Penny Serenade (1941)

Director:

George Stevens

Writers:

Martha Cheavens (story)
Morrie Ryskind (screenplay)

Release Date:

24 April 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Excitingly Re-united! Your favorites of "THE AWFUL TRUTH" in the kind of love story you have been waiting to see!

Plot:

A couple's big dreams give way to a life full of unexpected sadness and unexpected joy.

Plot Keywords:

Marriage | Recording | Music Store | Grief | Husband Wife Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Irene Dunne	...	Julie Gardiner Adams
Cary Grant	...	Roger Adams
Beulah Bondi	...	Miss Oliver
Edgar Buchanan	...	Applejack Carney
Ann Doran	...	Dotty 'Dot'
Eva Lee Kuney	...	Trina (at the Age of 6 Years)
Leonard Willey	...	Doctor Hartley
Wallis Clark	...	Judge
Walter Soderling	...	Billings
Jane Biffle	...	Trina (at the Age of 1 Year) (as Baby Biffle)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stanley Brown	...	Man (scenes deleted)
Jack Buchanan	...	Bit Part (scenes deleted)
Bess Flowers	...	Mother (scenes deleted)
Eddie Laughton	...	Cab Driver (scenes deleted)
Adrian Morris	...	Bill Collector (scenes deleted)
Edward Peil Sr.	...	Train Conductor (scenes deleted)
Grady Sutton	...	Man (scenes deleted)

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Australia:G | Canada:G (Ontario) | UK:PG (re-rating) (2005) | UK:U (original rating) (1941-2005) | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (PCA #6848)

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Irene Dunne often said that this was her favorite film because it reminded her of her own adopted daughter.

Quotes:

Judge: [Judge firmly addressing two unseen attorneys] I'll give you an opportunity to better prepare your facts.
Man: [Hands Judge some papers] Adoption proceedings, the Adams case.
Judge: What?
Man: The Adams case.
Judge: [Looks disturbed] Oh yes, yes. Uh...
[turns back to attorneys]
Judge: if either one or both of you gentlemen conduct yourselves like you've been doing today I'll hold you in contempt, the both of ya!
Judge: [Walks into chambers, sees Roger, Miss Oliver, and the baby all seated. Sits at desk] Uh, oh this is the child in question. Ahem, let me see. Yes, I recall looking over these adoption papers. I see you have no income at present.
[Looks at Roger]
Judge: Is that correct?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in After Sex (2000)

Soundtrack:

You Were Meant for Me

excellent performances but an odd ending

Cary Grant and Irene Dunne are very good in this bittersweet romance, mainly made up of flashbacks with the links between them being records from the past played by Dunne. We see the couple through their first meeting, marriage, move abroad, and so on. The central thread of the story is when they adopt a baby girl, Trina, who fills the void in their marriage. When Trina dies as a child it seems there is nothing more to hold them together.

Edgar Buchanan is excellent as uncle Applejack, the printer who knows how to handle babies, and the little girl playing Trina is cutesy cute in the nativity play scene. Grant's best moment is in the judge's office when he pleads to be allowed to keep his adopted daughter (because she isn't like an automobile you take back when you can't keep up the payments). The ending however is weak; another baby is found for them to adopt and all their troubles are over. This feels rushed and doesn't really work. Otherwise, a well put together film which is typical of the time it was made.