My favorite Danny Kaye film
Added 11/15/2009
Along with THE KID FROM BROOKLYN, this is my favorite Danny Kaye film. Kaye is actually experiencing a mild resurgence among younger people these days because of the inclusion of the great song he did with the Andrews Sisters, "Civilization," in the soundtrack for the hugely successful game FALLOUT 3 (actually one of the best soundtracks of the past couple of years). There is no question that Kaye was a major, unique talent. Most of his films have not held up especially well. They are very much products of the sensibility of the times and don't feel as timeless as the best of the Marx Brothers or Astaire and Rogers. Over the course of a feature length film he can come across as somewhat over-the-top. He sometimes is more silly than funny. Nonetheless, at his best he can be hysterical.
This was the first of a string of films that Kaye made at Goldwyn, usually with Virginia Mayo as the female lead. He had the previous year been in UP IN ARMS with Dinah Shore and Dana Andrews in a supporting role, but he pretty much stole the movie with one of his more memorable patter songs. Not everything in this film works and the humor is often strained, but Kaye has so much charm and he throws himself into the film with so much energy that he overwhelms the weaknesses by sheer force of will. My biggest complaint with the film is that there weren't more musical numbers. "Bali Boogie" is so charming that you wish there had been two or three more like it. Instead, the film is limited to four musical numbers, one of them a surprisingly flat version of "Otchi Tchorniya" by Kay. "So in Love," however, with Vera-Ellen dancing (though as always her voice was dubbed) is nearly as much fun as "Bali Boogie." This was, by the way, Vera-Ellen's first movie. She is one of my favorite performers from the forties and fifties, an utterly delightful dancer possessed of remarkable girl-next-door beauty.
All in all this is a tremendously entertaining film, the kind of popular entertainment that Hollywood seemed capable of churning out in seemingly unending quantities in the forties. And it remains perhaps the presentation of Danny Kaye's unique abilities on film. Oh, and if you pay attention, the sailor in the park near the beginning of the film is played by Huntz Hall, at this point in his career formerly of the Dead End Kids, some of whom would join together to form the better known Bowery Boys, in which Hall would achieve renown as Sach.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
A true classic
Added 12/26/2007
A must have for Danny Kaye fans. This is one where I still laugh the same as the first time I saw it as a kid.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Danny Kaye at His Best
Added 4/2/2006
I haven't had a chance to see a lot of Danny Kaye movies over the years. By the time I came around his Hollywood days were pretty much behind him and were replaced by his UNICEF work. The Danny Kaye movies I have seen over the years were often mediocre at best. There were times I could tell he had talent but the scripts and the directors apparently had less. In "Wonder Man" I sat back in appreciation of the wide range of talent he has. His gift for accents and his facial animations were on display and the script and direction seemed to realize that Kaye was the key to the movie. His portrayal of a Russian singer with hayfever was inspired (although I wondered if that would actually work as a nightclub act). My favorite was the first number he did. The mixture of dance, song, and humor made it a great, all around exhibition. The supporting cast was mediocre; this was Kaye's show from beginning to end. If you're curious as to what kind of talent Danny Kaye had, "Wonder Man" is the movie to watch.
6 out of 8 people found this helpful.
|
Charging $259 for this DVD is ridiculous. Arsenic and Old Lace sells for $14.99, what's so special about this one? I love the oldies so I'm interested in purchasing Wonder Man but NOT at this price!
8 out of 14 people found this helpful.
|
DOES THIS THING REALLY COST $ 259.00
Added 2/12/2004
I am shocked to see that Amazon is offering this DVD at the ridiculous price of $259.00. Did any of the previous reviewers pay that amount for this. If you know of any where I can purchase this at a MUCH LOWER price. Please Email me at bkuszak@hotmail.com
3 out of 9 people found this helpful.
|
My favorite Danny Kaye film
Added 11/15/2009
Along with THE KID FROM BROOKLYN, this is my favorite Danny Kaye film. Kaye is actually experiencing a mild resurgence among younger people these days because of the inclusion of the great song he did with the Andrews Sisters, "Civilization," in the soundtrack for the hugely successful game FALLOUT 3 (actually one of the best soundtracks of the past couple of years). There is no question that Kaye was a major, unique talent. Most of his films have not held up especially well. They are very much products of the sensibility of the times and don't feel as timeless as the best of the Marx Brothers or Astaire and Rogers. Over the course of a feature length film he can come across as somewhat over-the-top. He sometimes is more silly than funny. Nonetheless, at his best he can be hysterical.
This was the first of a string of films that Kaye made at Goldwyn, usually with Virginia Mayo as the female lead. He had the previous year been in UP IN ARMS with Dinah Shore and Dana Andrews in a supporting role, but he pretty much stole the movie with one of his more memorable patter songs. Not everything in this film works and the humor is often strained, but Kaye has so much charm and he throws himself into the film with so much energy that he overwhelms the weaknesses by sheer force of will. My biggest complaint with the film is that there weren't more musical numbers. "Bali Boogie" is so charming that you wish there had been two or three more like it. Instead, the film is limited to four musical numbers, one of them a surprisingly flat version of "Otchi Tchorniya" by Kay. "So in Love," however, with Vera-Ellen dancing (though as always her voice was dubbed) is nearly as much fun as "Bali Boogie." This was, by the way, Vera-Ellen's first movie. She is one of my favorite performers from the forties and fifties, an utterly delightful dancer possessed of remarkable girl-next-door beauty.
All in all this is a tremendously entertaining film, the kind of popular entertainment that Hollywood seemed capable of churning out in seemingly unending quantities in the forties. And it remains perhaps the presentation of Danny Kaye's unique abilities on film. Oh, and if you pay attention, the sailor in the park near the beginning of the film is played by Huntz Hall, at this point in his career formerly of the Dead End Kids, some of whom would join together to form the better known Bowery Boys, in which Hall would achieve renown as Sach.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
A true classic
Added 12/26/2007
A must have for Danny Kaye fans. This is one where I still laugh the same as the first time I saw it as a kid.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Danny Kaye at His Best
Added 4/2/2006
I haven't had a chance to see a lot of Danny Kaye movies over the years. By the time I came around his Hollywood days were pretty much behind him and were replaced by his UNICEF work. The Danny Kaye movies I have seen over the years were often mediocre at best. There were times I could tell he had talent but the scripts and the directors apparently had less. In "Wonder Man" I sat back in appreciation of the wide range of talent he has. His gift for accents and his facial animations were on display and the script and direction seemed to realize that Kaye was the key to the movie. His portrayal of a Russian singer with hayfever was inspired (although I wondered if that would actually work as a nightclub act). My favorite was the first number he did. The mixture of dance, song, and humor made it a great, all around exhibition. The supporting cast was mediocre; this was Kaye's show from beginning to end. If you're curious as to what kind of talent Danny Kaye had, "Wonder Man" is the movie to watch.
6 out of 8 people found this helpful.
|
