The Five Pennies (1959)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Melville Shavelson

Writers:

Robert Smith (story)
Jack Rose (writer) ...

Release Date:

August 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music

Plot:

Loring "Red" Nichols is a cornet-playing country boy who goes to New York in the 1920s full of musical ambition and principles...

Plot Keywords:

Jazz | Trumpet | Money In Title | Musician | Number In Title

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Danny Kaye	...	Ernest Loring Nichols aka 'Red' & 'Ernie'
Barbara Bel Geddes	...	Willa Stutsman aka 'Bobbie Meredith'
Louis Armstrong	...	Himself
Harry Guardino	...	Tony Valani
Bob Crosby	...	Wil Paradise
Bobby Troup	...	Arthur Schutt
Susan Gordon	...	Dorothy Nichols, ages 6 to 8
Tuesday Weld	...	Dorothy Nichols, age 12 to 14
Ray Anthony	...	Jimmy Dorsey
Shelly Manne	...	Dave Tough
Ray Daley	...	Glenn Miller
Valerie Allen	...	Tommye - Tony's date with Red&Bobbie
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Henry Beau
Ned Glass	...	Murray, delicatessen waiter

Runtime:

117 min | Germany:112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:S

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Dena Productions

Trivia:

The exaggerated tango Danny Kaye did with the blonde Charleston dancer (Lizanne Truex) in the nightclub scene was not scripted. The rehearsals only called for her to do the Charleston, then flit offstage. During one of them Danny suddenly grabbed her and began hamming it up, with Lizanne quickly ad-libbing. Director Melville Shavelson liked it and added it to the routine.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Red leaves the club with Willa (after seeing Louis Armstrong the first time), he takes his cornet with him but has neglected to put it back in its case.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "American Masters: Danny Kaye: A Legacy of Laughter" (1996)

Soundtrack:

The Battle Hymn of the Republic

I liked this movie

This is an excellent musical in the old style where the songs either help progress the plot or fit in with the story line. All the music is well done. How can you lose with Danny Kaye and Louis Armstrong singing your songs? Just heard that Susan Gordon (she played the daughter at 6) is on broadway in a play after 35 years away from the stage. Enjoy.