Pennies from Heaven 1936

Pennies from Heaven


Columbia, 1936, B/W, 80 minutes, ***½

Released November, 1936



Legendary crooner Bing Crosby sings and dances his way through this charming and delightful story of a wanderer who drifts into the lives and hearts of the residents of the small town of Middletown, New Jersey. Featuring music and lyrics by Johnny Burke and Arthur Johnston, including the classics "So Do I," "Pennies from Heaven" (Academy Award nominee for Best Music / Song), "Skeleton in the Closet" and "Let's Call a Heart a Heart".



With incredible supporting performances by the amazing Louis Armstrong, the beautiful Madge Evans, and the talented Edith Fellows, Pennies from Heaven is one of the crown jewels from the golden age of Hollywood when real stars weren't found only in heaven... and a fistful of pennies still went a long way.


An Emanuel Cohen production

Directed by: Norman Z. McLeod

Screen Play: Jo Swerling

Based on The Peacock Feather by Katherine Leslie Moore)

and the Story by William Rankin

Music: Arthur Johnston

Lyrics: John Burke

Song Arrangements: John Scott Trotter

Musical Director: George Stoll

Technical Advisor: Norman Blackburn

Art Director: Stephen Goosson

Photography: Robert Pittack

Film Editor: John Rawlins



Awards: nominated for Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song "Pennies from Heaven" (words by Johnny Burke, music by Arthur Johnston)



Cast: Bing Crosby [Larry Poole], Madge Evans [Susan Sprague], Edith Fellows [Patsy "Sarge" Smith], Louis Armstrong [Henry], Donald Meek [Gramps], John Gallaudet [J. C. Hart], William Stack [Clarence B. Carmichael], Nana Bryant [Miss Howard], Tommy Dugan [Crowbar Miller], Nydia Westman [Hotel Maid], Additional Cast: Lew Kelly [Sheriff], Stanley Blystone [Detective Gilroy], Stanley Andrews [Detective Stephens], Eddie Borden [Bilkins], Billy Dooley [W. F. Arbuthnot], Lionel Hampton [Band Member], Charles C. Wilson [Warden], Howard C. Hickman [Chaplain], Budd Fine, Harry Hollingsworth [Prison Guards], Maston Williams [Prisoner], William Anderson [Western Union Messenger], Mickey Daniels [Hay Wagon Driver], Harry Depp [Union Costume Supply Man], Arthur Hoyt [Tax Collector], Tiny Jones [Little Woman at Window], Margaret Mann [White Haired Woman], Russ Powell [Coin Tosser], Syd Saylor [Sign Painter], Frank Darien [Chicken Farmer], Brick Sullivan [Smiling Cop in Central Park], Harry Tyler [Carnival Concessionaire], George Chandler [Waiter], Dorothy Vernon [Restaurant Patron], Morgan Wallace [Restaurant Partner], Helen Dickson, Sheldon Jett [Nightclub Extras], Eugene Anderson, Jr., George Billings [Boys], Nick Copeland [Middle-aged man], Frank Austin, Edward Peil, Sr. [Old Men]



Musical Program: [0:00] Main Title ("Pennies from Heaven") (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:07] So Do I (sung by Bing Crosby, danced by Edith Fellows); [0:16] Old MacDonald (Had a Farm) (with special lyric, sung by Edith Fellows, Bing Crosby and Donald Meek); [0:24] Pennies from Heaven (sung by Bing Crosby); [0:41] The Skeleton in the Closet (sung by Louis Armstrong); [0:46] Let's Call a Heart a Heart (sung by Bing Crosby); [1:05] Pennies from Heaven (sung by Bing Crosby); [1:06] One, Two Button Your Shoe (sung by Bing Crosby); [1:14] So Do I (sung by Bing Crosby); [1:19] One, Two Button Your Shoe (continued by Bing Crosby)