Wonder Man (film)
| Wonder Man | |
|---|---|
 Original 1946 cinema poster | |
| Directed by | H. Bruce Humberstone |
| Screenplay by | Jack Jevne Eddie Moran |
| Story by | Arthur Sheekman |
| Produced by | Samuel Goldwyn |
| Starring | Danny Kaye Virginia Mayo |
| Cinematography | Victor Milner William E. Snyder |
| Edited by | Daniel Mandell |
| Music by | Ray Heindorf Heinz Roemheld |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 98 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,450,000[1] |
Wonder Man is a 1945 musical film starring Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo. It is based on a short story by Arthur Sheekman, adapted for the screen by a staff of writers led by Jack Jevne and Eddie Moran, produced by Samuel Goldwyn, and directed by H. Bruce Humberstone. Mary Grant designed the film's costumes.
Plot
Danny Kaye plays a double role as a pair of estranged "super-identical twins", with very similar looks, but very different personalities. Buster Dingle, who goes by the stage name "Buzzy Bellew", is a loud and goofy performer at a classy nightclub (the Pelican Club), while Edwin Dingle is a studious, quiet bookworm writing a history book. The two brothers have not seen each other for years.
Buster becomes the witness to a murder committed by mob boss "Ten Grand" Jackson (Steve Cochran), and is promptly murdered himself. He comes back as a ghost, calling on his long-lost brother for help to bring the killer to justice. As a result, the shy Edwin must take his brother's place until after his testimony is given.
In the meantime, he has to dodge Jackson's hitmen and fill in for Buster at the nightclub. To help him out, Buster—who cannot be seen or heard by anyone but Edwin—possesses him, with outrageously goofy results.
A famous scene features Edwin, possessed by Buzzy, performing at the Club. Under Buzzy's influence, Edwin pretends to be a famous Russian singer with an allergy to flowers. A vase of flowers is nonetheless placed on a table near him, and his song, "Otchi Chornya", is frequently interrupted by his loud and goofy-sounding sneezes.
The story is further humorously complicated by the love interests of the brothers; whilst the murdered Buster was engaged to entertainer Midge Mallon (Vera-Ellen), Edwin is admired by librarian Ellen Shanley (Virginia Mayo).
In the end, Ellen marries Edwin, whilst Midge consoles herself (apparently without regret) by marrying the owner of the club where Buster was appearing.
Awards
The film was awarded an Academy Award for Best Special Effects at the 18th Academy Awards in 1946, and was also nominated for Best Original Song, Best Musical Score, and Best Sound Recording.[2]
The film was also entered into the 1946 Cannes Film Festival.[3]
Main cast
- Danny Kaye as Edwin Dingle and Buzzy Bellew
- Virginia Mayo as Ellen Shanley
- Vera-Ellen as Midge Mallon (singing voice was dubbed by June Hutton)
- Donald Woods as Monte Rossen
- S. Z. Sakall as Schmidt
- Allen Jenkins as Chimp
- Edward Brophy as Torso
- Steve Cochran as "Ten Grand" Jackson
- Otto Kruger as District Attorney
- Richard Lane as Asst. District Attorney
- Natalie Schafer as Mrs. Hume
- Huntz Hall as Sailor
- Virginia Gilmore as Sailor's Girlfriend
- Edward Gargan as Policeman in Park
- The Goldwyn Girls
See also
References
- ^ Variety 12 September 1945 p 12
- ^ "The 18th Academy Awards (1946) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2011-08-19.
- ^ "Festival de Cannes: Wonder Man". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
External links
- 1945 films
- Films that won the Best Visual Effects Academy Award
- Films directed by H. Bruce Humberstone
- American films
- English-language films
- American fantasy-comedy films
- American criminal comedy films
- Samuel Goldwyn Productions films
- Films based on short fiction
- 1940s fantasy films
- 1940s comedy films
- Ghost films