Knock on Wood *** (1954, Danny Kaye Mai Zetterling, David Burns, Torin Thatcher, Leon Askin, Abner Biberman, Steve Geray) – Classic Movie Review 6846

Jerry Morgan: ‘You know, I don’t think I’m crazy. I think I’m a little bit peculiar, but that’s not crazy.’ Danny Kaye is enjoyably indulged by the talented Norman Panama and Melvin Frank writer-producer-director team in a 1954 film tale about Jerry Morgan (Kaye), a crazy American ventriloquist pursued to London for the stolen plans to a top secret plane hidden in his dummies, Clarence and Terrence, by doll maker Maurice Papinek (Abner Biberman), a spy ring’s key member who has stolen the plans.

Bob Hope’s writers turn in a genuinely funny, Oscar-nominated script for Kaye, which will please his legions of fans. Norman Panama and Melvin Frank were Oscar nominated for Best Story and Screenplay at the 1955 Academy Awards and were nominated for Best Written American Comedy at the Writers Guild of America, USA (1955).

This above-average Kaye vehicle boasts a well-crafted, good-looking, impressive Hollywood production, shot in lovely Technicolor, though admittedly a long way from the real London. Kaye’s wife Sylvia Fine provides some nice songs for him – Knock on Wood, All About You and Monahan O’Han. She also writes the End of Spring ballet performed by Danny Kaye, Diana Adams, Alex Goudavich and others. Mai Zetterling is appealing in star support as Ilse Nordstrom, with David Burns, Torin Thatcher, Leon Askin, Abner Biberman, Steve Geray also notable in character support.

The result is pretty good Fifties-style fun, with ‘the number one song-and-dance clown’ at nearly his best, but of course, as with Jerry Lewis, you do have to share Kaye’s peculiar sense of humour to enjoy it.

Also in the cast are Gavin Gordon, Diana Adams, Patricia Denise, Virginia Huston, Paul England, Johnstone White, Henry Brandon, Lewis Martin, John Alderson, Genevieve Aumont, Bess Flowers, Rex Evans, Phil Tully, Philip Van Zandt, Alphonse Martell, Carl Milletaire, Christopher Olsen, Eric Wilton, Larry Arnold, Helen Chapman, Tony Christian, Helen Dickson, Noel Drayton, Winifred Harris, Kenneth Hunter and Donald Lawton.

Knock on Wood is directed by Norman Panama, runs 103 minutes, is a Dena production, is a Paramount production, produced by Norman Panama and Melvin Frank, is shot in Technicolor by Daniel L Fapp, Norman Panama and Melvin Frank, is scored by Victor Young and Leith Stevens, with songs by Sylvia Fine, and is designed by Henry Bumstead and Hal Pereira, with choreography by Michael Kidd.

The film was mostly made on Hollywood studio sets, and all the cars are left-hand drive, though it is set in London. However, a second unit went to London to film background scenes, in which Jon Pertwee doubles for Kaye. A character called ‘Sir Pertwee’ appears in Kaye’s film The Court Jester (1955), also made by Frank and Panama.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6846

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