The Benny Goodman Story (1956)

Bio of swing band leader 'Benny Goodman' from age 10 (1919) to his landmark Carnegie Hall band concert in 1938. Not exactly historically accurate, but great music. Also, guest appearances ... See full summary »

Director:

Valentine Davies

Writer:

Valentine Davies

Stars:

Steve Allen, Donna Reed, Berta Gersten

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Steve Allen	...	Benny Goodman
Donna Reed	...	Alice Hammond
Berta Gersten	...	Mama Goodman
Barry Truex	...	Benny Goodman (at 16)
Herbert Anderson	...	John Hammond Jr.
Robert F. Simon	...	Papa Dave Goodman
Hy Averback	...	Willard Alexander
Sammy Davis Sr.	...	Fletcher Henderson
Dick Winslow	...	Gil Rodin
Shepard Menken	...	Harry Goodman (as Shep Menken)
Jack Kruschen	...	Murph Podolsky
Wilton Graff	...	John Hammond Sr.
Fred Essler	...	Prof Schoepp
David Kasday	...	Benny Goodman (at 10)
John Erman	...	Harry Goodman (at 16) (as John M. Erman)

Storyline

Bio of swing band leader 'Benny Goodman' from age 10 (1919) to his landmark Carnegie Hall band concert in 1938. Not exactly historically accurate, but great music. Also, guest appearances by many great musicians of the time.

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Plot Keywords:

swing | bandleader | big band | clarinet | character name in title

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1956 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Die Benny Goodman Story

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Benny Goodman played all the clarinet music heard on the soundtrack himself, with the exception of the scene where the young Goodman first tried to play the clarinet - the squeaky notes were actually played by Steve Allen.

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Goofs

At the end of the clarinet concerto, the first violinist stands up twice.

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Crazy Credits

Benny Goodman's theme song is played over the appearance of the "Universal International" globe.

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Soundtracks

"One O'Clock Jump"
Written by Count Basie

User Reviews

Wonderful music, but otherwise pretty bland

This film was certainly made in order to give jazz and swing band fans a real fine dose of perhaps the greatest swing music ever recorded, and this it does in abundance and in very fine form.

However, the story and dramatic part of this film is truly not very well executed, and much inferior to the previous year's "Glen Miller Story".

And, as a previous commentator stated on this site, why couldn't the producers have put in a little more thought into the costumes of the period, not only for the women, although this is where it is obviously not proper period costume, but also for the men.

Are 1920's fashions that difficult to reproduce? I don't think so.While Donna Reed certainly looked beautiful in the clothes she did wear in the film, it was a bit "jarring" to know that the story is taking place in the 20's and 30's, and everyone is parading around in mid 50's clothing.

Otherwise, the film is modestly entertaining, and the music , as mentioned, is superb.