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Catalog/Biography/The Five Pennies
The Five Pennies poster
B
Strong
MASTER SCORE 66.7 / 100
1959·Biography / Drama / Music·1h 57m

THE FIVE PENNIES

Dixieland cornetist Red Nichols runs into opposition to his sound, but breaks through to success. He marries a warm, patient woman and even finds time to raise a family. Then tragedy strikes when their daughter contracts polio.

Above the Line
Melville Shavelson·DirectorMelville Shavelson·ScreenplayJack Rose·ScreenplayDaniel L. Fapp·Director of PhotographyLeith Stevens·Original Music ComposerFrank P. Keller·Editor
Cast
Danny Kaye·Red NicholsBarbara Bel Geddes·Wila StutsmanLouis Armstrong·Louis ArmstrongHarry Guardino·Tony ValaniBob Crosby·Wil ParadiseBobby Troup·Artie SchuttSusan Gordon·Young Dorothy NicholsTuesday Weld·Teenaged Dorothy NicholsRay Anthony·Jimmy DorseyShelly Manne·Dave Tough
Full Crew
(26 credits)
Directing· 2
Melville Shavelson·DirectorRichard Caffey·Assistant Director
Writing· 3
Melville Shavelson·ScreenplayJack Rose·ScreenplayRobert Smith·Story
Camera· 2
Daniel L. Fapp·Director of PhotographyW. Wallace Kelley·Second Unit Director of Photography
Editing· 1
Frank P. Keller·Editor
Sound & Music· 6
Leith Stevens·Original Music ComposerRed Nichols·MusicianLeith Stevens·ConductorSylvia Fine·SongsCharles Grenzbach·Sound RecordistJohn Wilkinson·Sound Recordist
Art & Design· 6
Edith Head·Costume DesignTambi Larsen·Art DirectionHal Pereira·Art DirectionWally Westmore·Makeup SupervisorGrace Gregory·Set DecorationSam Comer·Set Decoration
Production· 2
Jack Rose·ProducerHal C. Kern·Production Assistant
Other Departments· 4
John P. Fulton·Special EffectsNellie Manley·Hair SupervisorFarciot Edouart·Visual EffectsEarl Barton·Choreographer
By the Numbers
66.7
OF 100
Master Score
7.1
OF 10
IMDb
—
CRITICS
Rotten Tomatoes
—
Worldwide Gross
0
4 NOMS
Oscar Wins
Where to Watch

THE AVAILABILITY MAP

The canonical record of where this film lives across the streaming map.

Provider Index In Progress

Streaming, rental, and purchase availability for this title is being ingested from the TMDB watch-providers feed and will appear here once the next catalog refresh runs. Until then, the canonical source links below remain the fastest route.

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Poster DNA

THE VISUAL DECONSTRUCTION

A bespoke vision agent's reading of the design language behind The Five Pennies's key art.

Dominant Palette
3 colors
#E6201B
#FFFFFF
#F7931E
Mood
Lively, Musical, Nostalgic
Composition
Layered
Era
1950s
Visual Style
Photographic

“The poster features a large image of a man playing a trumpet in the upper half, with three smaller figures below him: a man playing a trumpet, a woman standing,”

musicalbiographical
Key Elements
TrumpetMusical Notes
Atmosphere
Vibrant
Color Mood
Warm
Setting
Abstract
Design Score
7/10
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THE NEIGHBORHOOD

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THREE WAYS DEEPER

Auteur
AUT
MORE BY MELVILLE SHAVELSON

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GEN
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Era
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