Penny Serenade | Rotten Tomatoes

Penny Serenade

Released Apr 24, 1941

1 hr. 58 min.

Drama

List

94%

17 Reviews

Tomatometer

75%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Since marrying Roger Adams (Cary Grant), Julie (Irene Dunne) has wanted to start a family. An accident while she's visiting Japan causes a miscarriage and makes Julie incapable of having children. After they adopt a little girl, Trina (Eva Lee Kuney), Roger's small newspaper folds, and the couple has to fight in court to keep her. Even though they succeed, another tragedy strikes out of nowhere. The Adams' marriage looks headed for divorce, unless something brings them close again.

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nick s

While it had some elements that didn't appeal - repitition with record changing and overly long child rearing sequences - it nevertheless had enough charm to keep me engaged. The leads were great. And the earthquake scene was very well executed.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/28/23

Full Review

ernst k

This films is sometimes given the moniker of "soap opera" as a negative aspect, but, it proves that any genre can be superior entertainment when written well and acted even better. Cary Grant shows true range from comedic to dramatic, and in his deepest emotional scene it's difficult for anyone with a good heart not to verge on tears. All-in-all, many good set pieces and a superior film that should get greater recognition.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great film, sentimental, but a wonderful story of a couple who try to have a child. Cary Grant and Irene Dunne star.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/22/21

Full Review

Audience Member

Pretty decent film with some good acting from Cary Grant and Irene Dunne. However, it's pretty standard Hollywood schmaltz for that time. The writing also seems pretty clichéd. However, it is a nice film that has a somewhat interesting plot and allows Grant to demonstrate his acting abilities at the end of the film. As a result, Grant was nominated for Best Actor, but in my opinion he wasn't as good as the only other nominee I've seen; Robert Montgomery in Here Comes Mr. Jordan. The heartstring pulling twist seems a bit forced as well and the ending seems to solve the main character's relationship too easily with no worries or hesitation from either character. Overall, a nice film that's treads along well but fails to stand out among a sea of standard schmaltzy old Hollywood films.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

david l

Penny Serenade offers a very early and fascinating glimpse into the adoption process and the many hardships that these parents would face when embarking on such a journey. The movie portrays the whole process with a lot of emotion, but resisting to go into overly sappy territory in no small part thanks to two outstanding performances from Irene Dunne and Cary Grant. Grant was nominated for an Oscar for this rare dramatic role of his. The only problem here is that overly melodramatic, ludicrous ending that should have been cut altogether from the movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

steve d

Grant makes it worth your time.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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George Stevens

Director

Irene Dunne

Julie Gardiner Adams

Cary Grant

Roger Adams

Beulah Bondi

Miss Oliver

Edgar Buchanan

Applejack Carney

Ann Doran

Dotty "Dot"

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John C. Flinn Sr.

Variety

George Stevens' direction and the excellence of the stars' playing make the film.

Nov 13, 2007

Full Review

Time Out

This is a classic 'women's picture' in every sense.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

If you are prone to easy weeping, you might even take along a washtub.

Rated: 3.5/5

Mar 25, 2006

Full Review

John Kinloch

California Eagle

Its objectives are excellently realized, and it stands as a visual refutation of the industry's axiom that movies must move.

Oct 31, 2019

Full Review

Elena de la Torre

Cine-Mundial

The film has in its plot a note of originality and touches the of paternal feeling with delicacy. [Full review in Spanish]

Sep 18, 2019

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

George Stevens' sentimental melodrama is extremely well acted by Irene Dunne and Cary Grant, who received for his part of a depressed father the first of his two Oscar nominations.

Rated: B+

Apr 29, 2012

Full Review

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Synopsis

Since marrying Roger Adams (Cary Grant), Julie (Irene Dunne) has wanted to start a family. An accident while she's visiting Japan causes a miscarriage and makes Julie incapable of having children. After they adopt a little girl, Trina (Eva Lee Kuney), Roger's small newspaper folds, and the couple has to fight in court to keep her. Even though they succeed, another tragedy strikes out of nowhere. The Adams' marriage looks headed for divorce, unless something brings them close again.

Director: George Stevens
Screenwriter: Martha Cheavens, Morrie Ryskind
Distributor: Republic Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Reel Media International [us]
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 24, 1941, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 26, 2011
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

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