Before our feature presentation, ACME would like to start the evening with another Bugs Bunny Looney Tunes cartoon, the 1943 Bob Clampett directed, A Corny Concerto (Note that Bugs Bunny and Porky Pig don't speak in this short.):
The short is meant to be a parody of Disney's musical animation feature Fantasia and their "Silly Symphonies" shorts. There are a number of visual nods to Fantasia and the Silly Symphonies, including the use of silhouetted figures as when Fudd first appears, unnaturally colored vegetation such as purple trees, and two anthropomorphic trees as seen in Disney's Flowers and Trees.
We would like to celebrate the the anniversary of the 122th birthday of Francesco Rosario Capra, one of the great American directors, known for his classic films It Happened One Night, You Can't Take It with You, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and It's a Wonderful Life , among others. The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour would like to salute Capra by asking you to join us watch Pocketful of Miracles, his 1961 remake of his 1933 film Lady for a Day, starring Bette Davis as Apple Annie. So grab your favorite beverage, find a comfy seat and join The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour in watching Capra's last Hollywood film.
Before Bette Davis accepted the role, Shirley Booth was Frank Capra's first choice for Apple Annie. Booth viewed the original version of the film, Lady for a Day, and informed Capra that there was no way she could match the Oscar-nominated performance of May Robson in the original film, and politely declined the role. Capra wanted Dean Martin or Frank Sinatra to play Dave, and Shirley Jones for Queenie. After the studio turned down his alternate choice Steve McQueen, Glenn Ford was cast as Dave and helped finance the film through his production company, he asked for his girlfriend Hope Lange as Queenie.
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