The Five Pennies (1959): cast, story & where to watch
1959 · Film · ★ 6.7
Released in 1959, The Five Pennies is a drama and music film directed by Melville Shavelson, running about 117 minutes.
What it’s about. Dixieland cornetist Red Nichols runs into opposition to his sound, but breaks through to success. He marries a warm, patient woman and even finds time to raise a family. Then tragedy strikes when their daughter contracts polio.
Who’s in it. The Five Pennies stars Danny Kaye as Red Nichols, Barbara Bel Geddes as Wila Stutsman, Louis Armstrong as Louis Armstrong and Harry Guardino as Tony Valani, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.7/10, The Five Pennies has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Five Pennies page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Five Pennies tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Five Pennies (1959)?
- In US, The Five Pennies is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Five Pennies worth watching?
- The Five Pennies holds an audience score of 6.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and music. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Five Pennies?
- The Five Pennies stars Danny Kaye, Barbara Bel Geddes, Louis Armstrong, Harry Guardino and Bob Crosby.
- When was The Five Pennies released?
- The Five Pennies was released in 1959, with a runtime of about 117 minutes.