MovieChat Forums > Pennies from Heaven (1982) Discussion > I hate this movie, power

I hate this movie, power

posted 8 years ago by laxlon
7 replies | jump to latest

I saw this movie when when it first came out and I hated it. In fact I think I walked out on it.

I kind of saw it again tonight using my fast forward most of the time. But I stopped for the musical numbers. They are terrific.

Lip syncing to old records is unique fun. The staging and the unexpected dancing talent of Steve Martin and Christopher Walkin is amazing. Worth the price of watching the whole film? No. But if you record it and just fast forward to the musical numbers you will have an entertaining half hour.

To this day I couldn't tell you what the story is about. I was surprises to read there was a murder in the film. I must have fast forwarded over that part. Surprising this film was ever made. Cost 22 million, earned 3 million. Wow, thats bad. But now i do appreciate the musical numbers.

"It costs extra to carve 'Schmuck' on a tombstone, but you would definitely be worth it."

[–] Wuchak (8100) 5 years ago

The song & dance routines occur about every 7 minutes and are an amusingly kinetic counterpoint to the sad Depression-era dramatics. Martin is his usual comical self, but the drama is definitely not a comedy and contains some seriously unsavory moments.

“Pennies from Heaven” was the precursor to musicals like “Chicago” (2002) and “Nine” (2009), but those films have superior reality-based stories and far better women, especially “Chicago” as far as the women go. But Bernadette is a joy to behold as usual; and Martin is charismatic despite playing a man of dubious character.

[–] twinA (4826) 5 years ago

Having not seen the film, is it accurate to say that "Pennies from Heaven" is not meant to be so reality-based? The contrast of the interludes between the merry charm music numbers and their charm versus the bleak nature of the Great Depression is very reminiscent of Disney's "Song of the South" (1946), where people take a break from their hard lives by singing troubles away, which they have little to no control over in the largely rural parts of Post American Civil War U.S. state of Georgia.

~~/o/

[–] Wuchak (8100) 5 years ago

I meant that the dramatic parts of "Chicago" and "Nine" are based on real stories; the script just changed the names of the characters. Other than this factor, the drama of "Pennies from Heaven" struck me as the harsh realities of life during the Depression; no doubt it reflected several real-life stories.

The contrast of the interludes between the merry charm music numbers and their charm versus the bleak nature of the Great Depression

Well put. I just found the dramatic parts of "Chicago" and "Nine" more compelling than the same in "Pennies from Heaven." All three movies are cut from the same cloth though. "Pennies" was twenty years ahead-of-its-time, but bombed at the box office. I guess "Nine" didn't do so well either.

[–] twinA (4826) 5 years ago

Very informative. Thanks Wu [read your classy exchange with R_Kane in the "Abduction in Plain Sight" (2017) thread]. What is really striking about the Great Depression is getting to see photos of people and places of it in color. While it does not change the mood, the tone changes for the viewer and the events do not seem to have taken place so long ago. 4 of these pictures are from the era:

www.pastfactory.com/history/colorized-photos-that-redefine-history-as-we-know-it/?view-all
*link does not work* Look up "Colorized Photos That Redefine History As We Know It"; PastFactory website.

~~/o/

[–] Wuchak (8100) 5 years ago

Cool site; thanks, Twin. B&W photography is better than nothing, but offers a flat experience for the viewer; color makes everything come alive. It's why I like movies like "Tucker: The Man and His Dream," "The Godfather," "Bonnie and Clyde," "The Whole Wide World," "The Thin Red Line" and "The Cider House Rules" (to name a handful off the top of my head set in the 30s-40s).

[–] twinA (4826) 5 years ago

Thanks again, and for the nice film selection too. I will take your recommendations. You may refer to me as twinA, Twin A, Twin, or just A; it does not matter much. What could be said for B&W photography is that the varying degrees between light and darkness, shadow, and reflection, are more prominent. Interesting how changing certain factors adds or lessens depth.

~~/o/

[–] Wuchak (8100) 5 years ago

Yeah, sometimes B&W works well, like "Wizard of Oz" and some film noir, even though I'm usually not a fan (but if it's a great movie I'll enjoy it anyway, like "The Young Lions").