Sing Boy Sing (1958)

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.

Director:

Henry Ephron

Writers:

Claude Binyon, Paul Monash (story "The Singin' Idol")

Stars:

Tommy Sands, Lili Gentle, Edmond O'Brien

Cast

Cast overview:
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

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

singer | publicity agent | 

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Taglines:

How did they take him out of the Southland and make him a national sensation? How did they turn this kid into a teenager's idol? How did he light love fires in every girl's heart?

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Genres:

Drama | Musical

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 May 1958 (Venezuela)

Also Known As:

The Singing Idol

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) 4-Track Stereo

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

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"

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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."

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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.

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Connections

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

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Soundtracks

Would I Love You?
Written by Bob Russell and Harold Spina

User Reviews

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.