Steve Martin,
Bernadette Peters,
Christopher Walken,
Jessica Harper,
John McMartin
... see more 
Adapted from Dennis Potter's landmark British TV miniseries and relocated to the United States during the Depression, Pennies from Heaven dramatizes how popular songs both shaped and reflected the tho... read more
DVD Release Date: July 27, 2004
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Stats: 170 reviews
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Flixster Reviews (170)
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August 16, 2011People trying to escape to a fantasy world where songs make up for the harsh reality they live in is a subject I find utterly appealing, even more if there is a lively, playful mastermind behind it to inject a good measure of black humour to the mix. Too bad Dennis Potter's amazi... read more
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May 26, 2008fb20312798As fun as the musical numbers are, there is some very dark drama in this movie. I liked how everyone lip-syncs to the actual songs recorded in the 1930s. Here Steve Martin shows what a good actor he is as well as a dancer. Christopher Walken strip-teaseling to "Lets Misbehave" th... read more
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January 31, 2007The most depressing musical of all time. Easy 5 stars.
I wonder if Lars Von Trier saw this? -
December 30, 2010Dec 2010 - This is a very interesting musical. The story is not that interesting but the style and how the music gets integrated into the movie makes it very thrilling. Steve Martin does a very good job and he clearly became a jerk in various parts of the movie.
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August 9, 2009This movie is probably one of the few that accurately depicted the zeitgeist of the depression. From it's hunger, to it's desperation, to it's fantasies this musical so amazingly brings it to life. I love that they draw on the photo and art images of the time (they reenact my fav... read more
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December 19, 2008Fascinating, gutsy, dark musical that combines a gritty story with difficult characters, and spectacular musical numbers. Not easy material to accept, but challenging, with superb cinematography by Gordon Willis.
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November 8, 2008this film is the closest thing to a noir musical out there. ross buffed a lot of the rough edges off his adaptation of the bbc tv series of the same name. but the visuals owe so much to the paintings of hopper as well as the noir films of the 40s that it deserves its place in a ... read more
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February 6, 2008One of my favorite movie musicals ever. Not as complex as the BBC mini-series it's based on (starring the best actor EVER, Bob Hoskins), but it stands up great on its own. It's unlike any musical I'd ever seen, none of the characters actually singing, but rather lip-synching ol... read more
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May 30, 2007A different side of Steve Martin. This is the musical for people that don't normally like musicals. The attention spent on the period art direction is gorgeous. Plus it's the first glimpse we get of Christopher Walkens amazing dance moves.
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December 31, 2006wow steve martin is a good dancer! but teh movie is kind of meh. the songs are cool. i just watch them a lot now.
Critic Reviews
February 2, 2009
Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine
May 20, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety
Almost as if he were directing Pinter, Herbert Ross has actors speak a line, then wait two beats before delivering the next phrase. Technique smothers such ordinarily lively performers as Martin, Pete... Full Review
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Pennies from Heaven is dazzling and disappointing in equal measure. Full Review
August 30, 2004
Vincent Canby, New York Times
The movie, though, is not easy to respond to. It's chilly without being provocative in any intellectual way. Full Review
January 1, 2000
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
he point is made endlessly, though it's in the film's favor that it's made with seriousness, consideration, and a certain amount of imagination. Full Review
December 5, 2011
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
A bit of filmmaking as film criticism to be respected and admired above and beyond its relationship to the legendary miniseries that it pushed out of print for more than 20 years. Full Review
May 20, 2008
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Not for everyone, but those who respond to it will find it unforgettable. Full Review
March 8, 2008
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Underrated, fascinating musical starring Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters.
July 8, 2007
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
O ótimo conceito deste musical torna-se ainda mais fascinante graças às belas coreografias, aos ricos figurinos, à impecável direção de arte e, é claro, à magnífica fotografia de Gordon Willis.
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Pennies From Heaven
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