Wonder Man

Danny Kaye Director: H. Bruce Humberstone H. Bruce Humberstone

Overview

Danny Kaye plays the first of his cinematic dual roles in Goldwyn's Wonder Man. Kaye appears as timid librarian Edwin Dingle and Edwin's extroverted twin brother, nightclub entertainer Buzzy Bellew. When Buzzy witnesses a gangland shooting, he himself is rubbed out by mob boss Ten-Grand Jackson (Steve Cochran, in his movie debut). Before long, Edwin is visited by Buzzy's ghost, who persuades his bookish brother to help bring Jackson to justice. For the rest of the film, poor Edwin is possessed by his brother's sportive spirit, causing no end of confusion for Edwin's demure lady friend Ellen Shanley (Virginia Mayo) and Buzzy's more outgoing girlfriend, dancer Midge Mallon (Vera-Ellen, also making her first film appearance). Done up in splashy Technicolor, Wonder Man is perhaps Kaye's best Goldwyn-produced vehicle, permitting him to play a character (or characters) rather than a caricature. Highlights include an opera spoof (a variation of which showed up in Kaye's 1954 feature Knock on Wood), Danny's allergic rendition of "Otchi Chornya," and a wonderful vignette wherein Kaye imitates all the "inhabitants" of a pet shop.

Product Details

Release Date:	12/25/2012
UPC:	8809154131385
Original Release:	1945
Source:	Imports
Sales rank:	8,644

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Danny Kaye	Buzzy Bellew,Edwin Dingle
Virginia Mayo	Ellen Shanley
Vera-Ellen	Midge Mallon
S.Z. Sakall	Schmidt
Donald Woods	Monte Rossen
Steve Cochran	Ten-Grand Jackson
Allen Jenkins	Chimp
Otto Kruger	District Attorney R.J. O'Brien
Edward S. Brophy	Torso
Richard Lane	Assistant District Attorney Grosset
Natalie Schafer	Mrs. Leland Hume
Huntz Hall	Mike the sailor
Virginia Gilmore	Sailor's Girlfriend
Gisela Werbiseck	Mrs. Schmidt
Eddie Acuff	Actor
Luis Alberni	Prompter
Leon Belasco	Pianist
Deannie Best	Actor
Karin [Katharine] Booth	Actor
Alma Carroll	Actor
Maurice Cass	Stage Manager
Chester Clute	Man on Bus
Noel Cravat	Actor
Cecil Cunningham	Barker
Harry Depp	Actor
Eddie Dunn	Cop
Ralph Dunn	Actor
James Farley	Actor
Mary Field	Stenographer
James Flavin	Bus Driver
Byron Foulger	Customer
Karen X. Gaylord	Actor
Ellen Hall	Actor
Carol Haney	Dancer
Charles Irwin	Drunk at Bar
Eddie Kane	Headwaiter
John Kelly	Actor
Dorothy Koster	Actor
Betty Lane	Actor
Bob Mascagno	Actor
Mary Meade	Actor
Frank Melton	Waiter
Grant Mitchell	Mr. Wagonseller
Mary Moore	Actor
William Newell	Actor
Jack Norton	Drunk in Club
Frank Orth	Bartender
Allen Pinson	Dancer
Nino Pipitone	Actor
Albert Ruiz	Actor
Susan Scott	Actor
Sarah Selby	Actor
Margie Stewart	Page Girl
Ray Teal	Ticket Taker
Nick Thompson	Actor
Ruth Valmy	Actor
Billy Wayne	Actor
Chili Williams	Goldwyn Girl
Martha Montgomery	Actor
Jane Allen	Actor
Charles Teske	Actor
Walter Pietila	Actor
Eddie Cutler	Actor
Mickey Malloy	Actor
Edward Gargan	Policeman in Park

Technical Credits

Don Hartman

Jack Jevne

Eddie Moran

Philip Rapp

Melville Shavelson

H. Bruce Humberstone	Director
Travis Banton	Costumes/Costume Designer
Howard Bristol	Set Decoration/Design
McClure Capps	Art Director
Ernst Fegte	Art Director
Louis Forbes	Score Composer,Musical Direction/Supervision
John P. Fulton	Special Effects
Samuel Goldwyn	Producer
Don Hartman	Screenwriter
Ray Heindorf	Score Composer
Jack Jevne	Screenwriter
Dan Mandell	Editor
Victor Milner	Cinematographer
Eddie Moran	Screenwriter
Philip Rapp	Screenwriter
David Rose	Score Composer
Melville Shavelson	Screenwriter
Arthur Sheekman	Original Story
William Snyder	Cinematographer
John Wray	Choreography

Editorial Reviews

Fans of Danny Kaye will be delighted with Wonder Man, one of those films that gives the comedian the opportunity to play two roles. Kaye, never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, makes the very most of the opportunity, putting so much energy and commitment into his work that he makes most viewers forget that the material he's working with is only so-so. Wonder is filled with the kind of coincidences and plot turns that can only happen in a movie, so any viewer expecting anything approaching reality is well advised to steer clear. For those willing to check their suspension of disbelief at the door, however, Wonder should provide ample entertainment. Kaye gets to display all of the facets of his talent, and has the chance to play an urbane, charming, in-control leading-man type to boot. He's well supported by the charming and attractive Virginia Mayo and Vera-Ellen, with the latter demonstrating her superb dancing skills in a very diverting solo-with-chorus that is exceptional. Wonder Man is slight, but it's a fine showcase for its star comic.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler