The Five Pennies (1959)

Loring "Red" Nichols is a cornet-playing country boy who goes to New York in the 1920s full of musical ambition and principles. He gets a job playing in Wil Paradise's band, but quits to ... See full summary »

Director:

Melville Shavelson

Writers:

Jack Rose (screenplay), Melville Shavelson (screenplay),

Stars:

Danny Kaye, Barbara Bel Geddes, Louis Armstrong

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Danny Kaye	...	'Red' Nichols
Barbara Bel Geddes	...	Willa Stutsman
Louis Armstrong	...	Louis Armstrong
Harry Guardino	...	Tony Valani
Bob Crosby	...	Wil Paradise
Bobby Troup	...	Artie Schutt
Susan Gordon	...	Dorothy Nichols - Ages 6 to 8
Tuesday Weld	...	Dorothy Nichols - Age 13
Ray Anthony	...	Jimmy Dorsey
Shelly Manne	...	Dave Tough
Ray Daley	...	Glenn Miller
Valerie Allen	...	Tommye Eden

Storyline

Loring "Red" Nichols is a cornet-playing country boy who goes to New York in the 1920s full of musical ambition and principles. He gets a job playing in Wil Paradise's band, but quits to pursue his dream of playing Dixieland jazz. He forms the "Five Pennies" which features his wife, Bobbie, as vocalist. At the peak of his fame, Red and Bobbie's daughter, Dorothy, develops polio. Red quits the music business to move to Los Angeles where the climate is better for Dorothy. As Dorothy becomes a young teen, she learns of her father's musical past, and he is persuaded to open a small nightclub which is failing until some noted names from his past come to help out.

---

Plot Keywords:

band | jazz | nightclub | fame | father daughter relationship | 

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

August 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Lágrima que Faltou

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dena Productions, Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Blanche Sweet's last feature film.

---

Goofs

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.

---

Connections

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

---

Soundtracks

"The Music Goes Round and Round"
(1935) (uncredited)
Music by Edward Farley and Mike Riley
Lyrics by 'Red' Hodgson
Sung by Danny Kaye and Susan Gordon

User Reviews

This is what classics are made of...

I'm 15 years old and when I saw this movie for the first time about a year ago, I feel in love with it. It is the perfect combo of comedy, romance, and drama. I am a writer and I always add a little of all of those emotions into my stories because it makes it more believeable and realistic as well as more touching. I am now a Danny Kaye fan. He is a wonderful actor and singer. Whenever I see him on while flipping the channels, I will stop and watch. I am also now a fan of classic films of the 1930s and beyond.