THE FIVE PENNIES

The Five Pennies
Paramount, 1959, Color, 117 minutes, ***½
General release August, 1959

Danny Kaye stars as jazz great Red Nichols in this biopic that chronicles the stormy life of the '20s cornet wizard, including Nichols' domestic problems and musical triumphs. Barbara Bel Geddes, Tuesday Weld, Louis Armstrong, Bob Crosby co-star; tunes include "Good Night, Sleep Tight," "The Music Goes Round and Round," "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."

Producer: Jack Rose
Associate Producer: Sylvia Fine
Executive Producer: Danny Kaye
Director: Melville Shavelson
Screenplay: Jack Rose and Melville Shavelson
(based on the life and career of Loring "Red" Nichols)
Musical Score: Leith Stevens
Music: Original music by Sylvia Fine
Art Direction: Hal Pereira, Tambi Larsen
Set Decoration: Sam Comer, Grace Gregory
Costume Design: Edith Head
Special Effects: John P. Fulton
Cinematography: Daniel L. Fapp
Film Editing: Frank P. Keller

Awards: Academy Award nominations for Best Color Cinematography (Daniel L. Fapp), Best Costume Design, Color (Edith Head), Best Score, Musical (Leith Stevens) and Best Song ("The Five Pennies")

Cast: Danny Kaye [Loring "Red" Nichols], Barbara Bel Geddes [Bobbie Meredith], Louis Armstrong [Himself], Bob Crosby [Wil Paradise], Harry Guardino [Tony Valani], Susan Gordon [Dorothy Nichols, age 6-8], Tuesday Weld [Dorothy Nichols, age 12-14], Valerie Allen [Tommye Eden], Ray Anthony [Jimmy Dorsey], Shelly Manne [Dave Tough], Bobby Troup [Arthur Schutt], Ray Daly [Glenn Miller], Bob Hope [Himself, in cameo], Eileen Wilson [singing voice of Barbara Bel Geddes]

Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (medley of tunes from the film played by Orchestra); [0:03] My Blue Heaven (sung by Bob Crosby); [0:08] Ja-Da (instrumental in Harlem nightclub, danced by Danny Kaye and Barbara Bel Geddes); [0:10] unidentified instrumental (Louis Armstrong and His Band); [0:12] Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home (sung by Louis Armstrong, joined by Danny Kaye in audience); [0:16] unidentified instrumental (Louis Armstrong and His Band); [0:18] Battle Hymn of the Republic (sung by Louis Armstrong, played by Red Nichols for Danny Kaye with Louis Armstrong and His Band); [0:22] Carnival of Venice ("sung" by Danny Kaye imitating trumpet); [0:25] unidentified number (sung by Bob Crosby); [0:32] (Back Home Again In) Indiana (Radio show sequence sung by Danny Kaye with various singing groups); [0:40] Back Home Again in Indiana ("sung" by Danny Kaye and the Five Pennies imitating musical instruments); [0:42] Follow the Leader (sung by Danny Kaye, Eileen Wilson dubbing for Barbara Bel Geddes and Harry Guardino; danced by Danny Kaye and Barbara Bel Geddes at prom dance); [0:49] Lullaby in Ragtime (sung by Danny Kaye with the Five Pennies, joined by Barbara Bel Geddes); [0:52] The Music Goes 'Round and Around (sung by Danny Kaye with the Five Pennies); [0:57] The Five Pennies (sung by Danny Kaye to Dorothy); [1:04] Good Night Sleep Tight (sung by Louis Armstrong with his band); Good Night Sleep Tight / The Five Pennies (sung in counterpoint by Louis Armstrong, Danny Kaye and Susan Gordon); [1:07] When the Saints Go Marching In (sung and played by Louis Armstrong and Danny Kaye - great!); [1:16] unidentified instrumental (traveling montage); [1:18] Jingle Bells (sung by Danny Kaye); [1:20] Barber of Seville (sung by Barber and Danny Kaye); [1:31] Schnitzelbank (sung by Danny Kaye and Children in hospital ward); [1:39] Back Home Again in Indiana (instrumental played by "Glenn Miller and His Orchestra"); [1:52] Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home (sung by Louis Armstrong with his band); [1:55] The Five Pennies (sung by Barbara Bel Geddes, danced by Danny Kaye and Tuesday Weld); [1:56] Battle Hymn of the Republic (played by Red Nichols for Danny Kaye with Louis Armstrong and His Band)