List Price: $12.98You Pay Only: $9.49 You Save: $3.49 (27%)Prices subject to change.
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Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: KAYE,DANNY
EAN: 9781415706756
Format: Color, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
ISBN: 1415706751
Label: Paramount
Manufacturer: Paramount
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Paramount
Region Code: 1
Release Date: December 13, 2005
Running Time: 117 minutes
Sales Rank: 3891
Studio: Paramount
Theatrical Release Date: 1959-08
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
Musical biography of jazz musician and band leader, Red Nichols.
Genre: Musicals
Rating: NR
Release Date: 10-APR-2007
Media Type: DVD
Amazon.com:
Danny Kaye shows off his keen musical sense in the lead role of The Five Pennies, the life story of cornet master Red Nichols--or at least the Hollywood version of Nichols'd life. The movie gets off to a kicky start as Nichols joins a big-city band, meets his future wife (Barbara Bel Geddes), and sits in on a speakeasy session with Louis Armstrong. Armstrong's in the movie a lot, and there are smaller roles for other musical names such as Bob Crosby and Ray Anthony. The tunes include a batch of standards but also new songs written by Sylvia Fine, Danny Kaye's wife and the creator of his signature wordplay routines. The film's main dramatic device--that Nichols eventually sacrifices his career to care for a sick daughter--must be slogged through while the decent jazz sequences come and go. Whether you're a Danny Kaye fan or not, this film emphasizes his very real musical 'touch' (in his manner, not his cornet playing; Red Nichols dubbed the horn himself). It also proved Kaye could handle melodrama at least as easily as frantic comedy, and yet this 1959 film was near the end of his run as a movie actor. Director Melville Shavelson, most associated with comedy, does an atmospheric job of staging the jazz numbers, especially in the colorful clubs. This is well-served by a snazzy transfer to DVD--even the opening credits are a treat, a cool example of late-1950s graphic design. --Robert Horton
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating: - Kaye Gets Serious
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In THE FIVE PENNIES (1959), funnyman Danny Kaye takes on the real-life role of jazz legend Loring "Red" Nichols, considered to be one of the greatest horn players of his day. Dorsey, Miller, Shaw and other major band leaders got their starts with him.
Nichols himself plays the horn for Kaye off-camera, but Danny has plenty of opportunities to clown and make his own unique kind of music on-screen. Indeed, a duet of "When the Saints Go Marching In" with the incomparable Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong is one of the film's highlights.
There is, however, a serious side to Nichols' story. In the late 1930s, while his band was playing date-after-date on the road, his young daughter came down with polio. As a result, he decided to quit the music business, going to work in a defense plant and spending more time with his family. He did not make a comeback until after World War II.
Melville Shavelson directed this touching, entertaining biography, which co-stars Barbara Bel Geddes, Harry Guardino, Tuesday Weld, Bob Crosby and Bobby Troup.
© Michael B. Druxman, author of ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD
Rating: - Best Movie EVER
I first saw this movie as a child. I loved it then. I rediscovered it as an adult and was thrilled to find it on DVD. I have bought copies for myself, friends, and my mom. All have enjoyed it. It is a tear jerker, so if you need to have a good cry, this is your movie. One of the best psrts is Danny Kaye and Louis Armstrong doing "When the Saints Go Marching In". Gives you chills.
Rating:  - The Five Pennies
I remembered this movie from when it first came out. As I enjoyed it then, I was sure that I would enjoy it now. Danny Kaye does an excellent job as Red Nichols, and the supporting cast is made up mostly of the real musicians. I do not know how true the story is, but it is enjoyable, if a bit maudlin. The music is fantastic.
Rating:  - A biopic to enjoy
This one is one of these movies that one remembers to have enjoyed in your youth and for it I wanted to be able to return to see her and to enjoy it. The time has passed but his captivation remains inalterable. In this opportunity Danny Kaye is much more contained that in other movies, which is a point in favor for the picture. I think is worth returning to see it again.
Rating: - The Five Pennies
This is the best movie ever. I got it for my mom for christmas because it's her favorite movie and she has never had a good copy. the gift brought her to tears.
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