Frank Capra’s final film was a troubled remake of his own 1933 classic

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1961, director Frank Capra attempted to recapture the magic of his earlier work by remaking his 1933 film Lady for a Day. The production was marred by intense friction between stars Bette Davis and Glenn Ford, financial losses, and a critical reception that questioned the film's dated, sentimental tone.

The 1961 film Pocketful of Miracles originated from Damon Runyon’s short story Madame La Gimp. Frank Capra, who directed the 1933 adaptation, spent years attempting to remake the project. After failed attempts to modernize the script with Cold War themes, Capra eventually purchased the screen rights from Columbia Pictures for $225,000 in 1960. He secured a deal with United Artists to produce the film as a period piece set in the 1930s, though the production was plagued by casting difficulties. Frank Sinatra, Kirk Douglas, Dean Martin, and Jackie Gleason all rejected the lead role of Dave the Dude before Glenn Ford agreed to star, provided he could also help finance the film.

The set was defined by professional and personal animosity. Bette Davis, who accepted the role of Apple Annie to revive her career, clashed with Ford over dressing room arrangements and his condescending attitude. Capra, suffering from severe, stress-induced headaches, refused to intervene in the disputes. The film was budgeted at $2.9 million and began shooting in April 1961, concluding in late June. Despite Capra’s personal preference for the remake over his original, historians and critics generally favored the 1933 version. Reviews were mixed; while some outlets praised the supporting cast—particularly Peter Falk, who earned an Academy Award nomination—others, like Films in Review, dismissed the project as an unfunny, outdated experience.

Ultimately, the film failed to earn back its costs, resulting in a $50,000 loss for Capra on his deferred salary. Exhibitors had feared that Bette Davis’s star billing would negatively impact ticket sales, and receipts did indeed fall short of expectations. Despite its lukewarm reception, the story proved remarkably resilient in global cinema. It served as the basis for the 1967 Persian film Gedayan Tehran, the 1971 Turkish film Elmacı Kadın, the 1989 Hong Kong production Miracles, and the 2008 Hindi-language film Singh Is Kinng. For Capra and co-star Thomas Mitchell, it served as their final project.

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