Le joyeux phénomène

This is the first Danny Kaye film I've seen and I feel in love with what a wonderfully talented person he is. This film is great fun to watch and if you're looking for something that is light, funny, romantic, enjoyable, and has a lovely plot with good effects, this is it. Kaye is a charming, sweet, and appealing character, and when his ghost twin enters his body whenever he feels like it, his performance is even funnier, especially the scene in the wings of the theatre where he makes farmyard noises into the telephone! Definitely recommended to anyone who loves Kaye's comedy, or simply wants an hour or two of entertaining fun!

DANNY KAYE was still on a winning streak when he made WONDER MAN for Samuel Goldwyn, a lavish technicolor treat that his him at his dazzling best as a performer--totally convincing in a dual role that expands his range. First, he's the brass nightclub comic/singer and secondly, he's the mild bookworm with the photographic memory. He does both roles with such effortless aplomb that he's a pleasure to watch.

Early in the show, we get to see how Sylvia Fine's lyrics for a song like "Balinese-Boogee" can come up with such inventive rhymes as: "she's the Balinese equivalent of Olivia de Havillent". And the trick photography is nothing short of amazing. All of the effects are worthy of the Oscar they won.

His partner is the delectable VIRGINIA MAYO, looking as luscious as usual in her technicolor close-ups and VERA-ELLEN delivering a couple of dance routines that showcase her own special talent.

There's an amusing turn by Natalie Schaefer as a matron in the library, and S.Z. Sakall does his usual schtick as a delicatessen owner. But it's Danny's show all the way--and his romp through an operatic number where he's telling the D.A. who the culprit is, is hilariously witty and full of what appear to be impromptu sight gags in the Kaye style.

Summing up: Ranks with the best of the Danny Kaye films.

A fanciful, light-hearted comedy with cheerful dance numbers and jolly jokes. This means that the movie was pretty much the polar opposite to what had been happening in the real world for the last ten years or so.

The visual and special effects were superb for their time - they're still quite successful - but this was about the only aspect in which the movie was innovative and progressive. The general subject matter (twins and twin-related confusion) is as classic as can be, going back all the way to Antiquity. Moreover, the movie's denouement rests on one of the great staples of comedy and farce, to wit a royally messed-up opera performance. (Still, the person who wrote the lines "Choo-Choo.. Laverne... is.. is.. is... Minnie Smith !" deserved a pay rise the size of China.)

Well worth a watch, although the colours may seem somewhat harsh and gaudy to the modern eye.

Danny Kaye (with a good deal of assistance from his wife Sylvia Fine, who wrote most of his musical numbers) was one of the finest musical comedians ever and is in fine form here in one of his best vehicles. He plays twin brothers and is quite manic at times. The special effects deservedly won an Oscar and the musical numbers are great! Especially the one during the opera. The Marx Brothers aside, opera has never been more fun! This film is a treat and is most happily recommended!

I love this film! I can't believe that people can love Danny Kaye in such mediocre films as "Hans Christian Anderson" or "The Court Jester" and not even have heard of this one. Kaye simply steals the show as both a nervous book-worm and as his popular night-club performer brother. "Cuddles" Sekall is equally great with his rib-splittingly hilarious delicatessan-owner ("I ask you vot you vant?") and Otto Kruger also has a role in the film. A part to look out for is the part where the ghost of the murdered night-club performing brother Buster gets inside the body of his brother for the first time, making the shy book-worm start dancing all over the place insanely. The only thing that I would say is wrong with this film (and with many other Samuel Goldwyn films for that matter) are the ghastly scenes featuring the Goldwyn Girls. But this film does contain a very funny sequence in which Kaye sings Orci-cogna (I don't know how you spell it) only getting continuous bouts of hay-fever. Oh, and I certainly couldn't write a review on this film and omit the great opera scene at the end where Kaye ends up having to have to sing clues about a murder to the police. This film a rightly deserved oscar for best special effects, and was nominated for a few others including best song. All in all, a highly underrated film that is well worth seeing. Enjoy! 10/10