Pennies From Heaven (1981)

Dennis Potter’s TV serial is given the Hollywood treatment here with Steve Martin playing troubled sheet music salesman Arthur Parker.

It’s set in Chicago during the Depression, where Martin’s frustrated marriage spurs him into a dangerous dalliance with feisty schoolteacher Eileen (Bernadette Peters).

The drama is offset and enriched by their happy-go-lucky musical numbers – by far the most enjoyable feature of the film.

The cinematography is rich and slick, the leads are engaging and Christopher Walken’s version of The Full Monty is a showstopper.

Arthur Parker
Steve Martin
Eileen
Bernadette Peters
Tom
Christopher Walken
Joan
Jessica Harper
Accordion man
Vernel Bagneris
Mr Warner
John McMartin
Detective
John Karlen
Banker
Jay Garner
Al
Robert Pitch
Ed
Tommy Rail
Blind girl
Eliska Krupka
Bartender
Frank McCarthy

Director
Herbert Ross

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