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poster of Wonder Man
Rating: 6.6/10 by 37 users

Wonder Man (1945)

Boisterous nightclub entertainer Buzzy Bellew was the witness to a murder committed by gangster Ten Grand Jackson. One night, two of Jackson's thugs kill Buzzy and dump his body in the lake at Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Buzzy comes back as a ghost and summons his bookworm twin, Edwin Dingle, to Prospect Park so that he can help the police nail Jackson.

Directing:
  • H. Bruce Humberstone
Writing:
  • Don Hartman
  • Melville Shavelson
  • Philip Rapp
  • Jack Jevne
  • Eddie Moran
  • Arthur Sheekman
  • Sylvia Fine
Stars:
Release Date: Fri, Jun 08, 1945

Rating: 6.6/10 by 37 users

Alternative Title:

Country:
United States of America
Language:
English
Runtime: 01 hour 38 minutes
Budget: $0
Revenue: $0

Plot Keyword: dance, possession, comedian, musical, murder, twins, hoodlum
Subtitle   Wallpaper   Watch Trailer    

Danny Kaye
Edwin Dingle / Buzzy Bellew
Virginia Mayo
Ellen Shanley
Vera-Ellen
Midge Mallon
Donald Woods
Monte Rossen
Steve Cochran
Ten Grand Jackson
Otto Kruger
District Attorney
Richard Lane
Assistant District Attorney
Virginia Gilmore
Sailor's Girl Friend
Edward Gargan
Policeman in Park
Alice Mock
Prima Donna
Gisela Werbisek
Mrs. Schmidt
Bess Flowers
Pelican Club Extra / Opera Patron (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum
Pelican Club Patron (uncredited)
Sam Harris
Pelican Club Paron (uncredited)
Byron Foulger
Deli Customer (uncredited)
Gloria Delson
Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)

CinemaSerf

Danny Kaye is "Dingle" - a charismatic, if slightly annoying, nightclub entertainer who, after witnessing an hit, falls foul of some mobsters. His ghost returns to try and inspire his rather timid twin to help deliver his killers to the cops. The split-personality approach allows for plenty opportunities for light comedy. "Dingle" must reconcile the attentions of his fiancée "Midge" (Vera-Allen) - engaged to the murdered man, and of the shy and retiring librarian "Ellen" (Virginia Mayo) who prefers the quieter man. This love triangle thread is a bit wearisome, to be honest, and concludes in a rather predictable way - indeed, the whole storyline is pretty unremarkable. Kaye is at his best when he is ostensibly "possessed" by his twin - and the flower-allergy number "Otchi Tchorniya" is the highlight of the film. Also quite notable are the visual effects. Both "Dingle" characters frequently and imperceptibly appear in the same shot, the ghostly apparition even walking through objects. Fans of the star may get more from this, but I found his performance just a bit too dominating, the rest of the film is as nothing to his appearances and the songs are all pretty lacklustre, save for Leo Robin & David Rose's "So in Love". It's quirky, colourful and well paced, so fans should enjoy it - it just over-did it for me.


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