PENNIES FROM HEAVEN (1936)

Pennies from Heaven (1936) Musical/comedy. Based on the novel The Peacock Feather by Katherine Leslie Moore. Columbia hired Jo Swerling to adapt into the script Pennies from Heaven (1936). (Swerling would later write Leave Her to Heaven, 1945, and It's a Wonderful Life, 1946.) Cast: Bing Crosby, Madge Evans, Edith Fellows, Louis Armstrong and Donald Meek.

The story begins when, Crosby's character is asked by a condemned prisoner, to take a letter to his little girl when he gets out of jail, and to move her and her grandfather into the old family home. Which they believe to be haunted. Crosby comes up with the idea to turn the house into a restaurant/nightclub called the Haunted House Cafe.

Susan Sprague works for the county welfare department and it is her job to see that Patsy goes to school or she have will go to an orphanage. Larry tries to help Gramps out with Patsy to save her from the orphanage. To make the money needed for a restaurant license, Larry takes a job at the circus, but is injured and ends up in the hospital. When Gramps comes to let him know that the county has taken Patsy. Larry believes Susan went behind his back and placed Patsy in the orphanage. You will have to watch to see what happens to Patsy's future.

FUN FACT:

Louis Armstrong was hired for this movie at Bing Crosby's insistence. Crosby also insisted that Armstrong receive prominent billing, the first time a black actor shared top billing with white actors in a major release film.

Soundtracks:

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"Pennies From Heaven"
(1936)
Music by Arthur Johnston
Lyrics by Johnny Burke
Played during the opening credits and often as background music
Sung by Bing Crosby

"Skeleton in the Closet"
(1936)
Music by Arthur Johnston
Lyrics by Johnny Burke
Performed by Louis Armstrong with Louis Armstrong and His Band

"So Do I"
(1936)
Music by Arthur Johnston
Lyrics by Johnny Burke
Sung by Bing Crosby and
Danced by Edith Fellows
Reprised by Crosby at the orphanage and in the New York City montage

"One Two Button Your Shoe"
(1936)
Music by Arthur Johnston
Lyrics by Johnny Burke
Sung by Bing Crosby at the orphanage
Reprised by a marching band

"Let's Call a Heart a Heart"
(1936)
Music by Arthur Johnston
Lyrics by Johnny Burke
Sung by Bing Crosby with Louis Armstrong and His Band
Played also as background music

"Old MacDonald Had a Farm"
(uncredited)
Traditional children's song
Sung by Bing Crosby, Edith Fellows and Donald Meek on the hay wagon