The Five Pennies

1959

Biography / Drama / Music

4
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 93% · 500 ratings
IMDb Rating 7.1/10 10 2352 2.4K

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Plot summary

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.

Director

Melville Shavelson Photo
Melville Shavelson

Top cast

Ned Glass Photo
Ned Glass as Murray
Tito Vuolo Photo
Tito Vuolo as Barber
Kenneth Gibson Photo
Kenneth Gibson as Hotel Guest
Louis Armstrong Photo
Louis Armstrong as Louis Armstrong
720p.BLU 1080p.BLU 720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
1.05 GB
1280*722
English 2.0
Approved
us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 57 min
Seeds 2
1.96 GB
1916*1080
English 2.0
Approved
us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 57 min
Seeds 4
1.05 GB
1280*722
English 2.0
Approved
us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 57 min
Seeds 1
2.16 GB
1916*1080
English 5.1
Approved
us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 57 min
Seeds 3

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by John Chard 8 / 10

Mr. Paradise, I play New Orleans style. You

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
Reviewed by r96sk 7 / 10

This one leaves a strange feeling. I look

This one leaves a strange feeling. I look back on 'The Five Pennies' in two parts. The first half of the film is uninteresting and slow, but once the story gets set and the second half comes to fruition it turns into something rather touching - which I didn't expect at all. By the end, I felt truly attached to the characters and their story - but that feels weird, given how I didn't enjoy the early stages. Danny Kaye is very good in the lead role of Red, especially towards the end. Susan Gordon (Dorothy, as a kid) impressed me a bunch, she has one fantastic poker scene with Kaye. Barbara Bel Geddes, meanwhile, plays the role of Willa well. The film, a loose biopic on the real Red Nichols, is music-heavy. Early on I think that affects things from a film point of view, but you can at least tell the cast - particularly Kaye and Louis Armstrong (as himself) - are having a fun time. Overall, I think it's lovely - but I can't recall a film that's split my feelings from start-to-finish as much as this did.
Reviewed by ianlouisiana 8 / 10

Danny Kaye - neglected superstar needs re-discovering.

When I was growing up Danny Kaye was a huge figure.All over the radio,on records TV and the movies,you couldn't escape from his face or voice. He made successful tours of top rate theatrical venues in the uk,he could sing,dance,act,write comedy routines and song lyrics.His stage act was an explosion of energy and sheer talent.He was-in the ludicrously overused sense of the term-a superstar. In "The Five Pennies" we catch him at the height of his powers as an actor,singer and lyricist(to his wife Sylvia Fine's enchanting tunes) With a strong guest appearance by arguably the finest jazz musician who ever lived and some really clever songs(The Five Pennies,Lullaby in Ragtime and Goodnight all use the same chord sequence). It was a success de cash rather than a success d'estime like most of Kaye's movies,and perhaps that's why his work is largely neglected in critical circles today. As Gloria Swanson said in "Sunset Boulevard,"I'm still big,the movies got smaller"
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