Penny Serenade (1941)

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

Director:

George Stevens

Writers:

Martha Cheavens (story), Morrie Ryskind (screenplay)

Stars:

Irene Dunne, Cary Grant, Beulah Bondi

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win.

Cast

Complete credited 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)
Bess Flowers	...	Mother (scenes deleted)
Eddie Laughton	...	Cab Driver (scenes deleted)
Adrian Morris	...	Bill Collector (scenes deleted)
Edward Peil Sr.	...	Train Conductor (scenes deleted)

Storyline

As Julie prepares to leave her husband Roger, she begins to play through a stack of recordings, each of which reminds her of events in their lives together. One of them is the song that was playing when she and Roger first met in a music store. Other songs remind her of their courtship, their marriage, their desire for a child, and the joys and sorrows that they have shared. A flood of memories comes back to her as she ponders their present problems and how they arose.

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Plot Keywords:

recording | marriage | music store | reporter | friendship | 

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Taglines:

...This "Penny Serenade" is the kind of music a man plays on a woman's heart-strings..

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 April 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

Akkorde der Liebe

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Third of three movies that paired Cary Grant and Irene Dunne.

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Quotes

Julie Gardiner Adams: We don't need each other anymore. When that happens to two people, there's nothing left.

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Connections

Referenced in The Sopranos: The Weight (2002)

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Soundtracks

"Just a Memory"
Written by Lew Brown, Ray Henderson and Buddy G. DeSylva
Played on a record

User Reviews

Classy Dunne and Grant movie

Irene Dunne is a class act all the way. A real lady, and it comes out in this film. While she and Grant always look like movie stars in the film, you can't stop noticing that they look like movie stars, they do their job and do it to perfection. Only two A-level actors could carry this tear jerker off well. The adoption lady was also realistic and convincing. The little girl or baby, whichever children played them, were the cutest and sweetest I've ever seen in film. Irene Dunne cannot hit a false note, ever, it seems. She looks marvelous in everything she wears, be it a simple housedress or pajamas. Same with Cary Grant, he wears the clothes. The penny serenade theme and the way the camera plays with the records is really magic. This film is a gift to the audience. Grant and Dunne show their adeptness at establishing and making us believe they are an intimate married couple. Irene Dunne is at the height of sensitivity and softness here, a true lady with beautiful hair and hairstyles. What a movie. And one cannot forget our beloved Apple Jack, such a sweet soul.