Pocketful of Miracles

Pocketful of Miracles

Year: 1961

Runtime: 136 mins

Language: English

Director: Frank Capra

ComedyDramaRelationship comedyCharming romances and delightful chemistryHoliday joy and heartwarming Christmas

A streetwise New York gangster and his scheming girlfriend hatch a plan to transform the down‑and‑out street peddler Apple Annie into a polished society lady after discovering that her daughter is about to wed royalty. Their comic efforts to teach her manners and stage a high‑society debut drive the film’s lively, romantic misadventures.

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Timeline & Setting – Pocketful of Miracles (1961)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Pocketful of Miracles (1961). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Early 1930s

The story takes place as Prohibition winds down, a time of shifting criminal alliances and rising celebrity culture. NYC's nightlife thrives on secrecy, lavish receptions, and the blurring of legal and illegal enterprises. The period atmosphere fuels the glamour and danger as characters chase money, status, and love.

Location

New York City, USA

Pocketful of Miracles unfolds in New York during the Prohibition era, centered on glittering parties, hidden speakeasies, and the criminal underworld. The city serves as a backdrop for social climbs, political power plays, and the collision of wealth and poverty. Iconic locations include nightclubs, penthouses, and hotel suites where illusions of sophistication are built and shattered.

🗽 Urban 🕰️ 1920s 🏛️ Speakeasy culture

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:04

Main Characters – Pocketful of Miracles (1961)

Meet the key characters of Pocketful of Miracles (1961), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Dave 'The Dude' Conway

A highly successful New York gangster whose superstition about apples as luck drives his decisions. He orchestrates Queenie's rise to stardom, balancing risk with a desire for lasting happiness. Beneath bravado, he remains protective of those he cares about, even as he navigates dangerous underworld deals.

🕶️ Gangster 🎩 Charisma 💼 Ambition

Apple Annie

A street-smart former beggar who uses charm and deception to survive, feeding her daughter Louise and others with generosity despite hardship. She masters social performance to maintain a pretend life of luxury. Her resilience drives the emotional core of the story.

🎭 Trickster 💪 Resilience 💰 Resourcefulness

Elizabeth 'Queenie' Martin

Daughter of a murdered speakeasy owner, she partners with Annie and helps pay off debts while pursuing her own ascent in New York society. She becomes the Dude's love interest and a catalyst for dramatic reversals. Her blend of warmth and shrewdness makes her the hinge of many decisions.

💃 Social climber 💖 Charm 🕊️ Loyalty

Joy Boy

Dave's loyal, increasingly frightened right-hand man who grows anxious as business and personal loyalties collide. He embodies the tension between criminal pragmatism and fear of consequences. His reactions reveal the darker pressures of the Dude's world.

🤝 Ally ⚖️ Tension 😨 Fear

Steve Darcey, 'Mr. Big'

A powerful Chicago underworld boss negotiating territory and money with the Dude. His decisions set the stakes high and force the characters to weigh loyalty against survival. He represents the ruthless reach of organized crime.

🏛️ Boss 💵 Power 🔒 Influence

Count Alfonso Romero

Louise's fiancé's father; a European aristocrat who endorses the social image the characters seek. He embodies the refined veneer behind which scheming and ambition can hide. His presence heightens the stakes for family and legitimacy.

👑 Nobility 🗝️ Gatekeeper 🤝 Alliance

Louise

Annie's grown daughter, living with the illusion of wealth and European ties. Her life intersects with the main couple and underscores the consequences of Annie's past choices. Her engagement to Carlos Romero ties family history to the larger scheme.

👩‍💼 Heiress 💬 Conflicted 🧡 Family

Judge Henry G. Blake

A pool hustler posing as Annie's husband for social credibility, injecting comic misdirection into the social ruse. His presence adds a layer of impersonation to the performative world. He embodies the film's blend of comedy and crime.

🎭 Imposter 😂 Comic relief 🤵 Formal

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:04

Major Themes – Pocketful of Miracles (1961)

Explore the central themes of Pocketful of Miracles (1961), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Deception

Characters wear masks and spin elaborate ruses to hide their true intentions. Annie's beggar persona, Queenie's social veneer, and Dave's underworld deals create a web where truth is elusive. The plot hinges on appearances, making trust a dangerous wager. Illusion both advances ambition and threatens relationships.

💰 Wealth

Money catalyzes power, social mobility, and survival in a world of crime and showmanship. Dave leverages lavish spectacles to negotiate with criminals, while Annie's scam relies on cash and counterfeit hospitality. The film probes how wealth can corrupt, protect, or redeem, depending on whom it touches. Yet affection and loyalty resist pure financial logic.

💘 Romance

Romance threads through the plot as Dave's attraction to Queenie reshapes loyalties and strategic choices. Queenie's generosity and ambition intersect with love, blurring lines between romance and manipulation. Louise's reappearance adds a family dimension that tests the authenticity of relationships. The romance experiments with sincerity within a world of performative glamour.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:04

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Pocketful of Miracles Summary

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Pocketful of Miracles Summary

Pocketful of Miracles Timeline

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Pocketful of Miracles Timeline

More About Pocketful of Miracles

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