''Wonder Man'' is a 1945

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serve merely as brea ...

directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and starring

Danny Kaye Danny Kaye (born David Daniel Kaminsky; yi, דוד־דניאל קאַמינסקי; January 18, 1911 – March 3, 1987) was an American actor, comedian, singer and dancer. His performances featured physical comedy, idiosyncratic pantomimes, and ...

and

Virginia Mayo Virginia Mayo (born Virginia Clara Jones; November 30, 1920 – January 17, 2005) was an American actress and dancer. She was in a series of comedy films with Danny Kaye and was Warner Brothers' biggest box-office money-maker in the late 1940s. ...

. It is based on a short story by Arthur Sheekman, adapted for the screen by a staff of writers led by Jack Jevne and Eddie Moran, and produced by Samuel Goldwyn. Mary Grant designed the film's costumes.

Plot

Danny Kaye plays a double role as a pair of estranged "super- identical twins". Despite their almost indistinguishable looks, the two have very different personalities. Buster Dingle, who goes by the stage name "Buzzy Bellew", is a loud and goofy performer at the Pelican Club, while Edwin Dingle is a studious, quiet bookworm writing a history book. The two brothers have not seen each other for years. Buster becomes the witness to a murder committed by mob boss "Ten Grand" Jackson and is promptly murdered himself. He comes back as a ghost, calling on his long-lost brother for help to bring the killer to justice. As a result, the shy Edwin must take his brother's place until after his testimony is given. In the meantime, he has to dodge Jackson's hitmen and fill in for Buster at the nightclub. To help him out, Busterwho cannot be seen or heard by anyone but Edwinpossesses him, with outrageously goofy results. Edwin, possessed by Buzzy, performs a bit where he pretends to be a famous Russian singer allergic to flowers. A vase of flowers is nonetheless placed on a table near him, and his song, " Otchi Chornya", is frequently interrupted by his loud and goofy-sounding sneezes. The love interests of the brothers further complicate the situation; while the murdered Buster was engaged to entertainer Midge Mallon, librarian Ellen Shanley admires Edwin. In the end, Ellen marries Edwin, while Midge consoles herself by marrying the owner of the Pelican Club.

Cast

In addition, an uncredited

June Hutton June Hutton (born June Marvel Cowan; August 11, 1919 – May 2, 1973) was an American actress and vocalist, popular with big bands during the 1940s. She was the younger sister of vocalist Ina Ray Hutton. Early years Hutton was born in Blooming ...

provided the singing voice for Vera-Ellen.

Production credits

* Director – Bruce Humberstone * Producer – Samuel Goldwyn * Writing –

Don Hartman Samuel Donald Hartman (18 November 1900, New York - 23 March 1958, Palm Springs, California) was an American screenwriter and director and former production head of Paramount Pictures. He and Stephen Morehouse Avery were nominated for the Academy ...

, Melville Shavelson, and Philip Rapp (screenplay)

Jack Jevne Jack Jevne (January 25, 1892 – May 25, 1972) was an American screenwriter. He also worked as an actor and served as sergeant first class during World War I. He wrote for 58 films between 1919 and 1956, notably working with Laurel and Har ...

and Eddie Moran (adaptation); Arthur Sheekman (original story) * Cinematography – Victor Milner and William Snyder (directors of photography) * Music – Sylvia Fine (music and lyrics); Ray Heindorf (musical orchestration and conducting) * Art direction –

Ernst Fegté Ernst Fegté (28 September 1900 – 15 December 1976) was a German art director. He was active in the American cinema from the 1920s to the 1970s, he was the art director or production designer on more than 75 feature films. He worked at Par ...

(art director), McClure Capps (associate art direction),

Howard Bristol Howard Bristol (August 14, 1902 – February 11, 1971) was an American set decorator. He was nominated for nine Academy Awards in the category Best Art Direction. He worked on 56 films between 1936 and 1968. Selected filmography Bristol w ...

(set decoration) * Film editor – Daniel Mandell * Music – Louis Forbes (musical director) * Choreography – John Wray * Costumes – Travis Banton * Makeup – Robert Stephanoff * Special effects – John P. Fulton (special photographic effects) * Technicolor color director – Natalie Kalmus * Sound – Fred Lau (sound recorder)

Awards

The film won an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

for Best Special Effects at the

18th Academy Awards The 18th Academy Awards were held on March 7, 1946 at Grauman's Chinese Theatre to honor the films of 1945. Being the first Oscars after the end of World War II, the ceremony returned to the glamour of the prewar years; notably, the plaster st ...

in 1946, and was also nominated for Best Original Song, Best Musical Score, and Best Sound Recording. The film was also entered into the 1946 Cannes Film Festival.

References

External links