Expert: Jim Kason - 8/15/2009

Question
I vaguely remember watching an old black & white film many years ago and would love to know what it is called. It was about a couple trying to adopt a child. They adopted a little girl who was a star in a nativity play and I think she may have died. Sorry my memory of the plot is a bit vague but it obviously made some impression on me as I have thought of it often over the last 30 odd years.

Answer
Hi Caroline,

Yes, I know the film you're looking for. I remember seeing it as a child, and even at the time the movie made a lasting impression on me.
It's the classic comedy/drama, starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, "PENNY SERENADE", released by Columbia Pictures in 1941.

You can read the complete synopsis at the Turner Classic Movies site:   http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=5818

And, since it's in public domain, you can find many DVD's and VHS copies of it (in many degrees of quality) at  www.amazon.com.

Also, you can watch it for free at:  www.archive.org/details/penny_serenade

Sincerely,

Jim Kason