Bing Crosby and a lute! I had never seen Pennies from Heaven until today (I did enjoy the song before however). I also didn't know that this was the film containing Lois Armstrong's performance of "skeleton in the closet", which is a great number and totally worth seeing.
Having said that, this story was a bit sad as it starts in prison where Bing's character meets a murderer on his was to the gallows who asks him to deliver a letter. It takes him a bit, but he eventually finds the addressee who happens to be a down on her luck orphan and her grandfather. Displaced from their home and on the verge of being thrown in an orphanage, the letter contains a key to a house that the murderer is giving to them, his victim's family, to try to make amends.
The locals think the house is haunted and taking advantage of it's reputation they open a Haunted House Cafe, where they intend to serve fried chicken and put on a musical show...that's where Louis Armstrong and his band come in performing "Skeleton in the closet".
I guess I have trouble getting behind vagabonds and drifters, which makes this stotyline hard for me to take. I do love my fellow Washingtonian Bing Crosby however, no one can sing quite like him...not then, and not now.
I know his character makes a distinction that he is a troubadour who sings for his supper vs a beggar who begs for his, but either way I am more inclined to respect people doing hard work for a decent days pay and earning their supper. Having said that there are some brilliant scenes and this film is a little bit of a time capsule...but it's a miss for me, keeping it off of my recommended list except for the hardcore Bing or Louis fans.
Having said that, this story was a bit sad as it starts in prison where Bing's character meets a murderer on his was to the gallows who asks him to deliver a letter. It takes him a bit, but he eventually finds the addressee who happens to be a down on her luck orphan and her grandfather. Displaced from their home and on the verge of being thrown in an orphanage, the letter contains a key to a house that the murderer is giving to them, his victim's family, to try to make amends.
The locals think the house is haunted and taking advantage of it's reputation they open a Haunted House Cafe, where they intend to serve fried chicken and put on a musical show...that's where Louis Armstrong and his band come in performing "Skeleton in the closet".
I guess I have trouble getting behind vagabonds and drifters, which makes this stotyline hard for me to take. I do love my fellow Washingtonian Bing Crosby however, no one can sing quite like him...not then, and not now.
I know his character makes a distinction that he is a troubadour who sings for his supper vs a beggar who begs for his, but either way I am more inclined to respect people doing hard work for a decent days pay and earning their supper. Having said that there are some brilliant scenes and this film is a little bit of a time capsule...but it's a miss for me, keeping it off of my recommended list except for the hardcore Bing or Louis fans.