Pennies from Heaven

Chicago, 1934. Dream sequences many characters lip-syncing and dancing to classic renditions of Tin Pan Alley songs propel the story of traveling sheet-music salesman Arthur Parker. He is in a largely-unsatisfying marriage to Joan because they're incompatible: Puritanical Joan sees sex as a dirty thing, which frustrates Arthur. What Joan primarily wants in a husband is a good provider, which Arthur isn't doing with this job, although he sees himself as the most knowledgeable about the music he is selling, especially as he really would like to live the lyrics to those happy songs. If he had the money, he'd open his own record store instead. On his travels, he spots shy junior-school music teacher Eileen Everson and falls in love with her at first sight. He sees her as the perfect woman, and although most of that vision of her is as an angel, he wants to embark on a sexual relationship with her. As Arthur lies to her about his marital status, they begin a relationship. Her reserved exterior masks her true wants as a red-blooded human. An outcome of their relationship forces Eileen to change her environment, and his encounter with a blind girl leads to the unexpected. This combination might prevent that movie-musical happy ending that Arthur in particular craves.