Pocketful of Miracles main backdrop
Pocketful of Miracles main poster

Pocketful of Miracles

Visit website

7.3/10 • 165

1961-12-182h 16m

ComedyDrama

You have to see it to belove it!

A New York gangster and his girlfriend attempt to turn street beggar Apple Annie into a society lady when the peddler learns her daughter is marrying royalty.

Directors
Frank Capra
Editors
Frank P. Keller

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. Glenn Ford

    Glenn Ford

    Dave 'The Dude' Conway

  2. Bette Davis

    Bette Davis

    Apple Annie

  3. Hope Lange

    Hope Lange

    Elizabeth 'Queenie' Martin

  4. Arthur O'Connell

    Arthur O'Connell

    Count Alfonso Romero

  5. Peter Falk

    Peter Falk

    Joy Boy

  6. Thomas Mitchell

    Thomas Mitchell

    Judge Henry G. Blake

  7. Edward Everett Horton

    Edward Everett Horton

    Hudgins

  8. Mickey Shaughnessy

    Mickey Shaughnessy

    Junior

  9. David Brian

    David Brian

    Governor

Reviews1

View Reviews
CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Jan 9, 2023

6/10

The start of this film reminded me of the lady who sold bird seed in "Mary Poppins" - the down-at-heel but kind hearted "Annie" (Bette Davis) who scrapes a living together thanks largely to the generosity of local gangster "Dude" (Glenn Ford). What nobody else knows, however, is that she secretly has a daughter living in Spain who thinks her mother is wealthy, living in a suite at a fancy hotel. When "Louise" (Ann-Margret) writes to say that she will soon visit with her fiancée - A Spanish aristocrat; this throws quite a spanner in the works for "Annie". Luckily, "Dude" is determined to rope in his contacts to try to help her impersonate the grand role she has represented herself as having - despite trying to get a the biggest deal of his own over the line. This causes no end of chagrin for the undoubted star of the picture - Peter Falk. He is the right hand man who gradually watches the planning and organising of this charade subsume everything else, and it's slowly driving him nuts. To be honest, the central portion of this comedy also drove me a bit nuts too. It borders too closely on the farcical, with Ford trying far too hard and seeing only fleeting appearances from the increasingly sidelined Davis. It steadies itself better for the last twenty minutes or so, but is really just too long with the joke too thinly spread and the slapstick humour all a bit too in-your-face for me. The writing is generally good, though, with some fine quips - especially from Falk, and the film looks great whilst taking a gentle swing at the political class as they all flock to the side of this minor Count from Spain. I did quite enjoy it, but sadly it isn't one of Frank Capra's more focussed efforts, nor is it one of his more poignant or amusing stories.

Media

  • Pocketful of Miracles backdrop
  • Pocketful of Miracles backdrop

Recommendations

  • Lost Horizon main backdrop

    Lost Horizon

    7.0

  • Christmas Rematch main backdrop

    Christmas Rematch

    6.8

  • The Nanny main backdrop

    The Nanny

    6.9

  • Experiment in Terror main backdrop

    Experiment in Terror

    7.1

  • A Hole in the Head main backdrop

    A Hole in the Head

    6.1

  • Gunman's Walk main backdrop

    Gunman's Walk

    6.7

  • Darby O'Gill and the Little People main backdrop

    Darby O'Gill and the Little People

    6.7

  • All This, and Heaven Too main backdrop

    All This, and Heaven Too

    7.1

  • Non ti pago! main backdrop

    Non ti pago!

    7.1

  • Porky's Revenge main backdrop

    Porky's Revenge

    5.4

  • Planet of the Vampires main backdrop

    Planet of the Vampires

    6.5

  • The Cave of the Golden Rose main backdrop

    The Cave of the Golden Rose

    6.4

  • Rabid Dogs main backdrop

    Rabid Dogs

    7.6

  • Imitation of Life main backdrop

    Imitation of Life

    7.4

  • Marrakech Express main backdrop

    Marrakech Express

    7.3

  • What's Up, Doc? main backdrop

    What's Up, Doc?

    7.3

  • The War of the Roses main backdrop

    The War of the Roses

    6.9

  • What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? main backdrop

    What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

    7.9

  • Duck, You Sucker main backdrop

    Duck, You Sucker

    7.7

  • Welcome to Marwen main backdrop

    Welcome to Marwen

    6.5

Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
$2,900,000.00
Revenue
$5,000,000.00
Keywords
new york cityprohibition eragangsterdeceptionapplemakeoverluckdowagerhigh societypeddlerlucky charmmother daughter reunion1930scrooked judgelong lost daughterelaborate rusemother daughter relationshipstreet peddler