I grew up watching Danny Kaye movies and I love them, but I can understand why some might feel that his type of zany style of comedy hasn't aged well. However, The Kid from Brooklyn was one of Danny's best.
In this remake of a long forgotten Harold Lloyd flop called 'The Milky Way' from 1936, Danny is reunited with his Wonder Man co-stars Virginia Mayo, Vera Ellen and Steve Cochran. He plays Burleigh Sullivan an inept milkman who finds himself coerced into a boxing career, despite having no talent or boxing ability up against Cochran who just happens to be Middleweight champion of the world.
Some great, (if not dated), song and dance numbers are delivered courtesy of Vera Ellen and her wonderful feet although her singing voice and that of love interest Virginia Mayo were dubbed.
Also shining in supporting roles are Clarence Kolb, again playing the short tempered authority figure, Lionel Stander, (who actually appeared in the 1936 version playing the same character), Walter Abel as the shady boxing promoter and Eve Arden as his moll.
Despite this being a starring vehicle for Kaye, it is actually Abel and Arden who steal all their scenes as they are truly hilarious.
As for Kaye, few entertainers at the time could lay claim to being such an 'all rounder' he was a deft comedian, he could act as well as sing and dance and he was amazing at all of them. But sadly he could over egg the pudding at times.
Of the four Kaye/Mayo movies of the mid/late 40's, Wonder Man was always he best, but this one does come a close second and this is one for all the family to enjoy. Young kids especially will take a shine to Danny as his humour was always on that level. He was never there to influence or pass on any profound messages, he was just there to entertain and that's exactly what he did.
Enjoy!
In this remake of a long forgotten Harold Lloyd flop called 'The Milky Way' from 1936, Danny is reunited with his Wonder Man co-stars Virginia Mayo, Vera Ellen and Steve Cochran. He plays Burleigh Sullivan an inept milkman who finds himself coerced into a boxing career, despite having no talent or boxing ability up against Cochran who just happens to be Middleweight champion of the world.
Some great, (if not dated), song and dance numbers are delivered courtesy of Vera Ellen and her wonderful feet although her singing voice and that of love interest Virginia Mayo were dubbed.
Also shining in supporting roles are Clarence Kolb, again playing the short tempered authority figure, Lionel Stander, (who actually appeared in the 1936 version playing the same character), Walter Abel as the shady boxing promoter and Eve Arden as his moll.
Despite this being a starring vehicle for Kaye, it is actually Abel and Arden who steal all their scenes as they are truly hilarious.
As for Kaye, few entertainers at the time could lay claim to being such an 'all rounder' he was a deft comedian, he could act as well as sing and dance and he was amazing at all of them. But sadly he could over egg the pudding at times.
Of the four Kaye/Mayo movies of the mid/late 40's, Wonder Man was always he best, but this one does come a close second and this is one for all the family to enjoy. Young kids especially will take a shine to Danny as his humour was always on that level. He was never there to influence or pass on any profound messages, he was just there to entertain and that's exactly what he did.
Enjoy!