Saturday, July 21, 2012

WONDER MAN 1945

Wonder Man


Goldwyn / RKO, 1945, Color, 98 minutes, ***

Released June, 1945



Danny Kaye plays a dual role in this comedy spotlighting his multitude of talents in singing, dancing and physical comedy. Just before he's about to testify against the mob, the fast-living nightclub entertainer Buzzy Bellew is slain. But Buzzy's ghost promptly proceeds to haunt his rather reserved, bookish twin Edwin... until Edwin agrees to take his place on the stage. Hoping to catch those responsible for the killing, the shy librarian not only capably steps into his double's dancing shoes, but also into the arms of Buzzy's fiancée.



Produced by: Samuel Goldwyn

Directed by: Bruce Humberstone

Screenplay by: Don Hartman, Melville Shavelson and Philip Rapp

Adaptation by: Jack Jevne and Eddie Moran

Original Story by: Arthur Sheekman

Otchi Tchorniya Number and Music and Lyrics for Bali Boogie and Opera Number by Sylvia Fine

The Song "So in Love" by Leo Robin and David Rose

Musical Numbers Orchestrated and Conducted by: Ray Heindorf

Musical Director: Louis Forbes

Dances: John Wray

Art Direction: Ernst Fegté

Associate: McClure Capps

Set Decorations: Howard Bristol

Costumes: Travis Banton

Make-up: Robert Stephanoff

Hair Stylist: Nina Roberts

Sound Recorder: Fred Lau

Directors of Photography: Victor Milner, William Snyder

Special Photographic Effects: John Fulton

In Technicolor

Technicolor Color Director: Natalie Kalmus

Associate: Mitchell Kovaleski

Editor: Daniel Mandell



Awards: Won Academy Award for Best Special Effects (John P. Fulton - photographic, Arthur Johns - sound). Academy Award Nominations for Best Original Song ("So in Love", David Rose - music, Leo Robin - lyrics), Best Score (Louis Forbes and Ray Heindorf) and Best Sound (Gordon Sawyer).



Cast: Danny Kaye [Edwin Dingle / Buzzy Bellew], Virginia Mayo [Ellen Shanley], Vera-Ellen [Midge Mallon], Donald Woods [Monte Rossen], S. Z. Sakall [Schmidt], Allen Jenkins [Chimp], Edward Brophy [Torso], Steve Cochran [Ten Grand Jackson], Otto Kruger [Distrcit Attorney], Richard Lane [Assistant District Attorney], Natalie Schafer [Mrs. Hume], Huntz Hall [Sailor], Virginia Gilmore [Sailor's Girl Friend], Ed Gargan [Policeman in Park], Alice Mock [Prima Donna], Gisela Werbisek [Mrs. Schmidt], The Goldwyn Girls [Themselves]; Additional Cast: Luis Alberni [Opera Prompter], Leon Belasco [Pianist], Carol Haney [Dancer], Bess Flowers [Pelican Club Extra / Opera Patron]



Musical Program: [0:06] Bali Boogie (sung and danced by Danny Kaye, Vera-Ellen and Goldwyn Girls; June Hutton dubbing for Vera Ellen); [0:35] Palpably Inadequate (comic number performed by Danny Kaye); [0:44] So in Love (sung and danced by Vera-Ellen with The Goldwyn Girls and male dancers; June Hutton dubbing for Vera-Ellen); [0:52] The Patter (comedy routine performed by Danny Kaye); [0:54] Otchi Tchorniya (slaughtered by Danny Kaye impersonating a Russian singer with bad alergies); [1:26] Opera Sequence (comic opera sequence performed by Danny Kaye and Ensemble - very funny!)



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