tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1251568927451439906.post198505271048652800..comments2023-12-14T15:41:35.954-08:00Comments on The Irene Dunne Project: Penny Serenadecasuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02745343029575366237noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1251568927451439906.post-32290995631559062742016-05-29T23:34:25.355-07:002016-05-29T23:34:25.355-07:00In your mention of dual casting of Irene with Cary...In your mention of dual casting of Irene with Cary Grant…they had done a movie in 1940 "My Favorite Wife". I'm a "vintage" movie buff (all the way back to the silents, like films by René Clair ("Le Million", "A Nous la Liberté")and the pioneer director Alice Guy & the tragic silent actually filmed in the wintry Paris streets - Ménilmontant….but also through Hitchcock's pre-Hollywood films & the 1930's and 1940's. Irene Dunne was an exquisite nuanced actress and Penny Serenade was the perfect vehicle for her subtlety. I'm old enough to barely remember the "listening booths" that allowed a customer to listen to a record before buying it. And after Cary Grant had spent so much time, ostensibly "previewing" his stack of records, when he's walking Irene back to her apt, and then gently asks if she can play one more record for him on her own apartment Victrola…Irene Dunne responds with a sigh and whimsical smile that was "Oscar worthy". On many accounts (the acting, script, direction, cinematography, and the natural pathos of the story) this film is a gem.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1251568927451439906.post-75912001410224464782015-12-18T16:52:46.279-08:002015-12-18T16:52:46.279-08:00Eva Lee Kuney (1934–2015) I liked her in this.Eva Lee Kuney (1934–2015) I liked her in this.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09604728401846232373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1251568927451439906.post-41640996217949466292015-09-06T07:31:01.325-07:002015-09-06T07:31:01.325-07:00I love the movie. And love Eva in it. Shocked some...I love the movie. And love Eva in it. Shocked someone didn't like her. The ending is a problem though.Trishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16122072499813487703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1251568927451439906.post-20140399691116849242015-09-06T07:20:26.118-07:002015-09-06T07:20:26.118-07:00I love her too. TrishI love her too. TrishTrishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16122072499813487703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1251568927451439906.post-25822214397906868002015-08-09T20:12:10.606-07:002015-08-09T20:12:10.606-07:00I don't know what people are holding out for, ...I don't know what people are holding out for, but to me, little Trina's smile MADE that movie!! Even knowing that she died at the end, I watch "Penny Serenade" whenever possible, just to see Trina's bewitching smile!!!Jenni Whitneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02707732496812299302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1251568927451439906.post-81281877618306893172013-12-01T20:08:50.526-08:002013-12-01T20:08:50.526-08:00Very good review. I agree about the ending which I...Very good review. I agree about the ending which I thought was the shortcoming of the film but I know myself well enough to know I would have been unsettled by an open-ended ending. I finished the film in relative comfort because at least there was an ending, though all it would have taken to make it good would have been a little more imagination. I'd be curious to know the producer and director's explanation for ending it this way.Monty Dicksionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03693458475578352659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1251568927451439906.post-78576609982539810522013-09-02T09:26:09.557-07:002013-09-02T09:26:09.557-07:00I just watched this last night and did a google se...I just watched this last night and did a google search for Trina age 6 and ended up here. I have to agree that the child chosen, whose smile was definitely featured in more than a couple scenes, wasn't as heartwarming for me, either. The baby Trina was adorable but I wondered about those crying scenes - what did they do to make those babies' eyes well up with tears or downright bellow? It was 1941... who knows what was considered 'allowed' in those days?<br /><br />A charming movie and I cried my eyes out during Cary Grant's monologue in the judge's chambers. I was surprised by Irene Dunne's top billing given that she was co-starring with Cary Grant. I didn't realize Dunne was such a top draw. I was also amazed to discover that she was 43 when she shot Penny Serenade. Wow! She held her age well. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1251568927451439906.post-20384698959153911612013-05-08T07:49:38.380-07:002013-05-08T07:49:38.380-07:00Maybe the fake smile was to cover the fact that sh...Maybe the fake smile was to cover the fact that she was losing her teeth, or had the teeth of an older child than a 6 year old?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1251568927451439906.post-45265596506047165462013-04-08T10:35:22.635-07:002013-04-08T10:35:22.635-07:00I love that movie and I almost feel like a traitor...I love that movie and I almost feel like a traitor when I say that I agree about "Trina's" fake smile...one can almost hear the director saying, "SMILE" and click! there it is! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1251568927451439906.post-47170125686510463602012-11-12T16:48:06.915-08:002012-11-12T16:48:06.915-08:00My husband and I just finished watching Penny Sere...My husband and I just finished watching Penny Serenade and while I agree with your opinion of the final scene, we both love little Eva Lee Kuney - she reminds us of our own daughter at that age with the same "Pepsi" smile! SueSAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1251568927451439906.post-85383829414925836362012-07-16T10:14:04.981-07:002012-07-16T10:14:04.981-07:00Hi, Rob! It's always great to hear from you an...Hi, Rob! It's always great to hear from you and I am glad that you loved "Penny Serenade"! <br />You make a good point for the Happy End (and if this was the reason it certainly would have resonated with Irene, especially because of her own adopted daughter...) Maybe "my" end would have been a little bit tough on moviegoers who expected another Dunne/Grant comedy? <br />There are so many beautiful scenes... talking about the scene on the beach and "Mannequin" (I remember this moment very well) - could you imagine that they would have filmed a scene like this with Joan WITHOUT showing her in a swimsuit? For Irene it's the "idea" of a swimsuit and a bathrobe (and one does not see much of her legs...) I found a press note one day that Irene refused to film "leg art" - whatever that means?! But unfortunately it was not mentioned when or in which context. I'd love to know if she had to discuss matters like this at that state of her career. Or was it simply we don't show Irene Dunne in a swimsuit?? I am fascinated by "all things image"...<br />Considering that you are only "starting to like Cary" it's really a pity that Irene and Mr. Grant didn't make another film together...;) Susannecasuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02745343029575366237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1251568927451439906.post-47796017730535434142012-07-09T21:32:56.931-07:002012-07-09T21:32:56.931-07:00Hey Susanne, I watched this after work over the co...Hey Susanne, I watched this after work over the course of two nights...I absolutely loved it (I feel kind of embarrassed sometimes to think that I seem to have only two modes as far as movies are concerned-rampant enthusiasm or utter indifference)!<br />A few quick thoughts: <br /> Very cute moment when he picks up the whole stack of records and takes them into the booth with her (just to get some time alone with Julie!), and the sweet scene at the beach (Coney Island or Luna Park?) at night reminds me of a similar scene in Mannequin (two hopeful young couples without much money, but looking forward to the future...) <br /> Also very touching when he asked her to marry him before he transferred to Yokohama. <br />"I promise I'll never take it off, whatever happens."<br />But as soon as he explained that he purchased the luxurious home in Japan by getting an advance, I thought "Uh-oh". And then the inheritance that turned out to be not so great, and the earthquake, and the miscarriage...<br />Like you, I found the ending unsatisfying; your alternate ending would have done better. But on the other hand, maybe the point was that there's always some child that needs to be adopted? That might have resonated with Irene.<br />Beulah Bondi as the head of the adoption agency is such a sweetheart here (I was initially worried she'd turn out to be an evil prison matron type), just so warm and compassionate to the couple.<br />And Edgar Buchanan (whom I thought was Jack Oakie until about 5 minutes ago!) taking charge during the baby bath scene when mom and dad are so jittery, Applejack was such a likeable character. <br />Dunne is--of course--terrific here. I've never heard anything but praise for her performance. Considering everything that happens to Julie, I think most actors and actresses would have really overdone it. It's clear she really analyzed the script and her character, and knew juuuust how far she should go.<br />And I swear Susanne, I'm actually starting to like Cary, thanks to these movies with Irene!AKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02084216883655540363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1251568927451439906.post-75080680645556635172012-06-30T14:59:57.487-07:002012-06-30T14:59:57.487-07:00Thank you! There are still a couple of films to co...Thank you! There are still a couple of films to come... Irene always looked about ten years younger than her actual age. Otherwise her career - as it turned out to be - probably wouldn't have been possible because she was already in her early thirties when she started in Hollywood. She looked like a "novice" but had the experience of a real pro. Quite a mixture!casuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02745343029575366237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1251568927451439906.post-87371180471942276142012-06-30T14:43:26.958-07:002012-06-30T14:43:26.958-07:00Thanks dar! I wonder what you think abou the end?Thanks dar! I wonder what you think abou the end?casuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02745343029575366237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1251568927451439906.post-58534970635917680842012-06-28T09:49:31.439-07:002012-06-28T09:49:31.439-07:00Penny Serenade is one of my favorite movies, and D...Penny Serenade is one of my favorite movies, and Dunne and Grant are excellent in their roles. Irene was one of the most beautiful women, and it is nice to see that she was still getting starring roles into her 50's, as some stars from that era did not age as well as she did. I just watched I Remember Mama last night, as I was so surprised to find that she was 50 in that movie, I thought she was at least 10 years younger. I have been fascinated with Old Hollywood since I was a kid, and Ms. Dunne has been one of my favorites since then, too. Your site is great, keep up the good work!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1251568927451439906.post-79315139467234384472012-06-26T15:05:33.485-07:002012-06-26T15:05:33.485-07:00I really appreciate your comments, especially abou...I really appreciate your comments, especially about the ending. Thank you.<br /><br />darAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1251568927451439906.post-46385509353217706402012-04-20T00:02:31.398-07:002012-04-20T00:02:31.398-07:00Thanks, Janine! "Penny Serenade" certain...Thanks, Janine! "Penny Serenade" certainly is a nice start with Irene, and I love to make you smile! :)casuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02745343029575366237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1251568927451439906.post-71282445870441279782012-04-19T02:02:11.288-07:002012-04-19T02:02:11.288-07:00Amazing review, Susanne. It made me smile a lot. P...Amazing review, Susanne. It made me smile a lot. Penny Serenade was the first movie I've seen of Irene and I will be forever grateful to this film.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com