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.

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music

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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

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.

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Goofs

In the hotel on the night of the Nichols' honeymoon, Bobbie kicks Red out and is passing his pj's, etc, through a standard two-door, closing it and opening it as they speak. Later, when Red is on the couch, Bobbie, feeling guilty, comes out of the bedroom, the doors have changed. Now they are sliding doors and she slides them as she walks into the bridal suite living room.

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Connections

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

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Soundtracks

"Largo al factotum"
(1816) (uncredited)
from "Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville)"
Music by Gioachino Rossini
Libretto by Cesare Sterbini
Sung a cappella by Tito Vuolo and Danny Kaye

User Reviews

Sentimental biography of Dixieland trumpeter Red Nichols

This is the sentimental biography of the life of Ernest Loring (Red) Nichols, a trumpeter/band leader during the 1930's. Danny Kaye does a great job playing Red and Barbara Belgeddes plays his wife, Bobbie. Tuesday Weld plays his daughter, Dorothy. The movie follows Red through his career as a great jazz trumpeter who gives up music for family. A must see for Danny Kaye and Big Band fans. Some of the members of Red's "Five Pennies", as his band was known, were Glenn Miller and Jimmy Dorsey. Louis Armstrong puts on a stellar musical performance as himself. Red Nichols does the trumpet solos. Great music, good family viewing.