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IMDbPro

Sing Boy Sing

  • 19581958
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
95
YOUR RATING
Lili Gentle and Tommy Sands in Sing Boy Sing (1958)
DramaMusical
Manager Joseph Sharkey discovers a naive Virgil Walker who has an incredible vocal talent. Sharkey takes Virgil away from his humble beginnings, changes his appearance and turns him into a n... Read allManager Joseph Sharkey discovers a naive Virgil Walker who has an incredible vocal talent. Sharkey takes Virgil away from his humble beginnings, changes his appearance and turns him into a nationwide singing sensation.Manager Joseph Sharkey discovers a naive Virgil Walker who has an incredible vocal talent. Sharkey takes Virgil away from his humble beginnings, changes his appearance and turns him into a nationwide singing sensation.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
95
YOUR RATING
    • Henry Ephron
    • Claude Binyon
    • Paul Monash(story "The Singin' Idol")
  • Stars
    • Tommy Sands
    • Lili Gentle
    • Edmond O'Brien
    • Henry Ephron
    • Claude Binyon
    • Paul Monash(story "The Singin' Idol")
  • Stars
    • Tommy Sands
    • Lili Gentle
    • Edmond O'Brien
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 7User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos15

    Edmond O'Brien and Tommy Sands in Sing Boy Sing (1958)
    Tommy Sands in Sing Boy Sing (1958)
    Diane Jergens and Tommy Sands in Sing Boy Sing (1958)
    Lili Gentle and Tommy Sands in Sing Boy Sing (1958)
    Lili Gentle and Tommy Sands in Sing Boy Sing (1958)
    Tommy Sands in Sing Boy Sing (1958)
    Lili Gentle in Sing Boy Sing (1958)
    Lili Gentle in Sing Boy Sing (1958)
    Lili Gentle, Diane Jergens, Edmond O'Brien, Jerry Paris, and Tommy Sands in Sing Boy Sing (1958)
    Nick Adams, Lili Gentle, Josephine Hutchinson, Edmond O'Brien, Tommy Sands, and Regis Toomey in Sing Boy Sing (1958)
    Lili Gentle, Josephine Hutchinson, and Tommy Sands in Sing Boy Sing (1958)
    Edmond O'Brien and Tommy Sands in Sing Boy Sing (1958)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tommy Sands
    Tommy Sands
    • Virgil Walker
    Lili Gentle
    Lili Gentle
    • Leora Easton
    Edmond O'Brien
    Edmond O'Brien
    • Joseph Sharkey
    Nick Adams
    Nick Adams
    • C.K. Judd
    John McIntire
    John McIntire
    • Rev. Farley Walker
    Diane Jergens
    Diane Jergens
    • Pat Barry
    Josephine Hutchinson
    Josephine Hutchinson
    • Caroline Walker
    Jerry Paris
    Jerry Paris
    • Arnold Fisher
    Tami Conner
    • Ginnie
    Regis Toomey
    Regis Toomey
    • Rev. Easton
    Art Ford
    • Disc Jockey
    Bill Randle
    • Disc Jockey
    Biff Collie
    • Disc Jockey
    Robert Adler
    Robert Adler
    • Neighbor
    • (uncredited)
    Nesdon Booth
    • Police Desk Sergeant
    • (uncredited)
    Marie Brown
    Marie Brown
    • Mrs. Fitzgerald
    • (uncredited)
    Harry Carter
    Harry Carter
    • Doorman
    • (uncredited)
    Madge Cleveland
    • Miss Keyes
    • (uncredited)
      • Henry Ephron
      • Claude Binyon
      • Paul Monash(story "The Singin' Idol")
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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
      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.

    • Connections
      Featured in Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The Early Years (1955-1970) (2000)
    • Soundtracks
      That's All I Want from You
      Written by Fritz Rotter (as M. Rotha)

    User reviews7

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    4/10
    Hollywood struggles with religion
    Obviously, this film was not made as a religious treatise, but as a showcase for Tommy Sands to belt out several tunes. But SING BOY SING highlights Hollywood's problem with Christians, namely: they just don't understand them.

    Have you noticed that most religious Christians in movies are either a) sneaky hypocrites, b) wacky nuts, or c) stupid Southerners? This film presents us with two alternatives: Virgil can either choose to be a cool, normal guy, or be a hellfire and damnation preacher who makes everyone around him feel guilty. What about an alternative somewhere in the middle: a decent and likable person who happens to have a strong faith? I can only think of a few films that have such a character: The Hiding Place, Chariots of Fire, and To End All Wars, all great films.

    Hollywood understands atheists all right. Edmond O'Brien's character just wants to crush any religious leanings in his client's mind, because he thinks religion is hooey. We find out later in the movie that as a boy Sharkey had been forced to hear sermons about hell and sin, which we suppose left him filled with guilt and anger. Jerry Paris's character TRIES to understand Virgil, but money remains his main god. The man in the recording studio who suggests a rock'n'roll plus hymns record is the quintessential Hollywood type: let's see if we can make money out of the religion thing.

    All in all, this is a pretty weak movie, but perhaps a little racy for its time with its hints about stars, girls, and hotel rooms. Edmund O'Brien and Jerry Paris get top marks for their portrayals of sleaze-ball agents.

    Maybe the reason Hollywood can't treat Christianity seriously is that nobody out there has been close enough to normal Christians to dispel their stereotypes. While we hear all the time about tolerance of all races, sexual orientations, etc., Christians are still about the only group that can routinely be trashed in Hollywood without the blink of an eye.
    helpful•16
    6
    • LCShackley
    • Sep 14, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 14, 1958 (Venezuela)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 30 minutes
      • Black and White
      • 4-Track Stereo

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