Rating: 
Summary: Cary Grant has acting muscles. A classic mellow drama
Review: that for a long time has escaped me. In its time it must have raised a tear or two. They kill off a cute, adorable, little girl that loves her daddy (Grant). They don't show her dying on screen, but she is dead.
The story is told thru flashbacks, brought on by popular songs of the time, spanning the marriage of Julie & Rodger Adams (Grant & Irene Dunne). Theirs is not a particularly stable marriage to begin with. Rodger is implusive, immature & selfish. Julie is the more responsible, but still lively, partner. Their lives change dramatically when they adopt a baby girl. They lost a child eariler & cannot have any of their own. These are the funniest parts of the movie as the two new parents fumble & stumble through the first few days of parenthood. Grant's character at this point changes completely, for the better, becoming a very good father & man. Five-six
years later Trina dies suddenly from something that's going around. Their marriage implodes. Grant's character again changes as he is plunged into a deep, dark depression. All is saved by a baby boy becoming available for them to adopt & start again. Beulah Bondi does a fine job in a character role as the kindly social worker that brings the babies. It is hard to evaluate a Cary Grant movie because he so uniformly good in most of them. He and Miss Dunne did a very good & professional job in this enjoyable movie from 1941.
Rating: 
Summary: The beginning is too slow, the ending is too fast
Review: (Please note that the DVD edition I am reviewing is the Laserlight release that features introductory remarks by Tony Curtis.)The biggest problem that I had with PENNY SERENADE was the pacing, or lack thereof. The first half crawls by at a tortoise pace, with the main characters taking forever to get from point A to point B. By contrast, the second part flies by far too quickly, with huge jumps that skip us past large sections of the characters' emotional lives. It seems to end with a shockingly depressing twist that comes completely out of nowhere, but in literally the last minute events change, robbing us of any emotional investment that we may have made in the process. I hate to be so negative of this film, especially given how uniformly excellent the cast is. With the lone exception of a single child actor (who isn't nearly as bad as some other children would have been in the role), the acting is believable and superb. Even during some of the more comedic sections, Cary Grant has toned down his more over-the-top excesses, creating a character that is realistic, but also amusing. Irene Dunn is similarly excellent, and allows her character to seem swept along by events, but not letting herself be carried away in the melodrama. The two leads gave balanced and thoughtful performances that were a joy to watch. The beginning and middle sections of the film really drag in places. I don't mind slow-paced movies, but in PENNY SERENADE there seemed to be long stretches that were neither interesting nor plot advancing. For example, there's a ten to fifteen minute section that takes place in Japan, apparently for no reason other than for the main characters to be caught in an earthquake. There are scenes that take forever to build up, and result in little pay-off. It's very frustrating to sit through all of this, especially when one considers how rushed the final part of the film is. The last part of the movie ends up feeling much choppier and more hurried than the previous sections did. We jump from scene to scene without fully seeing the motivations and reasons behind the action. Several major events take place off screen and are only referred to. I wouldn't have minded if it was just one or two moments, but it seemed to me that every important event was missed which severely reduced the emotional impact. The ending to the film itself feels like a complete cheat. I hate to see films that resort to cheap tricks to provoke a reaction from the audience, but that's exactly what happened here. And worse, the contrivance isn't even played up to its full potential. The emotions that we're supposed to experience are totally undercut in literally the final seconds of the film by another illogical plot twist that comes out of nowhere. I suspect (but do not know) that the studio requesting this in order to create a false happy ending, but whatever the reasons, it ruins any emotional substance in what was already a fairly dubious conclusion. The incoherence of the ending isn't helped by the fact that virtually the whole film is told in a series of flashbacks. These flashbacks consist entirely of Dunn's character sitting in a chair, listening to old records, and thinking about the events that led her to the present. Now, I don't mind flashbacks in movies at all. I think that, handled correctly, they can add a great sense of discontinuity and mystery. It can be quite intriguing to figure out how the flashbacks will eventually lead to the present. The problem with the way they are handled in PENNY SERENADE is that very little has been set up beforehand. The flashbacks serve no purpose other than to simply be there as a gimmick. The structure doesn't add anything to the film and serves only as an annoying distraction. The DVD's introductory remarks by Tony Curtis may come as a surprise to viewers familiar with his comments that have accompanied other Laserlight releases. Often his introductions are unintentionally hilarious, with Mr. Curtis bouncing between incoherence and almost gleeful hamminess. But in his preamble to the feature movie here, he comes across as someone who is genuinely a fan of Cary Grant and of his impressive body of work. All in all, I was disappointed by this movie. There are some very good and very sweet moments (especially those that seem designed to get past the very strict censors of the day), but overall the film feels disjointed. The acting from the main performers is excellent, with additional credit going to many of the well-acted secondary characters. But the acting alone couldn't save this film. The story is too padded in the beginning and too shallow at the end. The directing doesn't save the film from its own flaws. There a several good individual portions, but taken as a whole it just doesn't work.
Rating:
Summary: The child as the cement of the family
Review: A very moving film fundamentally based on flashbacks brought up by a series of records that have been crucial in the life of a couple, seen through the eyes of the wife, except one, which is a shortcoming. A husband who promises great achievements and does not deliver. A wife who is set into action by these promises, though she tends to be more realistic and to curb the fantasy in her husband's imagination. She unluckily loses her first baby in a miscarriage and even her ability to procreate. They finally move to the idea of adopting a child, which they do, and they get completely trapped in their entangling love for the child. But fate never strikes only once and this girl gets sick at the age of seven and dies. The couple unravels into a separation that is looming high over their future. It is when the wife is on the point of leaving her husband that a new opportunity to adopt a second child appears, a boy this time. And they are saved from perdition for the sake of this new adventure with a new child. A very effective film about unfulfilled promises, down to earth realism and the binding power of a child for a couple who thus builds a family forgetting all grudges. Dr Jacques COULARDEAU
Rating:
Summary: CALL IT A MELODRAMA MAYBE...
Review: but this movie is a soap opera, albeit a darned good one! I define a soap opera when a story is solely concerned with personal relationship(s). We know nothing about what is going on in the world at the time, and in this film's instance, very little about the rest of the characters' lives apart from the personal relationships of Grant's, Dunne's and Buchanan's. We know little about the newspaper which Grant buys, and which later fails. We don't know how he supported his family with "no income," or if there was finally some income, what its source was. That said, what makes this film work is the superb directing by George Stevens, and the ultra-superb performances by every cast member: Grant, Dunne, Buchanan. Beulah Bondi deserves special mention for her sensitive, low-keyed performance. The story is truly interesting and keeps one wondering what will happen next throughout. Cary Grant once said that he "invented Cary Grant." In this film we see the actor before his invention was complete. He is not particularly charming, not suave at all, not even a lady's man. I love the Cary Grant who he invented, but in this film one can get a true and probably close-up look at the person he really was. We see a caring, sensitive, and even somewhat insecure, man. His performance well-deserved his academy award nomination. All in all, the film is well worth viewing.
Rating: 
Summary: Love Those Black and Whites
Review: Cary Grant gives his best performance in this tragicomedy. He doesn't leave a dry eye when he pleads to keep the daughter he and Irene Dunne have adopted. The old songs are nice too. Wonder if there will be any "old songs" from the current era.
Rating:
Summary: Memorable Film; Awful DVD
Review: Directed by George Stevens and starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, PENNY SERENADE was among the most admired films of 1941. But it seems the film has now drifted into public domain, and the result is incredibly dire: a very muddy soundtrack coupled to a picture that shudders and shakes so that you can barely stand to look at it. This a great pity, for PENNY SERENADE is a fine film that deserves much better. The concept is simple: as wife Julie (Irene Dunne) packs to leave her husband Roger (Cary Grant), she plays the various records the two have collected over the years. Each recording recalls the various phases of their lives: their chance meeting, their rather unexpected marriage, early years spent in the far east. But they are unhappy in their inability to have a child--and so they return to the United States to adopt. But their happiness ends in tragedy, a tragedy which neither seem able to surmount. The story is sentimental melodrama, of course, but it transcends its own genre. George Stevens was one of the great directors of Hollywood's golden age--director of such diverse classics as A PLACE IN THE SUN, SHANE, and WOMAN OF THE YEAR. In lesser hands the film might have been reduced to pure soap, but he strikes the perfect balance between charm and tearfulness. The leads are equally perfect, with both Irene Dunne and Cary Grant (who were memorably teamed in such frantic screwball comedies MY FAVORITE WIFE and THE AWFUL TRUTH) discarding their broad comedic skills in favor of plausible humor and sincerity. The supporting cast, which sports nice performances by the likes of Beulah Bondi and Edgar Buchanan, is also very fine, the script is quite good, and the cinematography both functional and elegant. But all this counts for nothing if you cannot actually stand to watch the truly awful DVD versions available. And they really are that bad. Over the years I've picked up several copies of this film released by several companies--Madacy, Laserlight, and most recently Front Row--and although the transfers vary a bit from company to company they are never more than extremely bad and quite often down-right unwatchable. This is a film in desperate need of restoration, and until it receives that you're better off looking for it on the late-late show--for I can almost guarantee that the print you will find there will be superior to virtually any home-market release you can lay hands on. --GFT (Amazon reviewer)--
Rating:
Summary: Memorable Film; Awful DVD
Review: Directed by George Stevens and starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, PENNY SERENADE was among the most admired films of 1941. But it seems the film has now drifted into public domain, and the result is incredibly dire: a very muddy soundtrack coupled to a picture that shudders and shakes so that you can barely stand to look at it. This a great pity, for PENNY SERENADE is a fine film that deserves much better. The concept is simple: as wife Julie (Irene Dunne) packs to leave her husband Roger (Cary Grant), she plays the various records the two have collected over the years. Each recording recalls the various phases of their lives: their chance meeting, their rather unexpected marriage, early years spent in the far east. But they are unhappy in their inability to have a child--and so they return to the United States to adopt. But their happiness ends in tragedy, a tragedy which neither seem able to surmount. The story is sentimental melodrama, of course, but it transcends its own genre. George Stevens was one of the great directors of Hollywood's golden age--director of such diverse classics as A PLACE IN THE SUN, SHANE, and WOMAN OF THE YEAR. In lesser hands the film might have been reduced to pure soap, but he strikes the perfect balance between charm and tearfulness. The leads are equally perfect, with both Irene Dunne and Cary Grant (who were memorably teamed in such frantic screwball comedies MY FAVORITE WIFE and THE AWFUL TRUTH) discarding their broad comedic skills in favor of plausible humor and sincerity. The supporting cast, which sports nice performances by the likes of Beulah Bondi and Edgar Buchanan, is also very fine, the script is quite good, and the cinematography both functional and elegant. But all this counts for nothing if you cannot actually stand to watch the truly awful DVD versions available. And they really are that bad. Over the years I've picked up several copies of this film released by several companies--Madacy, Laserlight, and most recently Front Row--and although the transfers vary a bit from company to company they are never more than extremely bad and quite often down-right unwatchable. This is a film in desperate need of restoration, and until it receives that you're better off looking for it on the late-late show--for I can almost guarantee that the print you will find there will be superior to virtually any home-market release you can lay hands on. --GFT (Amazon reviewer)--
Rating:
Summary: A Charming Treasure of a Classic!
Review: Heartmelting! Charming Cary Grant & the endearing Irene Dunne are the perfect match in this bittersweet drama about a man & woman who fall in love, get married and realize they can't have children. The idea of adoption is rejected by Grant who has his mind made up...well almost! The story has alot of good humor and sentimentality, as well as it's heartwrenching moments. You'll be so caught up, there won't be a dry eye in the place by the time it's over! One of my personal favorites.
Rating:
Summary: Highly Recommend!
Review: I cannot say how many times my family has watched this movie because it is so good! It is a great family movie especially if you are adopting or dealing with infertility. It is an outdated adoption story but never the less the same feelings are there about adoption and infertility. Times are different now and I am sure if this movie remade it would be made very different and not so sugary. But that is what was so great about movies from this era it helps you escape from some of reality. Cary Grant is at his best! He is a true man in every sense of the word in this movie as father and husband. Irene Dunn and Cary Grant had great screen chemistry. I love the part where the baby wakes up and he stubbs his toe little things in this movie makes it cute. It is both endearing and sad. The time when they make mommy a birthday dinner, the Christmas program. When Cary Grant (Roger) goes before the judge to keep his baby because he lost his job, now that was a great preformance! But the movie is very sad when little Trina dies only to try to save their marriage while they grieve for the little daughter. It is an amazing story especially the end which you was slightly unrealistic but very wonderful. I love the man who plays AppleJack he was on Leave It To Beaver too. :) I highly recommend this video it will touch your heart! I do wish they would digitally remaster this movie it is worth it!
Rating: 
Summary: Bad Quality Print!
Review: I have to agree that these are bad prints. I bought 5 of these Madacy DVDs and will return all of them. I am not usually very picky about quality. A good VHS tape is just wonderful to me. These DO NOT COME CLOSE TO VHS! The sound quality is so bad, I couldn't get through the film. The hiss is not only audible, it drowns out the soundtrack. The picture has weird artifacts that I have never seen before. I could have tolerated them, but the audio hiss gave me a headache. My guess is that the publisher bought a $2.99 VHS tape of these movies and transferred the tape to DVD. No noise reduction whatsoever. Its like listening to a cheap cassette on a $5.00 walkman--I kid you not! You could do just as good a job in your basement with a VHS tape player and a DVD writer. Come on Madacy, you could have at least supressed that hiss!
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