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Irene Dunne and Cary Grant play a couple that have a whirlwind courtship. When they first meet he's a journalist who's irresponsible with his money and doesn't like children. She's more conventional and practical, and here as in life opposites often attract and come to some middle ground. This is nothing more than the story of a marriage with quite a bit of heartbreak along the way. To say much more than that would give the plot away. The movie starts at the end as Irene Dunne's character prepares to leave town and her marriage behind. She is going through a stack of records and reminiscing, thus the title "Penny Serenade" as we get a flashback of the couple's life together and what brought them to the point of separation.

This film moves quite slowly, but every scene, no matter how small, has significance as you grow to really care about this couple and what happens to them and feel sad that they have been so thoroughly mugged by life that they feel they must part. Beulah Bondi and Edgar Buchanan play good friends to and in a way guardian angels of the couple who realize that these two have something special together that is worth saving. Highly recommended and a sentimental favorite of mine.

With sympathetic main characters and an approach that is usually understated enough to avoid over-sentimentality, this bittersweet story works reasonably well most of the time. Irene Dunne plays this kind of role well, handling a wide range of material while keeping her emotions and reactions restrained enough to be believable. Cary Grant is better than one might expect him to be in this kind of role. It's possible that Edgar Buchanan's performance might be the most important of all in holding it together, since he is ideal in providing some down-to-earth balance, whether his character is repairing printing presses or giving the young couple some tips on taking care of their baby.

Director George Stevens does a good job with the pacing, and the story-framing technique with the various songs works pretty well. While there may be a few moments when the sentimentality gets dangerously high, most of the time it remains balanced, and certainly more so than is the case with present-day movies of this kind. It's far from flawless, but it is generally effective in telling the kind of story that takes a combination of sensitivity and restraint to tell believably.

The film reunites Irene Dunne and Cary Grant for the third and the last time, after their successful pairing in Leo McCarey's THE AWFUL TRUTH (1937) and MY FAVORITE WIFE (1940). Under the tutelage of George Stevens, PENNY SERENADE is a good-natured and polished melodrama where mishaps and glee alternately emerge around an average couple Julie (Dunne) and Roger Adams (Grant).

Opening with Julie assuming her deliberated departure from Roger in medias res, the narrative consists of a nexus of chronological flashback segued by various melodies in an album coined "The Story of a Happy Marriage" playing from the phonograph, as signifiers to Julie's memories, how a tuneful and glitched YOU WERE MEAN FOR ME brings Roger to her life, their sequential romance, a spur-of-the-moment marriage and their spell in Japan due to Roger's work where a seismic shock (both literally and metaphorically) leaves an irremediable missing link in their otherwise content life.

Back to US, Roger starts his print business from the scratch in a small town, that missing link will be mended through adoption, a new life is put into their care and they must get familiar with parental skills (where we get great comedic moments in its slice-of-life simulation) and fight for their baby girl against their unstable financial situation, only to come in for another hammer blow that will (almost) sabotage their marriage, if not for the problematic and expedient ending, the fond memory of a departed can be so quickly and miraculously displaced by the arrival of a new one, is it a blind faith deeply entrenched in the psyche of America at then or that marriage is so unbearable if not for the presence of an offspring? One would gratingly wonder.

Save for that reactionary deus ex machina, the film is a heartfelt blessing from Hollywood-land in a less glamorous and often depreciated genre of melodrama, the two leads give sterling performances here, both shorn of star vanity and completely carry the rather corny story on their own shoulders and shore it up with significant effort to sustain a touching but also realistic vibe that transmogrifies the picture with enduring charisma and yesteryear nostalgia. Cary received his first-ever Oscar nomination for this picture, his Oscar moment is that earnest plead in front of the judge, which rarely emblazons his dramatic showmanship to great extent, but Dunne, admittedly, is the fulcrum of the film here, she is self-deprecating but never shy of inner strength and orthodox femininity, quite a leading lady in her early 40s, why isn't she more worshiped by new generations? She is the convention-bucking heroine of a sexism business and an impressive 5- times Oscar nominee. Also, Edgar Buchanan and Beulah Bondi both need a shout-out for their supporting turns, the former's uncle Applejack is the bee's knees every family needs whereas the latter is so primly respectable by her sheer appearance as the rule-breaking head of the adoption faculty, lastly, to sing a little praise to director George Stevens, what an even-handed actor's director he is, his style is un-showy but after all, it is the torrid human emotion gets our attention and keeps us watching closely to his performers, that is a different kind of cinematic expertise which no one can deny.

I just love this sweet old movie. Cary Grant is gorgeous, Irene Dunne beautiful, Edgar Buchanan a lovable old codger. A story about falling in love and the deep inner desire to build a family with the one you love -- and the challenges and sadness that can be as great, but never really greater, than the happiness and fulfillment it brings.

Falling in love, best friends, career challenges, pregnancy, miscarriage, infertility, adoption, death, divorce... it's all covered in this one sweet little movie. And it's all told in a way that reminds us all how important music is as it sets the soundtrack to our lives.

This is a wonderful movie. It may not be Citizen Kane -- but it is definitely worthy of your time.

Cary Grant plays a newspaper reporter who falls in love and marries Irene Dunne, whom he meets at a record store. While abroad in Japan, tragedy strikes for the couple, which sets the course for the story. It really is a simple story about how a married couple long for having a home and a family of their own. Grant surprised me with his family man role, quite different from the sophisticated characters he played later on in his career. His monologue during the adoption hearing was one of the best scenes in the whole movie and very well done. Irene Dunne was great in her role as his wife. The little girl who plays their daughter was too cute for words. It was also an interesting insight into how a couple struggles to raise their first child, which is something many people can relate to, no matter what the time period. It was also interesting the way Dunne went through all the flashback scenes in the movie by playing records that reminded her of their life together. Beulah Bondi (who played George Bailey's mother from It's A Wonderful Life) has a great supporting role as the head of the adoption agency who has doubts about the couple at first, but then grows to care a great deal for them. The ending was a complete surprise. If you like Cary Grant or old Hollywood movies, this is something different. Sad, but sentimental. Recommended.

This weeper movie turns out to be a simplistic tale , however provides an enjoyable time . Nostalgic and sensitive picture with brooding drama , adequate cinematography and evocative musical score . Well thought movie in which the couple's big dreams give way to a life full of unexpected sadness and unexpected joy .

Sensitive film which deals with interesting issues such as family life , couple relationship , sons , death and many other things . The story is plain and simple , nonetheless results to be a moving experience . It is a tearjerker about an agreeable couple who looks rather stiff and maudlin nowadays . This over-expended weepie flick relies heavily on the relationship between Gary Grant and Irene Dunne but this does not get bored or spoils the tale . Slightly overrated but excellent all the same time , the picture is enjoyable and entertaining , but overlong . The story is narrated with great sense and sensibility , the intelligent screenplay was written by Morrie Ryskind and based on a story by Martha Cheavens .

Sensational protagonist duo , Gary Grant is extraordinary , as usual , and Irene Dunne is magnificent . They don't make'em like this anymore and no one plays Grant better tan Grant . Only these big stars like Grant and Dunne could play material like this . Irene Dunne often said that this was her favorite film because it reminded her of her own adopted daughter . This is third of three movies that paired Cary Grant and Irene Dunne. Support cast is frankly excellent such as Beulah Bondi as Miss Oliver , Ann Doran as Dotty 'Dot' and special mention to Edgar Buchanan as uncle Applejack Carney

Pleasant musical score by Frankie Herling , including some songs as leitmotif . One of them is the song that was playing when she and Roger first met in a music store. Other songs remind her of their courtship, their marriage, their desire for a child, and the joys and sorrows that they have shared. Atmospheric cinematography in black and White , though also available colorized . Cinematographer Franz Planer started the film but became seriously ill and had to withdraw , he was replaced by Joseph Walker. There are many of the versions of this film available on the market are either severely and usually badly edited and/or of extremely poor quality, having been duped from second- or third-generation or more copies of the film.

This stunning film with great sense and sensibility was compellingly directed by George Stevens ,considered to be one of the best American directors . He filmed all kind genres such as , drama : The diary of Anne Frank , A place in the sun , Giant , Alice Adams ; Comedy : Vivacious lady , Talk of the town ; Adventure : Gunga Din ; Western : Shane , Annie Oakley , and Historical : The greatest story ever told .

I wasn't much of a Cary Grant fan until I saw this film for the first time about 10 years ago, and I also discovered the embodiment of grace and charm that is Irene Dunne as well. Cary Grant is at his most charming and gives a very amusing and, at times, very very touching performance as a new dad. When he gives his heart-rending speech to the child custody judge and begs to keep his adopted baby girl, it brings a lump to my throat every time I see it. Irene Dunne was a classy lady in anything she did, and can be as quietly funny as she can be dramatic, as she demonstrated in this film. She was a great "straight-man," too, to Cary Grant's more animated role. I truly love this film.

This film would have been a pile of mush if it hadn't been for the master story-teller, director George Stevens. He never goes for the obvious, but tells the story in such a manner that you are immediately pulled into it. Cary Grant was nominated for an Oscar and he is wonderful in this.

Irene Dunne is a class act all the way. A real lady, and it comes out in this film. While she and Grant always look like movie stars in the film, you can't stop noticing that they look like movie stars, they do their job and do it to perfection. Only two A-level actors could carry this tear jerker off well. The adoption lady was also realistic and convincing. The little girl or baby, whichever children played them, were the cutest and sweetest I've ever seen in film. Irene Dunne cannot hit a false note, ever, it seems. She looks marvelous in everything she wears, be it a simple housedress or pajamas. Same with Cary Grant, he wears the clothes. The penny serenade theme and the way the camera plays with the records is really magic. This film is a gift to the audience. Grant and Dunne show their adeptness at establishing and making us believe they are an intimate married couple. Irene Dunne is at the height of sensitivity and softness here, a true lady with beautiful hair and hairstyles. What a movie. And one cannot forget our beloved Apple Jack, such a sweet soul.

One well written movie of the 40's. To this day, this movie will hold your attention even though you will find no vulgarity, nudity or violence.

Tragedy turns to comedy with tale of a writer and his newlywed desperate to settle down in a traditional American lifestyle, start a new business and have a family. Their innocence is refreshing, and the writer has such timing in the course of events that you find yourself wanting to help this couple diaper a baby!!!

Cary Grant "nails" this performance with his "heart-felt" speech in front of a judge. (Get a box of tissue for this one.) The body/language between Grant's and Dunn's character make this movie charming and realistic.

You find yourself laughing out-loud with the "every-day-problems-of-life" this couple gets themselves involved with......good for the whole family. A must see and a true classic.

It is hard not to want to see, well in my case it was actually re-watch (liked it a lot on first watch, but wanted to see it again after years), 'Penny Serenade' with a cast this good, having in particular loved many of Irene Dunne and Cary Grant's performances. Also have liked to loved some of George Stevens' other films, particularly 'Shane', 'Swing Time' and 'A Place in the Sun'. With all that in mind, it was also hard to not have high expectations before and while watching, and was really hoping it would be good considering what it had going for it having seen a fair share of frustrating potential wastes.

'Penny Serenade' was luckily not one of those potential wastes, and the reasons as to why it was seen (cast, director, premise) weren't squandered either. Found it to be a great film that was even better than remembered, with genuine emotional impact and immense likeability. Also thought that mostly it avoided the traps that it easily could have fallen into, considering the type of film (essentially a melodrama, not an easy type of film to nail) it was. A type of film that can be done well, and has been done well numerous times, but has a good deal of dangers evidenced by just as many films falling into those traps.

Maybe 'Penny Serenade' moves too slowly at first, it doesn't find its momentum straight away.

The ending also felt a bit too pat and tacked on.

However, 'Penny Serenade' is very nicely shot and looks like it was made with care and love. Stevens directs with expert control, mostly keeping the story engaging, getting the best out of his cast and stopping the story from going over-the-top on the sentimentality, doing all of this with ease. The music is lovely to listen to and didn't ever find the placement questionable, a good thing seeing as music is a very important thing to talk about when reviewing for me and can find how the music is placed as important as the music itself.

Script is thought-provoking and warm-hearted, with the highlight being Grant's big speech that really brought a lump to my throat. Once it gets going, the story is charming and engaging more often than not, with also a relatability factor that's inspiring yet wrenching the gut worthy, but it's the emotional impact that makes 'Penny Serenade' memorable. This is genuinely poignant stuff without being sentimental-heavy, and it is very difficult to not clutch at your heart or reach for the tissues watching the film.

Furthermore, the characters are ones investing in and relating to and brought to life by the note-perfect cast. Dunne radiates class and Beulah Bondi and especially Edgar Buchannan provide sympathetic and knowing support, but it's a superb Grant at his most heartfelt who sticks out the most. He and Dunne's chemistry is beautifully tender.

All in all, slow start but well worth sticking with, because up until the ending it is a beautiful film. 9/10 Bethany Cox

I found this movie to be of good light entertainment value, but it is a little below the standards I had come to expect of both Cary Grant and Irene Dunne. However, their characters are portrayed with natural ease and charm.

The movie is told with Dunne's character, a woman contemplating divorce, reminiscing on happier times with the record she first listened to with her husband spinning. I found this puzzling at the start, but I was merely irritated by the end.

There were a few bright moments of comedy, notably the first night of parenting their adopted child. But with elements of drama combined, I was confused when the movie continually lapsed into comedy, then back to tragedy.

Comedy was something, described in the words of Dunne herself as "Too easy". This is the first comedy performance of hers I have watched. However, I still prefer her dramatic performances in "I Remember Mama" and "Anna and the King of Siam". As for Grant, "Bringing Up Baby", "The Philadelphia Story", "Holiday" and "His Girl Friday" are much better value for your time.

I'd recommend this movie to audiences who appreciate good old fashioned romance. Just start with "An Affair to Remember" first. Rating: 7/10

Have you ever caught yourself (usually more than once) confusing two different actors/actresses with one another and not really knowing why? That's the case for me and the actresses Irene Dunne & Betsy Drake. Both appeared in 3 movies opposite Cary Grant, but only the latter was actually married to him in real life (the third of Cary's five marriages and easily the longest one at 12-1/2 years). But this movie with Dunne, directed by that Hollywood giant, George Stevens, is probably the best of the lot (although I do also like "The Awful Truth"). At the time of its release, Cary was associated most closely with comic performances, and so viewers should be forewarned that "Penny Serenade" isn't a comedy. But as the movie explores the definition and nature of a "family," it's worthwhile to see him play a dedicated family man, and her a lovely wife and mother, both roles that were against "type" for them. I would rate this movie 7-1/2 out of 10.

You had better bring some... though not the standard light-hearted fare Dunne and Grant had performed in before, this film is a classic example of an American tear jerker.

The film winds you though these flashbacks while you wait to fall deeper into their despair, knowing it will happen. It's like hitting some cute furry animal and then standing there.. watching it... you'd know whats coming.

A great story and dramatic comedy its very well acted... films such as 'Terms of Endearment' and 'Beaches' learned their lessons here.

If you enjoy this film, I definitely recommend the Grant / Dunne 'screwball' comedy "My Favorite Wife".