THE BENNY GOODMAN STORY

The Benny Goodman Story
Universal-International, 1955, Color, 116 minutes, ***½
Released December, 1955

The music of Benny Goodman comes to life in this wonderful musical biography of the famed King of Swing. Featuring all the outstanding songs and instrumentals made famous by the immortal clarinetist, the story follows the innovative musician from his childhood in Chicago to his historic concert at Carnegie Hall in 1938. Steve Allen, Donna Reed and Sammy Davis, Sr. star in this unforgettable tribute to Goodman and his music with performances by the original Benny Goodman Quartet (Gene Krupa, Teddy Wilson, Ben Pollack, Edward "Kid" Ory and Lionel Hampton) along with Harry James, Martha Tilton and Ziggy Elman. The priceless soundtrack highlights Goodman himself with classic renditions of "Sing, Sing, Sing," "One O'Clock Jump," "Stompin' at the Savoy," "Moonglow" and "Goody, Goody" and many more.

Produced by: Aaron Rosenberg
Written and Directed by: Valentine Davies
Assistant Director: Phil Bowles
Music Supervision by: Joseph Gershenson
Musical Score: Harold Brown, Joseph Gershenson, Alan Harding, Henry Mancini and Sol Yaged
Additional Music: Henry Mancini
Art Direction: Alexander Golitzen, Robert Clatworthy
Set Decorations: Russell A. Gausman, Julia Heron
Gowns: Bill Thomas
Hair Stylist: Jean St. Oegger
Make-Up: Bud Westmore
Sound: Leslie I. Carey, Robert Pritchard
Director of Photography: William Daniels
Color by Technicolor
Technicolor Color Consultant: William Fritzsche
Film Editor: Russell Schoengarth

Cast: Steve Allen [Benny Goodman], Donna Reed [Alice Hammond], Berta Gersten [Dora Goodman, Benny's Mother], Barry Truex [Benny Goodman at age l6], Herbert Anderson [John Hammond], Robert F. Simon [Dave Goodman, Benny's Father], Hy Averback [William Alexander], Sammy Davis, Sr. [Fletcher Henderson], Dick Winslow [Gil Rodin], Shepard Menken [Harry Goodman], Jack Kruschen [Murph Podolsky], Wilton Graff [Mr. Hammond], Fred Essler [Professor Schoepp], David Kasday [Benny Goodman at age 10], John M. Erman [Harry Goodman at age 15], George Givot [Jake Primo], Lionel Hampton [Himself], Gene Krupa [Himself], Teddy Wilson [Himself], Ben Pollack [Himself], Edward "Kid" Ory [Himself], Urbie Green [Himself], Buck Clayton [Himself], Stan Getz [Himself], Harry James [Himself], Martha Tilton [Herself], Ziggy Elman [Himself], Benny Goodman and His Orchestra: Teddy Wilson [Piano], Hymie Shertzer, Blake Reynolds, Stan Getz, Babe Russin [Saxophones], Urbie Green, Murray McEachern, James Priddy [Trombones], Gene Krupa [Drums], Buck Clayton, Chris Griffin, Conrad Gozzo, Irving Goodman [Trumpets], George Duvivier [Bass], Allan Reuss [Guitar], and Clarinet played by Benny Goodman

Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:09] By the Beautiful Sea (instrumental played by Benny Goodman [Barry Truex on-screen] with shipboard dance band, danced by passengers); [0:11] Dixieland One-Step (played by Kid Ory and Band, joined by Benny Goodman [played by Barry Truex dubbed by Benny Goodman]); [0:17] instrumental medley: Waitin' for Katy / If You Knew Susie Like I Know Susie / unidentified number (played by Ben Pollack and His Orchestra with Benny Goodman [Barry Truex dubbed by Benny Goodman] in travel montage); [0:20] Good-Bye (excerpt solo played by Benny Goodman [Steve Allen dubbed by Benny Goodman] on roof-top); [0:37] Mozart's Clarinet Concerto (played by Steve Allen [dubbed by Benny Goodman] and Orchestra); [0:42] Let's Dance (played by Orchestra with Steve Allen on Clarinet [dubbed by Benny Goodman]); [0:46] unidentified number (played by Steve Allen [dubbed by Benny Goodman] and Friends); [0:48] Let's Dance (played by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra [Steve Allen on-screen as Benny Goodman]); [0:50] Goody Goody (played by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra [Steve Allen on-screen as Benny Goodman]); [0:51] Stompin' at the Savoy (Fletcher Henderson arrangement played by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra [Steve Allen on-screen as Benny Goodman]); [0:57] Memories of You (played by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra [Steve Allen on-screen as Benny Goodman]); [0:59] unidentified number (played by The Benny Goodman Trio [Steve Allen on-screen as Benny Goodman]); [1:01] Down South Camp Meeting (played by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra [Steve Allen on-screen as Benny Goodman]); [1:04] One O'Clock Jump (played by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra [Steve Allen on-screen as Benny Goodman]); [1:08] Memories of You (played by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra [Steve Allen on-screen as Benny Goodman]); [1:15] Avalon (Lionel Hampton on Vibraphone, joined by The Benny Goodman Trio [Steve Allen on-screen as Benny Goodman]); [1:24] Bugle Call Rag (played by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra [Steve Allen on-screen as Benny Goodman]); [1:41] Shine (played by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra with Harry James on Trumpet [Steve Allen on-screen as Benny Goodman]); [1:42] Twenty Years of Jazz (played by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra [Steve Allen on-screen as Benny Goodman]); [1:44] And the Angels Sing (played by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, Ziggy Elman on trumpet, Vocal by Martha Tilton [Steve Allen on-screen as Benny Goodman]); [1:46] Moonglow (played by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra [Steve Allen on-screen as Benny Goodman]); [1:47] Sing, Sing, Sing (played by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra [Steve Allen on-screen as Benny Goodman], drum solo by Gene Krupa, trumpet solo by Harry James); [1:53] Memories of You (played by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra [Steve Allen on-screen as Benny Goodman]); Many short song fragments, including: King Porter Stomp; Don't Be That Way; It's Been So Long; Sometimes I'm Happy; Goody Goody; Alicia's Blues; China Boy; Seven Come Eleven