chaswe-28402
Very loosely based on the life of Red Nichols whose career blossomed in the 1920s but faltered in about 1932. The music is OK, if not great, but the family saga is depressing. It's poorly paced, and not well written nor well directed. The photography seems flat. The narrative starts reasonably, but declines from about the mid-point and towards the end. Kaye's scene persuading his little daughter to go to sleep goes on far too long. In a sense the whole movie is predicated on the failure of the parents to look after their daughter properly. The final scene tries to be upbeat, but isn't. Louis Armstrong makes a powerful impression, as always. Barbara Bel Geddes is appealing, but Danny Kaye just seems miscast. The male supporting cast of characters make no impression at all, and are interchangeable. The young girls playing the Nichols daughter are adequate. How did this receive four Oscar nominations ? Brooklyn and Ogden, Utah, have connotations which amuse Americans, but which don't travel.
CheeryToes
This was a Danny Kaye movie I'd never seen, I don't know how I missed it. It's so different from most of the movies of his I've seen. He's so so good at comedy, you don't realize how good he is at drama, too. He doesn't play the coronet in this film, the man he portrays (Red Nichols) does. I had to look Red up and read all about him and because I watched this movie on Amazon,I was able to switch screens and look things up as they happened (I'm curious that way). They do a good job mirroring his life, the movie drags a bit (SPOILER) when he leaves music for his daughter, and gets a bit maudlin, but other than that it's great music (I have the sound track now) great fun and another win for Danny Kaye. Danny and Sachmo together are worth the price of admission. Fantastic, the chemistry, the voices the musicality - loved it!
ebiros2
Very moving movie based on the life of Red Nichols.If I may dare to say this, this is better music film than the venerable Benny Goodman Story. Performance, the music, and story is all first class. I know this movie influenced many people, one of them being my friend who picked up clarinet after seeing this movie. The movie is very inspirational in terms of family value. Despite his profession, Red is portrayed as a solid family man which probably wasn't too far from the fact. He was also known to be a consummate professional, and a hard worker.In this movie we get to see the values of American people of 80 years ago. Back then polio was crippling many people, as it happened to Nichol's daughter. If it was today, I don't think the husband and wife would have stayed married if the husband was traveling around the country in his band.This movie is the best of its kind, and will forever remain a classic.
sdhalfon
my favorite bit of this film is at the end, I care not how factual it is. I find a lump in my throat every single time I see it and I am usually blubbing like a baby by the end credits. It is a wonderful story of a very talented man and of a great time in musical history, the scenes with 'Satchmo' Louis Armstrong are another particular favorite as he usually steals the scene. The little girl actress put s in a fine and mature performance as 'Red' Nicols's daughter. But as usual Danny Kaye is nothing short of majestic he is perfectly at home miming to Lorne 'Red' Nicols cornet playing. The story is beautiful as is the acting. Don't forget to pack your Kleenex when you watch it though. Excellent family entertainment twenty out of ten......
AD
