Pennies from Heaven

US (1936): Musical/Comedy

While imprisoned on a false charge, a singer (Bing Crosby) meets an inmate on death row (John Gallaudet). The inmate tells the singer that to atone for the murder for which he is to be executed, he is leaving his family estate to the relatives of the man he killed, and asks the singer that when he gets out, to help the family move into their new home. However, upon moving in, the family and the singer discover that their new home may be haunted.

Aside from Crosby's easy-going personality and his easy-listening crooning, Madge Evans' blonde beauty and Edith Fellows' temper tantrums controlled only by Crosby, whose "taming of the shrew" is through his singing, the supporting cast also features a very young Louis Armstrong as Henry, the hired hand, trumpeter and vocalist of the Haunted House Cafe; Nana Bryant as Mrs. Howard; Charles C. Wilson as the Warden; and character actress Nydia Westman appearing briefly as the landlady.

The nice tunes, compliments of songwriters Johnny Burke and Arthur Johnston include: "So Do I" (sung by Bing Crosby); "Pennies From Heaven" (sung by Crosby to Edith Fellows during a thunder storm); "Skeleton in the Closet" (sung by Louis Armstrong); "Let's Call a Heart a Heart" (sung by Crosby to Madge Evans); "One, Two, Button My Shoe" (sung by Crosby and orphan children); "So Do I" and "One, Two, Button My Shoe" (reprise/finale). (IMDb)

· Music Best Song 1936: "Pennies From Heaven" Arthur Johnston - Music, Johnny Burke - Lyric (First title song to be nominated for Best Song)

1 nomination