Watch The Five Pennies

The film is a 1959 biopic about the Big Band leader Red Nichols. Danny Kaye stars as Nichols. Other members of the cast include Barbara Bel Geddes, Harry Guardino, Susan Gordon and Tuesday Weld. Jazz icon Louis Armstrong is featured in the film as well. The movie tells the Red Nichols story starting in the 1920s when Red moved to New York City. He marries a singer names Bobbie Meredith (Bel Geddes) and forms his own band. The name of the band is The Five Pennies. The story deals with the ups and downs of Nichols’ persona and professional life. The real Red Nichols plays all the cornet parts in the movie.