Pennies from Heaven

There isn't anything quite like PENNIES FROM HEAVEN, a musical comprised of Depression-era pop standards that bounces between stark, depressing realism and extravagant, lavish fantasy. The common thematic link is desperation, brilliantly embodied by Steve Martin's struggling salesman/would-be showman. If anything, it can be too bleak--but that's also what sets it apart, while deepening the impact of its soaring sensory highs.

The most lascivious step-dancing musical I've ever seen, with Steve Martin starring as a pervy jerkwad opposite a slutty Bernadette Peters (but they are both inexplicably lovable) in a lackadaisically plotted but nevertheless seriously oddball romantic romp. Most of the numbers are actual 20s and 30s recordings lip-synced by sometimes hilariously mismatched characters. It's so rare to see a young Peters outside of the Muppet Show, but she is an absolutely riveting performer

Charming and stylish, with a melancholy streak. Vintage songs and dancing express the characters' emotions when words aren't enough.

A lovely modern fable that is a perfect companion film to Von Trier's Dancer in the Dark. Steve Martin's take on the idealistic Arthur was criminally underpraised, as was the subtle but powerful Jessica Harper. The musical numbers are lovely, and any film that provides a monumental dance number from Christopher Walken is a masterpiece especially when in this rich of a film.

A clever blend of entertainment and social comment about the gap between the happy songs of the Depression, and the grim realities of those caught in the web of fate. Elegantly designed and photographed, and thoroughly unusual.

"Hollywood musical as psychotic episode". Ooooooooookay. Not as clever or as captivating as it thinks it is. There's something to be said, however, for any movie that has Christopher Walken dance and Jessica Harper appear topless

hit me in just the right spot. "it's impossible to explain. not the kind of thing you can put into words .... OHHH YES IT ISSSS"

It pales in comparison to the brilliant mini-series but even though quite a lot is lost in the adaptation, it's still a solidly streamlined repackaging that is peppered with accomplished song and dance numbers. Not a fan of Peters' performance, however.

"I'm curious what my reaction - not knowing the story - to the film wouldn've been." http://illusionpodcast.blogspot.com/2015/10/episode-72-dennis-potters-pennies-from.html

Possibly the most uncommercial Hollywood musical ever made, the lavishly produced, boldly experimental Pennies from Heaven landed with a thud on release. I'm not sure it always works (the juxtaposition of the romantic songs and the cruel reality of daily life is perhaps a bit too bludgeoning and heavy handed), but the musical numbers are really quite extraordinary. Christopher Walken, holy shit.

While i have certain reservations about this (Steve Martin is sort of goofily miscast, it seems kind of insane to cast Bernadette Peters in a movie where she lipsyncs...) i have to say, fundamentally it succeeds by understanding exactly the things that Woody Allen failed to in Purple Rose of Cairo, even if it is sort of mean-spirited as a result. It may essentially be a musical for people who cynically hate musicals, but it's also (unintentionally?) a great critique of patriarchal capitalism.

Steve Martin and Christopher Walken in a musical cool? Well, it had some moments, but mostly it fell flat. I hated how they did the music in this.

74.000

In a close race with Pink Floyd: The Wall for the title of greatest movie musical to come out of the 1980s. A bleak and hopeless look back at the Great Depression. Christopher Walken is brilliant.

One of Hollywood's unlikeliest projects: a musical where all the actors lip-sync to old recordings, which features lavish production numbers, Depression-era malaise, stars Steve Martin, is rated R--and is quite good, too. While the story is a bit thin (pared down from a seven-hour miniseries), Dennis Potter's genius shines through, Martin is good, Bernadette Peters excellent, and the lavish, audacious production is often awe-inspiring--including Christopher Walken's wondrous tap dance showcase.

cool performances, loved the dance numbers. esp. the one with walken. wtfawesome ending. :D

All of the film's most successful elements, the production design, the performances, the wonderfully staged dance numbers, the use of original and aged recordings in lieu of the actors' voices are interesting on an academic level. But they don't have unique and original characters or stories to support, so the film feels less like a coherent whole and more like a series of set pieces. While I've never seen the original Mini-Series, I must admit, something about the film feels very abridged.

A pretty good American remake of a great British mini-series. One great moment: Christopher Walken's dance number.

Bold, original, innovative, extraordinary, unprecedented -- these are some of the adjectives we have been programmed to apply to this Depression-period musical. They all do apply, though only to a moderate degree. Make that, on second thought, a minimal degree.