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Synopsis
The musical biopic of jazz great Red Nichols features a healthy dose of melodrama along with the melodies. As the famed Dixieland cornetist, he runs into opposition to his sound, but breaks through to success. He marries a warm, patient woman (Bel Geddes) and even finds time to raise a family. Then tragedy strikes when their daughter contracts polio. The jazzman puts down his horn to stand by her. Among the musical cameos is a hot turn by Armstrong in a duet with Kaye.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), French ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), German ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), Danish ( Subtitles ), Dutch ( Subtitles ), English ( Subtitles ), Finnish ( Subtitles ), French ( Subtitles ), German ( Subtitles ), Norwegian ( Subtitles ), Swedish ( Subtitles ), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Anamorphic Widescreen, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: The Five Pennies is the life story of influential jazz cornetist Red Nichols, played here by a remarkably straight-faced Danny Kaye. The somewhat romanticized screenplay chronicles Nichols' rise from obscurity, annotates the many future bandleaders who would play with Nichols' "Five Pennies," and details his self-destructive streak and (seeming) inability to conform to changing musical tastes. Weaving in and out of the main story is a sentimental subplot concerning Nichols' physically impaired daughter Dorothy, played by Susan Gordon as a child and by Tuesday Weld (in her movie debut) as a young woman. Nichols's long-suffering wife is portrayed by Barbara Bel Geddes. The storyline occasionally lapses into sappiness and the ending is almost impossibly lachrymose, but the musical highlights save the day. Especially memorable is Danny Kaye's duet with Louis Armstrong. Among the real-life musicians who grace the supporting cast of The Five Pennies are Bob Crosby, Ray Anthony, Shelly Manne, and, as Jimmy Dorsey, Bobby Troup. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Golden Globes, Oscar Academy Awards, ...The Five Pennies ( 5 Pennies )
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This film was part of the many musicals being produced by the big Hollywood studios about this time. It tells the story of a trumpet player who is successfull and then due to circustances partly of his own doing gives up music. It is well worth viewing if you are a fan of old musicals and Danny Kaye
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
What can you say regarding Mr Kayes performance simply "you wish you had half the talent of this great entertainer" timeless classic actually being made the same year as I was being made and seen as an impressionable child at the insistance of a father who Idolised the comic genius and of the few people who like norman widom could make you feel laughter,anger,sadness,elation,tenderness and almost every other emotion in and out of the book. Every kid should see it from 1-100 years of age.
Just to remind people that not every day is a good day, And your real friends never desert you but, just lose track of you sometimes.
And louis Armstrong is a Great support too.(after being the greatest horn player ever)but thats just my opinion.
thanks for taking the time to read this
Just to remind people that not every day is a good day, And your real friends never desert you but, just lose track of you sometimes.
And louis Armstrong is a Great support too.(after being the greatest horn player ever)but thats just my opinion.
thanks for taking the time to read this
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a very pleasant couple of hours entertainment, loosely depicting the life and times of jazz musician Red Nicols. The movie is typical of its time and type and there is simply nothing to complain about at all - however minor. Okay! like other biopics the story line is a little bit questionable (even Red himself might have said "did I do this?" , "Did I do that?" ) But he would not have found the movie disagreeable. There is a certain poignancy through the story of Red's life, especially with the serious illness of his daughter and the abandonment of his musical career during the second world war. Happily these incidents evolve satisfactorily and won't leave you reaching for the tissues. Just a bit of moistness around the eyes maybe! Nice to see Barbara Bel Geddes (long before her Dallas days) playing Red's wife, and a youthful Tuesday Weld as his daughter (for the teenager scenes.) The music is terrific, and theres a generous amount of it too. Super to see Louis Armstrong, Bob Crosby and Ray Anthony making their contribution and other famous musical figures of the period being depicted; Glenn Miller, the Dorsey brothers and so on. Red plays his own numbers during the film and Danny Kaye does an excellent job of simulated trumpet playing. The movie is a bit schmaltzy in places but these sort of films usually are. It won't spoil your enjoyment though - and enjoy it you will !
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Danny Kaye
I had never seen this film when I was growing up. I wasn't disappointed another fantastic performance from Danny Kaye.
Published 21 days ago by Woo
Wonderful movie
An overlooked classic, worth watching for the Louis Armstrong performances alone. Danny Kaye is wonderful as always...and the music of Red Nichols is great throughout.
Published 1 month ago by Steve Cutts
Danny Kaye
I first watched this film many years ago and have never forgotten it. I have not seen this version yet, it is a 'must have' item and I am sure it will be briiliant.
Published 2 months ago by V. Conran
nostalgia
I was delighted to find this on DVD at last as my old VHS copy hs long worn out. Thank you.
Published 3 months ago by Jan Eden
Super Film
A wonderful piece of nostalgia for all the family. I recall first seeing this film as a child and thought it was great back then, now watching it with the kids it still hasn't... Read more
Published 12 months ago by A. J. Obrien
A nostalgic favorite that hasn't lost its luster
Five Pennies was broadcast on TV many times during my childhood in the 60's and 70's, but in DVD it is a real treat, viewed in its proper format, uncut. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Katie Taylor
Delighted
Totally delighted with the DVD, equally delighted with the price it was even free delivery in 4 days thank you
Trevor Turner
Trevor Turner
Published 13 months ago by T. W. Turner
Schöner Musikfilm aus den 50er Jahren
Ein sehr schöner Musikfilm für Liebhaber der Musik von Red Nichols. Danny Kaye in einer Glanzrolle. Die Bildqualität ist sehr gut. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Gernot Sachs
They don't make them like this any more.
I bought this film because it has "The Five Penny Saints" on it. I fell in love with that a while ago, and I wanted to see what the rest of the film was about. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Macintyre's Speculum
Wonderful viewing
IF YOU WANT A LUVLY OLD FASHIONED COUPLE OF HOURS,WITH NO VIOLENCE,SEX,CRUDE WORDS OR ABUSE, THEN
'THE FIVE PENNIES ' IS FOR YOU. Read more
'THE FIVE PENNIES ' IS FOR YOU. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Trixie
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