Sing Boy Sing (1958)

Director:

Henry Ephron

Writers:

Claude Binyon (writer)
Paul Monash (story)

Release Date:

26 May 1958 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama | Musical

Tagline:

THE STORY OF THE PREACHER'S SON WHO BECAME THE ROCK 'N' ROLL KING!

Plot Keywords:

Singer | Publicity Agent

Cast

Tommy Sands	...	Virgil Walker
Lili Gentle	...	Leora Easton
Edmond O'Brien	...	Joseph Sharkey
Nick Adams	...	C.K. Judd
John McIntire	...	Rev. Farley Walker
Diane Jergens	...	Pat Barry
Josephine Hutchinson	...	Caroline Walker
Jerry Paris	...	Arnold Fisher
Tami Conner	...	Ginnie
Regis Toomey	...	Rev. Easton
Art Ford	...	Disc Jockey
Bill Randle	...	Disc Jockey
Biff Collie	...	Disc Jockey

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) | 4-Track Stereo

Certification:

Sweden:Btl

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Closely patterned on the rise to fame of Elvis Presley, Colonel Tom Parker was reported to be none too happy with the portrayal of the shifty manager; even the name "Sharkey" not only rhymed but had overtones of "shark"

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Virgil's aunt refers to herself as Caro-LINE (long I sound), and so do others in the cast. However, Virgil calls her Caro-LYNN (short i sound) throughout, even on the phone just after she pronounces her own name "her way."

Quotes:

Joseph Sharkey: [in recording studio] Hey, that was OK, kid.
Virgil Walker: It really was?
Joseph Sharkey: Yea, sure. Why, is something bothering you?
Virgil Walker: I don't know. Maybe I need my audience.
Joseph Sharkey: I'm your audience.
Virgil Walker: I guess I miss the screamin'. Why don't you scream a little, Mr. Sharkey?
Joseph Sharkey: Yeah sure, next time I'm 16.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The Early Years (1955-1970) (2000) (TV)

Soundtrack:

That's All I Want from You

Over-simplified, over-eager...but at least it looks good

Teen idol Tommy Sands never got as popular as his Virgil Walker character is here(and if he did, it lasted about a minute). Too bad then that his acting chops couldn't compensate for a lack of chart hits. Young man goes from tent-revivals to teen king, but when a funeral back home beckons, his priorities change. Cinemascoped affair has beautiful b&w photography and just enough melodrama to help it over the finish line, but it's awfully flimsy. Perhaps Elvis Presley's life story was a starting point for original writer Paul Monash(who later had a hand in 1976's "Carrie"!), but Tommy Sands, although energetic, isn't up to Presley's standards(maybe Ricky Nelson's). He's got a handsome face and a gorgeous crop of greasy black hair(like Presley's), but when his adolescent voice squeaks in rebellion, one almost wants to duck for cover.