Pennies from Heaven

The time is 1934. The place is Chicago and the suburbs. The U.S. is shoulder-deep in the Great Depression. Everyone is searching for the other side of the rainbow, seeking a little bit of the stuff with which dreams are made and the popular songs with the optimistic lyrics that hold out a promise of happiness. "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" concerns the yearnings, the mishaps, the adventures of a sheet music salesman as he tries to make the lyrics of the songs he carries in his briefcase become reality. His efforts are offset by a life marked with failure, lust, deceit and injustice.Yet, for brief moment his dreams and the dreams of those closet to him do come true. In his mind the people and locals are transformed from the bitter grimness of the day into a moment of fantasy filled with lavish musical numbers.Two talented performers, Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters, joined with producer-director Herbert Ross for his original musical drama inspired by the award-winning BBC television production which was created by playwright Dennis Potter.