Christopher Walken's bar-top dance scene took two months of rehearsal and two days of shooting. He claims he got compliments later from fans Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.
There are a few scenes set up to mimic depression-era paintings, the most recognizable being Edward Hopper's Nighthawks.
The "pennies" that are seen raining down from heaven were penny sized sequins. After filming, they blew out the stage door, and could be found in the corners in the streets at MGM studios for almost a year.
At least four paintings are recreated as "tableaux vivants" in the film: "Hudson Bay Fur Company" (1932) and "20 Cent Movie" (1936), both by Reginald Marsh, and "New York Movie" (1939) and "Nighthawks" (1942), both by Edward Hopper. Three of the four were painted after 1934, when the movie takes place, and all depict scenes in New York, not Chicago, the setting of the movie.
[first lines]
Arthur Parker:
Joan... Joanie? Sugar? C''mon, Joan... sugar... wake up, baby.
Joan Parker:
No, Arthur, don''t.
Arthur Parker:
Oh, baby... come on, sugar.
Joan Parker:
No, it''s too early, Arthur.
Arthur Parker:
Oh, Joan.
Joan Parker:
Arthur, there isn''t time.
Arthur Parker:
Oh, there''s always time for this. Joan, come on.
Joan Parker:
Stop it, Arthur! No, don''t!
Joan Parker:
[getting out of bed] No... I said no!
Arthur Parker:
Why not? Why not, Joan?
Joan Parker:
You said you wanted to get away early; that''s what you said.
Arthur Parker:
You never want to, do you? Never.
[last lines]
Arthur Parker:
[voice-over] I''m Arthur... and I love you.
Anachronisms: Bar codes on railroad box cars.
Anachronisms: In the 1930s, yet the Maple Leaf Canadian flag is shown.
Remake of
"Pennies from Heaven" (1978) (mini)
References
The Hollywood Revue of 1929 (1929)
- Peter's character sings two lines from Singin' in the Rain.
Dracula (1931)
Love Before Breakfast (1936)
Umberto D. (1952)
- When Eileen and Arthur are in her kitchen discussing her pregnancy, she begins grinding coffee beans in a hand grinder (iron box with grind handle in lid), just as Maria, the pregnant maid in Umberto D., does during a kitchen scene in that film.
Referenced in
Ken Adam: Designing Bond (2000) (V)
- Filmographical reference re Ken Adam
Chicago (2002)
- Musical numbers happening in characters' minds
Features
Follow the Fleet (1936)
Featured in
The 39th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1982) (TV)
- clips