Grant, Dunne & Stevens Elevate This Soaper
Added 4/6/2009
This sad soap opera works because of the actors. Cary Grant is excellent in the male lead, adding some good, much-needed comedy in spots. Irene Dunne is very believable in her role as his wife. Edgar Buchanan ("Applejack") elevates this film with a very likable role and Beulah Bondi's "Miss Oliver" looks like the proverbial "old battle-ax" but proves to be a very caring person.
Another good feature of this film is that it was directed by George Stevens, one of the best of all time.
As with all the reviewers here, I have yet to find a good print of this movie. Whether VHS or DVD, it's always a lousy transfer. Even a disc claiming to give us a "remastered" version is still no good (see the reviews). This film deserves better.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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For the money, probably the best print you will find
Added 3/19/2009
Penny Serenade is so great because it is a complete departure by Cary Grant from his normal comedy scene. If you are a fan of Cary Grant or even Irene Dunne than this is a movie for your collection. Told in a series of flashbacks according to Julie Adams (Irene Dunne) as she is contemplating divorce and looking through a stack of old photos. The trip is one down memory lane. Grant gives a great performance in this drama with some critical comedy.
Grant has always been somewhat of a character actor by genre. From His Girl Friday (Enhanced Edition) - 1940 to Charade - Anamorphic Widescreen Edition (Criterion Collection Spine #57) and even Topper / Topper Returns (Enhanced Edition) 1941, Cary Grant has always been a comedy superstar. As such, you should have this movie in your collection because it is a great example of how if he wanted to, Cary Grant could have done anything well.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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ANOTHER BAD SERENADE!!!
Added 3/10/2009
It is impossible to find a decent print of this film. Several years ago, Republic Home Video had a decent tape and laser disc verson of this film which featured the entire 119 minutes of the movie. Since then, no other company (that I have found, anyway) markets the full version; only a nasty, quite damaged 116 or 117 minute edited print from a later release. This "bad" print seems to be the one most often utilized for DVD mastering.
Please, who ever has access to better source material which features the entire movie, release this film on DVD so that we may enjoy it in a better, more complete form.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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As Good as His Girl Friday...Penny Serenade is Cary Grant Gold
Added 1/20/2009
Once upon a time they made love stories where the actors kept their clothes on. They made statements about the human heart that did not require foul language, car chases, or blowing anything up. This is one on them. I think I first saw this movie when I was about 10 and have no idea how many times I've seen it since. I had to share it with my nieces.
Cary Grant and Irene Dunne are exceptional. They believably go from comedy to tragedy to romance. The threads of old music pull the it all together beautifully. It's one of those movies that starts out with popcorn and ends with Kleenex. If you can watch this one and not blubber, you're visiting from another planet.
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Cary Grant is amazing as usual
Added 1/20/2009
Once upon a time they made love stories where the actors kept their clothes on. They made statements about the human heart that did not require foul language, car chases, or blowing anything up. This is one on them. I think I first saw this movie when I was about 10 and have no idea how many times I've seen it since. I had to share it with my nieces.
Cary Grant and Irene Dunne are exceptional. They believably go from comedy to tragedy to romance. The threads of old music pull the it all together beautifully. It's one of those movies that starts out with popcorn and ends with Kleenex. If you can watch this one and not blubber, you're visiting from another planet.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Grant, Dunne & Stevens Elevate This Soaper
Added 4/6/2009
This sad soap opera works because of the actors. Cary Grant is excellent in the male lead, adding some good, much-needed comedy in spots. Irene Dunne is very believable in her role as his wife. Edgar Buchanan ("Applejack") elevates this film with a very likable role and Beulah Bondi's "Miss Oliver" looks like the proverbial "old battle-ax" but proves to be a very caring person.
Another good feature of this film is that it was directed by George Stevens, one of the best of all time.
As with all the reviewers here, I have yet to find a good print of this movie. Whether VHS or DVD, it's always a lousy transfer. Even a disc claiming to give us a "remastered" version is still no good (see the reviews). This film deserves better.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
For the money, probably the best print you will find
Added 3/19/2009
Penny Serenade is so great because it is a complete departure by Cary Grant from his normal comedy scene. If you are a fan of Cary Grant or even Irene Dunne than this is a movie for your collection. Told in a series of flashbacks according to Julie Adams (Irene Dunne) as she is contemplating divorce and looking through a stack of old photos. The trip is one down memory lane. Grant gives a great performance in this drama with some critical comedy.
Grant has always been somewhat of a character actor by genre. From His Girl Friday (Enhanced Edition) - 1940 to Charade - Anamorphic Widescreen Edition (Criterion Collection Spine #57) and even Topper / Topper Returns (Enhanced Edition) 1941, Cary Grant has always been a comedy superstar. As such, you should have this movie in your collection because it is a great example of how if he wanted to, Cary Grant could have done anything well.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
ANOTHER BAD SERENADE!!!
Added 3/10/2009
It is impossible to find a decent print of this film. Several years ago, Republic Home Video had a decent tape and laser disc verson of this film which featured the entire 119 minutes of the movie. Since then, no other company (that I have found, anyway) markets the full version; only a nasty, quite damaged 116 or 117 minute edited print from a later release. This "bad" print seems to be the one most often utilized for DVD mastering.
Please, who ever has access to better source material which features the entire movie, release this film on DVD so that we may enjoy it in a better, more complete form.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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