. . . may just see this flick as Peter Falk's chance to pick up an Oscar Nod for inventing the Bob De Niro\Al Pacino\Sylvester Stallone Branch of Italian Stallion Acting. The Deplorable Products of U.S. Strongman Vlad "The Mad Russian" Putin's American Secretary of Miseducation (Billionairess Betsy "Amway Calling" DeVos and her chains of For-Profit Charter Brainwashing Shacks) won't know the rest of the POCKETFUL OF MIRACLES story. POCKETFUL marks the final stages of Director Frank Capra's schizophrenic break with Reality. After an early Tinseltown career focused upon championing the Little Guy for low-rent movie studios (culminating with IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE), Capra signed a pact with Satan to destroy most of Hollywood by starring himself in IT'S A WEASEL's LIFE. Joining forces with fellow rat finks and closet KGB-controlled thugs such as John Ford, Elia Kazan, Ronald Reagan, Charlton Heston, Ward Bond, and the latter's sidekick Marion Mitchell "Il Duce" Morrison, Capra helped to jail or assassinate countless film giants including Dalton Trumbo, John Garfield, Errol Flynn, Anne Revere, Kirk Douglas, and Joseph L. Mankiewicz. POCKETFUL represents the victims of Capra's Cabal through "Apple Annie's" Beggars Guild. Capra anticipates Putin's successful U.S. Putsch through the Fat Cat One Per Centers threatening Annie's Family. His hurried POCKETFUL conclusion implying that these two groups can cooperate toward a common goal reeks of the Real Life insanity tearing apart Capra's mind by the 1960s as it dawned upon him that his Younger Self would have committed suicide in a heartbeat rather than willingly allow the Geriatric Witch Hunter he'd become to irrevocably tarnish his formerly Good Name.

a Capra's movie must be nice. and Pocketful of Miracles is a real puzzle of fairy tales. miracles, love, humor, two great actors in the lead roles, few drops of Dickens, few crumbs of Pygmalion by Bernard Shaw, old fashion atmosphere, the dramatic scenes, the hope and the joy, grains of tension , the social problems, the changes and the ...miracles, of course.and, as result, a great job by an extraordinary seducer from Hollywood. a film who reminds childhood's flavors and that could be the lead virtue of it. than- to remind the art of Glenn Ford and Bette Davis , the last in almost comfortable role. and as oasis in middle of the challenges of every day. a film who has, always, its target. the same, with insignificant nuances. because it is , in high measure, an useful support for rest. and nostalgia.

Often people say these older movies are too smarmy and sweet, but thats the reflection of a generation raised on violent hard hitting films. Films of this era were about escapism from the harsh reality of the world outside the theater. They were a kind of childish hope for a world that could never be for the audience of that time. That said, Bette Davis gives a fantastic performance in this film. I watched it over and over again just to see the master at her craft. She plays the last half of the film as if she's stunned in a dream state, unable to quite grasp the kindness shown her. An element of fear of being found out, trying to pull off the elegance of a lady of stature, yet never loosing the the character of the first half of the film. She manages to pull off being a lady more from being shell shocked than from any real attempt by her character to try to be something she is not. I half hoped she would tell the truth to the count toward the end. Its a lovely film and is right up there with I remember Momma as one of my favorite films of this time. One thing I didn't quite understand that I hope someone here might can help me with. I have a 30 year old TV so I have a authentic experience watching these old movies. I suppose. The problem being the sound quality is horrible. That may have more to do with my aging ears but I'd rather blame it on the set.As a result I missed a lot of dialog toward the end and I couldn't figure out what the payoff for attending the party was for the Mayor and Governor. I felt as if an entire scene were missing between Dude and the officials. Did he turn in the mob boss he had been hauling around in the semi? Did he give himself up? Or was this just a Capra miracle that is never quite explained and we're to think that they were touched by Apple Annies story and wanted to do the right thing by her? I'm interested in what others with better viewing equipment took away from the end of this film.

This film was also a remake of a film made in 1933 called Lady For a Day with Warren William and Mae Hopson. But it was an excellent remake. I especially liked Peter Falk's portrayal in this film. The entire cast is really top notch.I don't think anything is as good as the original. But, this film comes very close. The cast is really what makes this version so good. Bette Davis is excellent as is Glenn Ford and Thomas Mitchell. This is also an early film for Ann-Margaret.I, personally, would recommend this film as highly as I would Lady For a Day. By all means, watch both films. They each have an ambiance that makes both movies unique.