PENNY SERENADE

US, 1941, 125 minutes, Black and White.
Cary Grant, Irene Dunne, Beulah Bondi, Edgar Buchanan.
Directed by George Stevens.

Penny Serenade is a very warm and moving film. it has the ingredients of a 'women's picture' and has a lot of sentiment but does not fall into sentimentality. Cary Grant and Irene Dunne had worked together in a number of films in the 30s and early 40s and are well matched here. The direction is by George Stevens, a measured director who had made such films as Quality Street, Gunga Din, The More the Merrier. There is good support also from Edgar Buchanan and Beulah Bondi. The film treats of marriage, family and adoption. It is somewhat dated
now in its treatment but it still has the power of attraction and enjoyment as well as something valuable to say about human experience.

1. The indication of the title as regards money, the little amount of money, music? The appeal of this film, sentimental, soap opera, "woman's picture"? And yet the critics and audiences all agreed that it transcended the ordinary limitations of the genre. Is this true? Where?

2. The quality of the production, Oscar nominations for Cary Grant etc.? The black and white photography, studio work, period re-creation? The importance of music? The quality of the star performances and the support from Beulah Bondi and Edgar Buchanan? The child acting? A happy blend in a humane way?

3. Audience identification with the structure: the records and Julie listening, the importance of music, the memories associated with it over the year? The importance of the continual returning to Julie playing the records, the visual device of the flashbacks? The content of the flashbacks and their accumulated effect until they reach the present and the need for a solution? Audiences identifying with Julie, her memories and regrets, her hopes and hope for a solution?

4. Irene Dunne as Julie, an attractive performance? The particular qualities of Irene Dunne's presence, dignity, quality of life, of love? The strengths of her character? Her memories of herself as a younger girl, the meeting with Roger, the strangeness that she should marry him, the humour of the details of the courting, their marriage, the years in Tokyo and the effect of the earthquake? The pathos of the miscarriage? The return home and the effect on her? Missing the baby? The hardness of their way of life, money, Roger's attitude towards his work and career? The support of their old friend through the years? The question of adoption, the desperate yearning and the effect on her as a mother, the money questions, the applications, trying to prove that they were ready? The ups and downs of her relationship with Roger, her wanting to persuade him to adopt the child? The visits from the Inspector from the orphanage and her advice? The bond of Julie with her over the years? Trying to make a happy household? The change with the coming of Trina, looking after her, the danger of not having money, trying to make good appearances, the desperation of Roger and his wanting the child to go back, the relief after the court case? The effect of the death and the way that it was presented, credibly, movingly? Audiences identifying with Julie in her suffering? The place then for her memories? The hopes for the future and bonds with Roger and adoption? What more could Julie have done to help Roger and the family? A moving and credible portrayal of this kind of woman?

5. Cary Grant's style as Roger matching that of Irene Dunne? His background, papers, character and the difference from Julie? The humour and the strangeness of their courting, marrying? Work in Tokyo? The result of the miscarriage? His decision about his work, the house, the paper, the support of his old friend? His reaction to Julie's wanting a child? His inability to make ends meet, his reluctant agreement about the adoption? The effect of the Inspector on him and her help over the years? The effect of the child ? the school sequences and his fatherly instincts and watching the child grow up? The pathos of his allowing her to go back to the orphanage, the importance of the sequence waiting for the Judge, his appeal and the return home? The effect of her death and his memories of what life had been like? The importance of his not being able to cope, his feeling that he had to leave Julie? Whose fault was the break? The possibility of building a future, overcoming his sense of failure? A portrayal of a credible man?

6. The importance of circumstances, work, money, making ends meet? Home, atmosphere? The detailed attention of Julie's and Roger's attempt to make the home fit for a child? The pathos of the inspection, the questionnaires? The court case? The pathos of death and the effect on the two?

7. The personality of the Inspector and her sentiment, sensible? Providing a child for them?

8. The them of failure and separation, the inability for people to reconcile themselves, the hard work for reconciliation?

9. How attractive was the little girl? Parents' expectations, preparations for adoption, their readiness, the way that they brought her up, the detailed attention to home life, affection, school, concerts etc.?

10. The old friend and his words of wisdom, financial support, moral support? The theme and quality of friendship?

11. The film relied for its success on detail, feeling,
humour, humane touches, sadness and sentiment. How movingly did it succeed?