The Benny Goodman Story (1956)
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- Approved
- 1h 56min
- Biography, Drama
- 03 Jan 1956 (Japan)
- Movie
The young Benny Goodman is taught clarinet by a Chicago music professor. He is advised by bandleader Kid Ory to play whichever kind of music he likes best, but to make a living, Benny begins by joining the Ben Pollack traveling band.
Director:
Writer:
Stars:
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Steve Allen | ... |
Benny Goodman
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| Donna Reed | ... |
Alice Hammond
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| Berta Gersten | ... |
Mama Goodman
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Barry Truex | ... |
Benny Goodman (at 16)
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| Herbert Anderson | ... |
John Hammond Jr.
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| Robert F. Simon | ... |
Papa Dave Goodman
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Hy Averback | ... |
Willard Alexander
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| Sammy Davis Sr. | ... |
Fletcher Henderson
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| Dick Winslow | ... |
Gil Rodin
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Shepard Menken | ... |
Harry Goodman
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| Jack Kruschen | ... |
Murph Podolsky
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| Wilton Graff | ... |
John Hammond Sr.
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| Fred Essler | ... |
Prof. Schoepp
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| David Kasday | ... |
Benny Goodman (at 10)
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| John Erman | ... |
Harry Goodman (at 16)
(as John M. Erman)
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| George Givot | ... |
Jake Primo
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| Lionel Hampton | ... |
Lionel Hampton
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| Gene Krupa | ... |
Gene Krupa
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| Teddy Wilson | ... |
Teddy Wilson
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| Ben Pollack | ... |
Ben Pollack
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| Kid Ory | ... |
Edward 'Kid' Ory
(as Edward 'Kid' Ory)
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| Urbie Green | ... |
Young Sideman with Clayton
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| Buck Clayton | ... |
Trumpeter - Basement Jam Session
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| Stan Getz | ... |
Sax Solo at Paramount in NY
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| Harry James | ... |
Harry James - Trumpeter at Carnegie Hall
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| Martha Tilton | ... |
Martha Tilton
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| Ziggy Elman | ... |
Ziggy Elman
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Chris Alcaide | ... |
Boatman (uncredited)
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Mary Bayless | ... |
Club Patron (uncredited)
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John Best | ... |
Musician (uncredited)
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Lulu Mae Bohrman | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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Paul Bradley | ... |
Club Patron (uncredited)
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Gilbert Brady | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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Nikki Faustino Brady | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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| Robert Clarke | ... |
Roger Gillespie - Alice's Escort (uncredited)
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James Conaty | ... |
Escort (uncredited)
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Oliver Cross | ... |
Club Patron (uncredited)
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Roy Damron | ... |
Club Patron (uncredited)
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Hal K. Dawson | ... |
McHenshey - Mgr. Columbus Pavilion (uncredited)
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Jack Deery | ... |
Concert Spectator (uncredited)
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Dan Dowling | ... |
Club Patron (uncredited)
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| Douglas Evans | ... |
Kel Murray - Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
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| Franklyn Farnum | ... |
Man in Audience at Carnegie Hall (uncredited)
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Antonio Filauri | ... |
Headwaiter (uncredited)
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| Bess Flowers | ... |
Woman in Audience at Carnegie Hall (uncredited)
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Curt Furberg | ... |
Concert Spectator (uncredited)
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Phil Gomez | ... |
Clarinet Player With Kid Ory (uncredited)
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| Don Gordon | ... |
Tough Boy in Gang (uncredited)
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Marion Gray | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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| Sam Harris | ... |
Man in Audience at Carnegie Hall (uncredited)
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Whitey Haupt | ... |
Tough Boy in Gang (uncredited)
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| Bill Hickman | ... |
Concert Spectator (uncredited)
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| Jane Howard | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| Allen Jaffe | ... |
Concert Spectator (uncredited)
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| Diane Jergens | ... |
Velma - Benny's Giggly Date (uncredited)
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Carlene King Johnson | ... |
Bobby-Soxer (uncredited)
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Richard Kapp | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Perk Lazelle | ... |
Club Patron (uncredited)
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Jack Lomas | ... |
Clark / Mgr / Elitch's Garden / Danver (uncredited)
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| Louise Lorimer | ... |
Mrs. Vanderbilt (uncredited)
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| Leota Lorraine | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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Arthur Lovejoy | ... |
Fred - the Butler (uncredited)
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Maurice Marks | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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| John McGovern | ... |
Dick Reiner - Clarinet Dropout (uncredited)
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| Ralph Montgomery | ... |
Waiter - Palomar Ballroom (uncredited)
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| Barry Norton | ... |
Man in Audience at Carnegie Hall (uncredited)
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Cynthia Patrick | ... |
Jane - Gil Rodin's Date (uncredited)
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Charles Perry | ... |
Concert Spectator (uncredited)
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| Foster H. Phinney | ... |
Concert Spectator (uncredited)
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George Ramsey | ... |
Joe Goldcrown - Toledo Theatre Mgr. (uncredited)
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Buddy Ray | ... |
Band Guitar Player (uncredited)
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Allan Reuss | ... |
Self - Guitar Player (uncredited)
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| Leoda Richards | ... |
Concert Spectator (uncredited)
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| Hillevi Rombin | ... |
Bobby-Soxer (uncredited)
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| Benny Rubin | ... |
Mr. Strauss - the Tailor (uncredited)
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Babe Russin | ... |
Self - Musician (uncredited)
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Dick Ryan | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Cosmo Sardo | ... |
Jake Primo's Barber (uncredited)
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| Jeffrey Sayre | ... |
Man in Audience at Carnegie Hall (uncredited)
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Lennie Smith | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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Lou Southern | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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| Jack Stoney | ... |
Primo Hood (uncredited)
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Frank D. Strong | ... |
Trombonist in Movie Goodman Band (uncredited)
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Sara Taft | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Charles Tannen | ... |
Mr. Stewart - Manager of Palomar Ballroom (uncredited)
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| Ben Welden | ... |
Sammy - Primo's 1st Henchman (uncredited)
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| Smoki Whitfield | ... |
Ed - Fletcher Henderson's Cabbie (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Valentine Davies | ||
Written by
| Valentine Davies | ... | () |
Produced by
| Aaron Rosenberg | ... | producer |
Cinematography by
| William H. Daniels | ... | director of photography (as William Daniels) |
Editing by
| Russell F. Schoengarth | ... | (as Russell Schoengarth) |
Editorial Department
| Greg Rodin | ... | 4K Digital Restoration: Universal Pictures |
| Berna MacCurran | ... | assistant editor (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Robert Clatworthy | ||
| Alexander Golitzen | ||
Set Decoration by
| Russell A. Gausman | ||
| Julia Heron | ||
Costume Design by
| Bill Thomas | ||
Makeup Department
| Joan St. Oegger | ... | hair stylist |
| Bud Westmore | ... | makeup artist |
| Faye Chaney | ... | body makeup (uncredited) |
| Mark Reedall | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Edward K. Dodds | ... | unit manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Phil Bowles | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Robert Laszlo | ... | props |
| Roy Neel | ... | assistant props |
| Jim Barrett | ... | laborer (uncredited) |
| Jim Cole | ... | painter (uncredited) |
| Roy Neal | ... | props (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Leslie I. Carey | ... | sound |
| Robert Pritchard | ... | sound |
| Frank Gorback | ... | mike man (uncredited) |
| James F. Rogers | ... | cable man (uncredited) |
| William Sosteleo | ... | sound recordist (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| William Dodds | ... | camera operator |
| Ollie Hansel | ... | crane operator |
| Kenneth Smith | ... | crane operator |
| Walter Williams | ... | assistant camera |
| Fred Buckley | ... | co-grip (uncredited) |
| Frederic Dorr | ... | lamp operator (uncredited) |
| Ben Graves | ... | lamp operator (uncredited) |
| Harold Haselbusch | ... | lamp operator (uncredited) |
| Lloyd Hill | ... | gaffer (uncredited) |
| Ed Jones | ... | grip (uncredited) |
| Rollie Lane | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Julius Madison | ... | best boy (uncredited) |
| Lawrence McCarthy | ... | lamp operator (uncredited) |
| Pierce Nippell | ... | lamp operator (uncredited) |
| Marion Pierce | ... | co-grip (uncredited) |
| James Ryan | ... | co-grip (uncredited) |
| Arthur Shadur | ... | lamp operator (uncredited) |
| Robert Willoughby | ... | special still photographer (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Bill Thomas | ... | gowns |
| Truman Eli | ... | wardrobe (uncredited) |
| Rydo Loshak | ... | wardrobe assistant (uncredited) |
| Nevada Penn | ... | wardrobe (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Harold Brown | ... | instrumental coach |
| Buck Clayton | ... | musician: trumpet |
| George Duvivier | ... | musician: bass |
| Joseph Gershenson | ... | music supervisor |
| Stan Getz | ... | musician: saxophone |
| Benny Goodman | ... | musician: clarinet |
| Irving Goodman | ... | musician: trumpet |
| Conrad Gozzo | ... | musician: trumpet |
| Urbie Green | ... | musician: trombone |
| Chris Griffin | ... | musician: trumpet |
| Alan Harding | ... | instrumental coach |
| Gene Krupa | ... | musician: drums |
| Henry Mancini | ... | composer: additional music |
| Murray McEachern | ... | musician: trombone |
| James Priddy | ... | musician: trombone |
| Allan Reuss | ... | musician: guitar |
| Hymie Shertzer | ... | musician: saxophone |
| Teddy Wilson | ... | musician: piano |
| Sol Yaged | ... | instrumental coach |
| Ethmer Roten | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Adele Cannon | ... | script clerk (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Harold Brown | ... | instrumental coach |
| Alan Harding | ... | instrumental coach |
| Don Morgan | ... | publicist |
| Sol Yaged | ... | instrumental coach |
| Charles Baqueta | ... | coordinator (uncredited) |
| Lloyd Dawson | ... | stand-in (uncredited) |
| Francis Haldoran | ... | stand-in (uncredited) |
| Walter Lawrence | ... | stand-in (uncredited) |
| Harold Lockwood | ... | stand-in (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Universal Pictures (1956) (United States) (theatrical) (as Universal-International)
- J.Arthur Rank-Film (1956) (Austria) (theatrical)
- J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (1956) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Universal Film (1956) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Universal Film (1956) (Norway) (theatrical)
- MCA/Universal Home Video (1989) (United States) (VHS)
- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (2003) (United States) (DVD)
- Splendid Film (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
- Emerald (2013) (Argentina) (DVD) (Double feature with "West Side Story" [1961])
- Splendid Film (2014) (Germany) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2022) (Australia) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | The Story of a Fabulous Guy, A Wonderful Girl and the Exciting Music They Made Together See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Benny Goodman played all the clarinet music heard on the soundtrack himself, with the exception of the scene where the young Goodman first tried to play the clarinet - the squeaky notes were actually played by Steve Allen. See more » |
| Goofs | Newspaper article shown that gives Benny Goodman the idea to audition has a typo - "a large baking account" instead of "banking account." This is probably accurate since the company that sponsored the "Let's Dance" show made biscuits. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Count Me In (2021). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Let's Dance See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Benny Goodman's theme song is played over the appearance of the "Universal International" globe. See more » |
| Quotes |
Alice Hammond:
I can't remember when I've been so moved. Benny Goodman: That wasn't me - that was Mozart. See more » |