Penny Serenade poster

1941·120 min·Released

Penny Serenade

“"Remember the tune they were singing the night we fell in love?..."”

Drama
Romance

Julie and Roger are a love-struck married couple who desperately want to have a child. Tragedy after tragedy gets in their way, as the two attempt to rise above their troubles and fulfill their dreams of parenthood.

6.6(124 votes)

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Penny Serenade

Cast & Crew

Irene Dunne

Irene Dunne

Julie Gardiner

Cary Grant

Cary Grant

Roger Adams

Beulah Bondi

Beulah Bondi

Miss Oliver

Edgar Buchanan

Edgar Buchanan

Applejack

Ann Doran

Ann Doran

Dotty

Eva Lee Kuney

Eva Lee Kuney

Six-Year-Old Trina

Leonard Willey

Leonard Willey

Dr. Hartley

Wallis Clark

Wallis Clark

Judge

Walter Soderling

Walter Soderling

Billings

Jane Biffle

Jane Biffle

One-Year-Old Trina

Dorothy Adams

Dorothy Adams

Mother in Stalled Car (uncredited)

Billy Bevan

Billy Bevan

McDougal (uncredited)

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barrymost

Written on 7/14/2020

This film boasts a wonderful dramatic turn by a young Cary Grant. If you're of the minority who view Mr. Grant as a boring, overrated comedy actor, give this a watch because the great man can most certainly act! It's a very enjoyable romance, elevated by a sparkling cast. The story is very heartwarming, but also quite the tearjerker. The record player transitions between scenes are quite a lovely touch, and good special effects for its time. Good family viewing.

CinemaSerf

Written on 6/25/2022

There is certainly chemistry between Irene Dunne and Cary Grant as the married couple with their lives ahead of them until an earthquake and tragedy strikes them and they must adjust to a life without the prospect of having their own child. That is until - with a little intervention from an avuncular and ever helpful "Applejack" (Edgar Buchanan) - they decide to adopt. They live a pretty subsistence existence by now; he is trying to run a local newspaper with a circulation that hovers around the 901-908 mark and so when it comes to the formalities, it is going to be struggle. Luckily, kindly adoption agent Beulah Bondi ("Miss Oliver") takes to them and soon afterwards they have their own little girl "Trine". Up until this point, both leads are engaging - frequent funny, especially Grant who has a distinct spontaneity in his performance - and though unchallenging, it is an enjoyable watch. However, tragedy strikes again and the film descends into maudlin melodrama with a last fifteen minutes that conclude with events that I found really quite tacky - almost like trading a commodity. What flowed effortlessly until then becomes contrived and for me, anyway, ruined much of the rest of it. It is a good watch, George Stevens does a good job and the writing/dalogue are frequently amusing and pithy - but that ending... sorry!

Media

Favorite Carry Grant scene 🙌 - Penny Serenade (1941)

Favorite Carry Grant scene 🙌 - Penny Serenade (1941)

Alexander Payne and George Stevens, Jr. on ‘Penny Serenade’ and Respecting the Audience | TCMFF 2023

Alexander Payne and George Stevens, Jr. on ‘Penny Serenade’ and Respecting the Audience | TCMFF 2023

Penny Serenade

Penny Serenade