Available as; MCA Home Video VHS: The Benny Goodman Story (1987)
Available as; Universal Home Video DVD: The Benny Goodman Story (2003)
Cast
Steve Allen
as
Benny Goodman
Donna Reed
as
Alice Hammond
Berta Gersten
as
Mama Goodman
Barry Truex
as
Benny Goodman (at 16)
Herbert Anderson
as
John Hammond Jr.
Robert F. Simon
as
Papa Dave Goodman
Hy Averback
as
Willard Alexander
Sammy Davis Sr.
as
Fletcher Henderson
Dick Winslow
as
Gil Rodin
Shepard Menken
as
Harry Goodman
Jack Kruschen
as
Murph Podolsky
Wilton Graff
as
John Hammond Sr.
Fred Essler
as
Prof. Schoepp
David Kasday
as
Benny Goodman (at 10)
John Erman
as
Harry Goodman (at 16)
George Givot
as
Jake Primo
Lionel Hampton
as
Himself
Gene Krupa
as
Himself
Teddy Wilson
as
Himself
Ben Pollack
as
Himself
Kid Ory
as
Himself
Harry James
as
Himself
Martha Tilton
as
Herself
Ziggy Elman
as
Himself
Urbie Green
as
Young Sideman with Clayton
Buck Clayton
as
Trumpeter – Basement Jam Session
Stan Getz
as
Sax Solo at Paramount in NY
Synopsis
Steve Allen makes his dramatic film debut in The Benny Goodman Story. Outside of Goodman’s conflicts with his parents over his career choice, and his early frustration over not being able to play his kind of music, the film tends to be more a series of musical highlights than a biography. The film features guest appearances by Gene Krupa, Lionel Hampton, Teddy Wilson, Harry James, Martha Tilton, Ziggy Elman, and Sammy Davis Sr. (as Fletcher Henderson).
