The Benny Goodman Story

The Benny Goodman Story
File:Poster of the movie The Benny Goodman Story.jpg
Directed by	Valentine Davies
Produced by	Aaron Rosenberg
Written by	Valentine Davies
Starring	Steve Allen Donna Reed Bertha Gersten Herbert Anderson Robert F. Simon Dick Winslow
Music by	Joseph Gershenson Henry Mancini Sol Yaged Alan Harding Harold Brown
Cinematography	William Daniels
Edited by	Russell Schoengarth
Distributed by	Universal-International
Release dates	February 2, 1956 (1956-02-02)
Running time	116 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$2.7 million (US)

The Benny Goodman Story is a biographical film starring Steve Allen and Donna Reed, directed by Valentine Davies and released by Universal-International in 1956. The film is based on the life of famed clarinetist Benny Goodman, who recorded most of the clarinet solos used in the film.

The film captures several major moments in Goodman's life but it has been described as less than accurate in details. Goodman's Jewish background is implicitly mentioned, despite it playing a part in his artistic and personal endeavors for decades. In one scene, where his mother tries to talk him out of a romance with Alice Hammond, played by Donna Reed, whom Goodman eventually married, she says, "Bagels and caviar don't mix."

Plot

The young Benny Goodman is taught clarinet by a Chicago music professor. He is advised by bandleader Edward Ory to play whichever kind of music he likes best, but to make a living, Benny begins by joining the Ben Pollack traveling band.

In New York, where the band gets a lukewarm reception, Benny meets jazz lover John Hammond and his sister Alice. He is invited to the stately Hammond home to perform a Mozart clarinet concerto. Alice fears he will be embarrassed, but his playing is impeccable and Benny appreciates her concern.

Benny's performances on a popular Saturday night radio program result in Fletcher Henderson volunteering to do some arrangements for him. On the west coast, the radio show's early start has made Benny's music a sensation with a younger generation. He puts together a quartet featuring Gene Krupa on drums, Teddy Wilson on piano and Lionel Hampton on vibes.

The romance with society girl Alice is disconcerting to Benny's mother, but by the time her son plays Carnegie Hall, all is well and Mrs. Goodman has personally invited her future daughter-in-law to sit by her side.

Other Appearances

Lionel Hampton, Martha Tilton, Kid Ory, George Givot, Gene Krupa, Teddy Wilson, Harry James and many other musicians made appearances in this film. However, while Ziggy Elman appeared on screen recreating his trumpet solo on "And the Angels Sing", he was unable to record his portion for the soundtrack; Manny Klein actually performed it, off-camera.

Fletcher Henderson is portrayed by Sammy Davis, Sr., father of Sammy Davis, Jr.

External links

• The Benny Goodman Story at IMDb
• The Benny Goodman Story at AllMovie
• The Benny Goodman Story at AllMovie
• A film clip "Army Digs In for Defense of Arctic, 1956/02/27 (1956)" is available at the Internet Archive