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Pocketful of Miracles
Directed by Frank Capra
Starring Glenn Ford, Bette Davis, Hope Lange and Arthur O’Connell

Blu-ray release on 21 September 2020

See a clip here

Starring screen legend Bette Davis and superbly directed by Frank Capra (It’s a Wonderful Life), this remake of his earlier film Lady for a Day (1933) is pure Hollywood magic – an unforgettable combination of comedy, whimsy and romance that was nominated for three Oscars.* On 21 September 2020 the BFI brings this charming MGM classic to Blu-ray for the first time in the UK. Special features include a new audio commentary and A Pocketful of Archive Shorts – seven films from the BFI National Archive that explore similar themes to those in the feature.

*1961: Supporting Actor- Peter Falk; Costume Design – Edith Head, Walter Plunkett; Song – ‘Pocketful of Miracles’ by Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn

For years Apple Annie (Bette Davis), a poor Broadway fruit seller, has mislead her overseas-educated daughter Louise into thinking she is a wealthy New York socialite. With Louise’s engagement to a Spanish noble, a reunion and a society wedding are on the horizon and Annie’s fabrication risks being revealed. To maintain the ruse, local racketeer Dave the Dude (Glenn Ford) engages a colourful crop of 42nd Street characters to help imitate high society. But will Annie be able to maintain the masquerade?

Special features
• Presented in High Definition
• Audio commentary by Jim Hemphill (2020)
• A Pocketful of Archive Shorts: a tangential dive into archive film, exploring some of the themes and iconography of Pocketful of Miracles featuring Street Scene – Men with Cart (1898, 1 min); Beggar’s Deceit (1900, 1 min); Cunard Mail Steamer Lucania Leaving For America (extract) (1901, 3 mins); American Liner ‘Lusitania’ Entering New York Harbour (1911, 1 min); Fruitlands of Kent (1934, 12 mins); Love on the Wing (1939, 4 mins); I Am a Reporter (1961, 13 mins)
• Image gallery
• Trailer
*** First pressing only*** Illustrated booklet with new writing by Leigh Singer, Maura Spiegel and Sarah Wood, notes on the extras and full credits

Product details
RRP: £19.99 / Cat. no. BFIB1375 / U
USA / 1961 / colour / 137 mins / English language, with optional hard-of-hearing subtitles / original aspect ratio 2.35:1 // BD50, 1080p, 24fps, PCM 2.0 mono audio (48kHz/24-bit)