Wonder Man

Danny Kaye plays a set of twins, a bookworm and a nightclub comic. When Buzzy Belew, the comic is murdered by the mob, his spirit goes to see his brother Edwin dingle. When Dingle refuses to go on stage to convince the mob that Bellew is still alive, Bellew gets into his body. Together they try to solve the murder and get the girl! Lots of great one-liners and a couple of catchy songs, notably Bali-Boogie, and more than a couple of Danny's trademark off-beat dance-sequences.

With Virginia Mayo and Vera-Ellen on hand to provide dual love interests, this is a must-see for fans of Technicolour Hollywood. THis is Sam Goldwyn at his colourful best!

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.

I have always loved and admired Danny Kaye.

Although I agree his brand of zany comedy will not be everybody's cup of tea, his films (especially his early ones like this one) never fail in creasing me up.

He not only had singing and dancing ability on par with the greats, he had a distinct flair for comedy and performed it expertly not only through his lines and comic timing, but with his body and facial expressions, not to mention his rapid fire double talk and tongue twisters. A truly talented man.

Wonderman made in 1945 shows Kaye at his best in what was possibly his second or third movie appearance. In these transformation days from stage entertainer to movie star, he was able to bring his old acts from the circuits and transfer them to screen with ease, for a new and appreciative audience. Indeed one of the two characters Kaye plays in the film is a nightclub entertainer by the name of Buzzy Bellew not too far removed from the real Kaye himself.

The other character Kaye plays is Bellew's egg-head brother, straight as a die and sensible to the core, thus giving Kaye ample chance to show off both sides to his versatile talents.

When Bellew is murdered by the mob for knowing a trifle more than was good for him, he returns in ghost form to rope in his gawky identical twin brother, to take his place and bring the mobster to account.

The comedy is so funny at times that you fail to realize the real tragedy of the situation, a young man with a beautiful fiancé and successful life in front of him, has been murdered and dumped rather disrespectfully in the river in Prospect Park.

But hey....Bellew seems to be so cool and glib about the whole thing, that if he doesn't care too much about it I'm damned if I will.

Great musical numbers and (for it's day) state of the art special effects compliment the great comic turns delivered by Kaye.

Two funny lines to watch out for are:- "does the acoustic nerve run down that far?" and the powerfully sung, "Frankie SINATRA" in the final opera scene. Not funny written here but put in their correct places in the film they will have you bursting with laughter.

A simple formula, but a great movie that really works.

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.

Danny Kaye plays night club entertainer Buzzy Bellew who gets killed and appears as a ghost to his bookworm brother Edwin Dingle (also Danny Kaye).And that means lots of laughs when everybody thinks Edwin is Buzzy.Danny Kaye (1913-1987) was a brilliant comedian.In Wonder Man (1945) he shows us all how good he really was.This movie is filled with scenes that make you crack up.Like the opera scene in the end.I just couldn't stop laughing. And let's not forget the lovely ladies Vera-Ellen and Virginia Mayo.Everything just works in this movie.Watch this flick and laugh your lungs out!