Banjo on My Knee Backdrop Blur
Banjo on My Knee Poster

Banjo on My Knee

"Laughing, Fighting, Singing...and Loving!"

A young husband leaves his river shantyboat community in Pecan Point, Tennessee and travels to New Orleans in search of his runaway wife.

Top Cast

  • Barbara Stanwyck

    Barbara Stanwyck

    Pearl Elliott Holley

  • Joel McCrea

    Joel McCrea

    Ernie Holley

  • Walter Brennan

    Walter Brennan

    Newt Holley

  • Buddy Ebsen

    Buddy Ebsen

    Buddy

  • Helen Westley

    Helen Westley

    Grandma

  • Walter Catlett

    Walter Catlett

    Warfield Scott

  • Tony Martin

    Tony Martin

    Chick Bean

  • Katherine DeMille

    Katherine DeMille

    Leota Long

  • Victor Kilian

    Victor Kilian

    Mr. Slade

Overview

A young husband leaves his river shantyboat community in Pecan Point, Tennessee and travels to New Orleans in search of his runaway wife.

Rating

5.8 / 10
16 Reviews
0 Popular

1 Reviews

  • CinemaSerf
    CinemaSerf
    6 Aug 22, 2025

    When the odious “Slade” (Victor Killan) pushes his luck at a wedding, the groom (Joel McCrae) thwarts his attempts to steal a kiss from his bride (Barbara Stanwyck) by sending him headlong into the river! Fearful that he might never be found, “Ernie” has to do a runner leaving “Pearl” in the capable hands of pop “Newt” (Walter Brennan). Six months go by and then he returns to suggest they all relocate. “Pearl” is not about to be separated again, and a tiff ensues ensuring their separation. Misunderstandings galore now occur all over a measily twelve dollars, some dishwashing whilst “Leota” (Katherine De Mille) takes a shine to him, “Chick” (Tony Martin) to her and by the time they make it back to their Mississippi houseboat it’s anyone’s guess who might marry whom? Except, well no - there isn’t really any jeopardy here with this really quite predictably lacklustre enterprise. Neither Stanwyck nor McCrae look like they are enjoying it much, and but for the ever reliable Brennan and mischievous granny  (Helen Westley) the film would sink without trace. There are some enjoyable enough numbers peppering this, though, with Brennan, McCrae and Miss Stanwyck exercising their vocal chords with varying degrees of success throughout. The sort of ensemble effort on “Where the Lazy River Goes By” stands out most, but the title song is also quite a decent little toe-tapper that when mixed in with some more traditional musical themes presents us with an amiable showcase for some talented stars trying to make a cinematic silk purse from a sow’s ear. There’s plenty of fisticuffs, a good storm scene and a kimono, so batten down the hatches.

Recommendations

Relative Values

A comedy of discriminating taste and dirty little secrets. In 1952 England, Nigel, the Earl of Marshwood, woos Hollywood star Miranda, upsetting both Nigel's mother, Countess Felicity, and Miranda's former love fellow Hollywood star Don. Right before the engagement party at Marshwood, Moxie, the Countess's personal maid and best friend, reveals that Miranda is her estranged sister. Crestwell, the Countess's butler, devises a plan - but an inebriated Don's arrival at Marshwood to talk to Miranda causes all chaos to break loose.

Relative Values

6.1 2000
A Hollywood Christmas

Jessica, a young, up-and-coming filmmaker in Hollywood has made a name for herself directing Christmas movies. But when handsome network executive Christopher shows up threatening to halt production on her latest movie, Jessica’s assistant, Reena, points out the irony: Jessica isn’t just trying to save her Christmas movie, she’s actually living in one. Jessica must now juggle all the classic tropes—her actors falling in and out of love, a wayward elf dog, and her own stirring romantic feelings for her perceived nemesis—in order to get her movie and her life to their happy endings.

A Hollywood Christmas

6.0 2022