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:

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

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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

This story is based on the Kraft Television Theatre episode "the Singin' Idol" which also starred Tommy Sands.

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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

Again
Music by Lionel Newman
Lyrics by Dorcas Cochran

User Reviews

Sing Boy Sing was a fine dramatic expansion of the TV play "The Singin' Idol"

Having previously seen the original TV play called "The Singin' Idol" which also starred Tommy Sands, I was stoked to watch this theatrical movie version also starring Sands. In the TV version, he was Ewell Walker, here the first name is changed to Virgil. His character, like Sands himself, was raised in Louisiana which is where I currently live. In fact, I smiled when Baton Rouge-my current hometown-was mentioned twice, first by him, then by Jerry Paris playing one of his managers! Virgil is a hot Rock star, not unlike Elvis Presley at the time which is interesting since Sands was also managed by Col. Tom Parker who reportedly got him on the original TV play. Anyway, the movie follows the TV play most of the time though there were some added scenes at the beginning, a slight change at the end, and an added character named C.K. played by Nick Adams. Oh, and I also loved Edmond O'Brien playing Sands' other manager with the name of Sharkey! In summary, I loved the drama, enjoyed the songs Sands sang, and was pleased with the final cut I saw on YouTube. So on that note, Sing Boy Sing is very much worth checking out. P.S. Tommy Sands was originally a native of Chicago, Ill, like yours truly. The person who played his preacher grandfather was John McIntire who was the father of Tim McIntire who I just watched play Alan Freed in American Hot Wax. Leading lady Lili Gentle would marry 20th Century-Fox executive Richard D. Zanuck after making this for the studio. And it's interesting Jerry Paris was in this movie since he'd later be the resident director of that '50s-set TV show, "Happy Days".