality and brilliance not seen on the screen since the golden age of Busby Berkeley.

The juxtaposition of the harsh socio-economic conditions of the Great Depression with the escapist effervescence fueling its popular music, layer an absurdity in spectacle onto everyday lives mired in dismal grime - adultery, prostitution, unemployment, poverty and murder. These quandaries are magically teleported into eye-candied enchantment. Each musical number mounts its 30s Hollywood kitsch until the dichotomy between fantasy and reality reaches an impossible split. The results are dark, but dazzling, flawed, yet fascinating; a character study mounted on cardboard and sour cream, a downer - perhaps, but always with a song in its heart.

Steve Martin stars as Arthur Parker, a '30s-era traveling sheet-music salesman whose marriage to Joan (Jessica Harper) mirrors the bleakness of Depression ridden Chicago. After suggesting to Joan that she go the route of a sultry tart - and having the idea coldly rejected, Arthur embarks on an ill fated affair with teacher, Eileen (Bernadette Peters). The ensnarement of Arthur's bitter marriage is contrasted by the exuberant versatility he shares in his passion with Eileen. However the ménage a trois becomes increasing complex as Joan gravitates closer to Arthur's ideal and Eileen becomes more like the old Joan. Worse, Eileen becomes pregnant - a consequence doomed to tragedy in the end.

Martin's performance is perhaps one of his best; a bizarrely conflicted, gentile and greedy showman who secretly lusts for the naughty, guilty little pleasures that his song book of dreams never quite alludes to. Arthur's own perversions mirror those of The Accordion Man (Vernel Barneris) an optimist turned rapist and murderer after his affections for a blind girl are thwarted. At first maligned by Arthur, The Accordion Man is treated to dinner as something of a half hearted apology. This sequence segues into the film's most glorious production number. Barneris' fluid motions and miming of Arthur Tracy's Pennies from Heaven creates a slow-mo cascade of coinage from the sky - a symbolic prelude of the darkness that is to come to all their lives.

Warner's transfer is something of a disappointment. In previous releases the film exhibited a very grainy and very soft image. Though this DVD incarnation is anamorphic, both of these characteristics continue to exist in the image. Colors can, at times, be rich and vibrant. Overall the picture suffers from a harsh visual quality in which blacks are not very solid and contrast levels are poorly rendered. Occasionally there is a bit of edge enhancement that crops up as well as some pixelization but these do not distract. Also, certain scenes are more softly focused than others. The audio has been remixed and cleaned up. Although there's no getting around the fact that these improvements still represent a very dated audio characteristic, the vintage of the film itself, as well as the original recordings used for the production numbers, should discount whatever misgivings a true audiophile may have. Extras include a commemorative featurette with stars reminiscing, as well as scene specific commentary track provided by film critic, Peter Rainer.


Rating:
Summary: The Truth About the Best "Musical" Ever
Review: Don't Listen to : Peter McLuskie from New Zealand. He says the ending of the movie is happy. That shows how intellectual the picture is, you have to realize that was merely another in a cycle of surreal and innovative delusions. This movies touches human issues and doesn't shy away from a true ending...which makes it a masterpiece.

Rating:
Summary: Last MGM musical
Review: Great dance numbers like those of the 40's, music is great, story line a little off beat for that time. All in all I thought it as a great film. Martin likes to do off beat movies, see "Dead men don't wear plaid"

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: I cannot believe that this is Steve Martin's first movie in a musical/comedy. He is terrific. I had never heard of Bernadette Peters as she has performed mainly on Broadway and I live in Australia but she is great as well. The music and dance scenes are about as good as you can get. A most extremely enjoyable and entertaining movie. A great addition to any one's collection to pull out, sit back and relax for a couple of hours.

Rating:
Summary: Disturbing morality play
Review: I delighted in the lip-syncing effects of good old music, but unseated by grim lives. Next morning I rethought my reaction, and think it one of my favorite movies. It's a cautionary tale, a morality play. This is not the best of all possible worlds. Be careful.

Rating:
Summary: Martin's Shining Moment
Review: I don't know why I didn't see this film on it's original theatrical run back in 1981. I saw "The Jerk" at least 3 times a few years earlier. Maybe I didn't want to see the "wild and crazy guy" in a dark role. It's just as well I didn't see it then because I probably wouldn't have appreciated the film's considerable merits. I'm not a big fan of musicals per se but the period music is great and the sets and dancing are good, too. But it's Steve Martin's performance as the heel that stands out. Why is this such a good performance? Because you hate the things that Martin's Arthur Parker does yet you do not hate the character. You can empathize with his explanations for his malevolent attitude. A bonus here is Christopher Walken's cameo as a lothario who seduces the "good" Bernadette Peters to the bad side. You can say this film was ahead of it's time, but it's doubtful that it would find a wide audience today. Because of the darkness of it's themes, I'm surprised it was ever made at all.

Rating:
Summary: Good Steve Martin Movie
Review: I really enjoyed Steve Martin's "Pennies From Heaven". It is a sad story line. But the songs and dance numbers keep the film moving. Steve Martin is great as the traveling salesman who is having a hard time getting his life together.
Bernadette Peters is fantastic as a women he meets and seduces. It was interesting seeing the choices her character makes. And I think Bernadette Peters did a good job here as an actress.
Also, outstanding was Christopher Walken's performance. Its amazing watching him dance.
The film is very interesting. And it is interesting watching Steven Martin perform in this dramatic role.

Rating:
Summary: A cynical and disturbing movie
Review: I watched this movie yesterday, after I had finished watching an old Doris Day movie. The contrast between the two was stark. Throughout the entire movie "Pennies From Heaven" I was constantly searching for something to like about the movie, but to no avail. I love all of those old movies and songs, but to see them put in such disgusting context was almost like spitting on the grave of a dearly loved old friend. To me, they represent an age of innocence and tastefulness, and I resented seeing them mocked and degraded as they were in this film. I hope that anyone who has not yet seen this movie will not waste their time on it, and that the effects it has had on those who have seen will soon be forgotten. There are people out there who are honest, loyal and kind- though watching this movie makes one doubt that fact. That is why I recommend that every copy of this movie be burned, because it is disastrous to humanity. It eats away at a person's sense of security and hope, and I went away from this movie feeling depressed and sad- sad that american society has come to this. It's a shame that a movie like that can be called entertainment.