The Five Pennies main backdrop
The Five Pennies main poster

The Five Pennies

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6.7/10 • 24

1959-06-181h 57m

DramaMusic

Dixieland cornetist Red Nichols runs into opposition to his sound, but breaks through to success. He marries a warm, patient woman and even finds time to raise a family. Then tragedy strikes when their daughter contracts polio.

Directors
Melville Shavelson
Editors
Frank P. Keller

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Danny Kaye

    Danny Kaye

    Red Nichols

  2. Barbara Bel Geddes

    Barbara Bel Geddes

    Wila Stutsman

  3. Louis Armstrong

    Louis Armstrong

    Louis Armstrong

  4. Harry Guardino

    Harry Guardino

    Tony Valani

  5. Bob Crosby

    Bob Crosby

    Wil Paradise

  6. Bobby Troup

    Bobby Troup

    Artie Schutt

  7. Susan Gordon

    Susan Gordon

    Young Dorothy Nichols

  8. Tuesday Weld

    Tuesday Weld

    Teenaged Dorothy Nichols

  9. Ray Anthony

    Ray Anthony

    Jimmy Dorsey

Reviews2

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John Chard Avatar

John Chard

Sep 20, 2020

8/10

Mr. Paradise, I play New Orleans style. You know, it's the newest thing. As a matter of fact I got an arrangement right here of the very number that you're doing. The Five Pennies is a musical biopic of jazz great Red Nichols, who is here played by Danny Kaye. As the famed Dixieland cornetist, he runs into opposition to his sound, but breaks through barriers to achieve success. Upon marrying an understanding patient woman (Barbara Bel Geddes) he begins to raise a family. But when tragedy strikes the family, "Red" puts down his horn to focus on matters of the heart. Out of Paramount, The Five Pennies was released at a time when musical biopics were popular. Amazingly, as schmaltzy as the whole thing is on narrative terms, it's amazingly true to fact and and it pays to remember that when you think things are too sugary. The music positively booms with joy, none more so than when the great Louis Armstrong is involved in duets with Red (the real Nichols playing). Tuesday Weld plays the teenage Nichols daughter and she is an utter delight, where she hits all the right emotional beats as the character progresses. Kaye is in his element, a perfect piece of casting, and Geddes is the embodiment of Americana wives of stoic firm and loyal beliefs. It's a musical biopic that isn't afraid to show the main protag as a flawed individual, and that should be applauded. But as it happens, it's also a fine film all told, full of Dixieland verve and family values, and of course, the triumph of the will born about by pure love - both at home or through your art. 8/10

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  • The Five Pennies poster
  • The Five Pennies poster
  • The Five Pennies poster
  • The Five Pennies poster
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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
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