Danny Kaye

Barbara Bel Geddes

Louis Armstrong

Harry Guardino

Bob Crosby

Bobby Troup

Susan Gordon

Tuesday Weld

Ray Anthony

Shelly Manne

Ray Daley

Valerie Allen

Cindy Carol

Robert Banas

Toby Michaels

Charles Herbert

John Benson

Earl Barton

Herschel Graham

Melville Shavelson

John P. Fulton

Nellie Manley

Red Nichols

Leith Stevens

Farciot Edouart

W. Wallace Kelley

Sylvia Fine

Hal C. Kern

Charles Grenzbach

Wally Westmore

Daniel L. Fapp

Richard Caffey

John Wilkinson

Jack Rose

Grace Gregory

Edith Head

Frank P. Keller

Tambi Larsen

Hal Pereira

Robert Smith

Sam Comer

Drama

Music

The Five Pennies

Dena Productions

United States of America

English

Mr. Paradise, I play New Orleans style. You know, it's the newest thing. As a matter of fact I got an arrangement right here of the very number that you're doing.

The Five Pennies is a musical biopic of jazz great Red Nichols, who is here played by Danny Kaye. As the famed Dixieland cornetist, he runs into opposition to his sound, but breaks through barriers to achieve success. Upon marrying an understanding patient woman (Barbara Bel Geddes) he begins to raise a family. But when tragedy strikes the family, "Red" puts down his horn to focus on matters of the heart.

Out of Paramount, The Five Pennies was released at a time when musical biopics were popular. Amazingly, as schmaltzy as the whole thing is on narrative terms, it's amazingly true to fact and and it pays to remember that when you think things are too sugary.

The music positively booms with joy, none more so than when the great Louis Armstrong is involved in duets with Red (the real Nichols playing). Tuesday Weld plays the teenage Nichols daughter and she is an utter delight, where she hits all the right emotional beats as the character progresses. Kaye is in his element, a perfect piece of casting, and Geddes is the embodiment of Americana wives of stoic firm and loyal beliefs.

It's a musical biopic that isn't afraid to show the main protag as a flawed individual, and that should be applauded. But as it happens, it's also a fine film all told, full of Dixieland verve and family values, and of course, the triumph of the will born about by pure love - both at home or through your art. 8/10

This one leaves a strange feeling.

I look back on <em>'The Five Pennies'</em> in two parts. The first half of the film is uninteresting and slow, but once the story gets set and the second half comes to fruition it turns into something rather touching - which I didn't expect at all. By the end, I felt truly attached to the characters and their story - but that feels weird, given how I didn't enjoy the early stages.

Danny Kaye is very good in the lead role of Red, especially towards the end. Susan Gordon (Dorothy, as a kid) impressed me a bunch, she has one fantastic poker scene with Kaye. Barbara Bel Geddes, meanwhile, plays the role of Willa well.

The film, a loose biopic on the real Red Nichols, is music-heavy. Early on I think that affects things from a film point of view, but you can at least tell the cast - particularly Kaye and Louis Armstrong (as himself) - are having a fun time.

Overall, I think it's lovely - but I can't recall a film that's split my feelings from start-to-finish as much as this did.

The Five Pennies - Trailer

The Five Pennies

производственные компании

Актёрский состав 19:

Recommended films

Trailer

Sequels and Prequels