The Gene Krupa Story (1959)

The story of legendary jazz drummer, Gene Krupa. Since his youth, all Gene ever wanted to do is play the drums and make music. This is something his parents would not approve of- they want ... See full summary »

Director:

Don Weis

Writer:

Orin Jannings

Stars:

Sal Mineo, Susan Kohner, James Darren

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Sal Mineo	...	Gene Krupa
Susan Kohner	...	Ethel Maguire
James Darren	...	Eddie Sirota
Susan Oliver	...	Dorissa Dinell
Yvonne Craig	...	Gloria Corregio
Lawrence Dobkin	...	Speaker Willis
Celia Lovsky	...	Mother
Red Nichols	...	Himself
Bobby Troup	...	Tommy Dorsey
Anita O'Day	...	Herself
Shelly Manne	...	Davey Tough
Buddy Lester	...	Himself

Storyline

The story of legendary jazz drummer, Gene Krupa. Since his youth, all Gene ever wanted to do is play the drums and make music. This is something his parents would not approve of- they want him to be a priest. When Gene's father dies he promises to enter the priesthood. He soon realizes that he doesn't belong there and leaves to join his friend, Eddie's band. Ethel, Eddie's girlfriend, convinces Gene to go to New York and make it big. The 3 of them head to New York. Here Ethel and Gene soon fall in love and Gene makes a name for himself. Gene starts to live in the fast lane, with drugs, alcohol, women and parties. Ethel, unhappy with Gene's lifestyle, leaves him. Gene soon "hits rock bottom" where he has to face reality and choose where to take his life.

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Plot Keywords:

band | drugs | drummer | jazz | seminary | 

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Taglines:

The Pounding Story of a Jazz Great!

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

December 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jazz-Ekstase

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When the film opened in Krupa's hometown of Chicago at the Schiller Theatre on January 15, 1960 both Gene Krupa and Sal Mineo were on hand to greet the public and sign "fan fotos."

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Goofs

In the final scene, when Krupa makes his comeback appearance with Tommy Dorsey's band, the set he's playing changes in the close-ups from the front left. The high hat cymbals are in a different position, and the tom tom to his left disappears completely.

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Quotes

Gene Krupa: Who's the singer?
Dorissa Dinell: Anita O'Day.
Gene Krupa: She's good.
Dorissa Dinell: Not bad - if you like talent.

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Connections

Featured in Police Story: The Broken Badge (1978)

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Soundtracks

In the Mood
(uncredited)
Music by Joe Garland

User Reviews

Gene Krupa recast as Sputnik Teen Idol.

Competent, slick and well photographed, but fairly banal treatment of the famous drummer.

Almost no attempt is made to visually set the story in the twenties and thirties. Thus, the film abounds in an abundance of visual anachronisms, including fifties architecture, decor, and clothing, (Misses Kohner and Craig wear Dior style shirtwaist dirndls throughout, whilst Miss Oliver wears Capri style cocktail pants!--nowhere is there a cloche hat, aigrette or dropped waist). Only slight sartorial concessions are made for the men, (a few bowler hats and double breasted vests)

These inaccuracies no doubt accrue from the fact that the picture is being pitched wholesale to the 1959 teen audience and not to their parents.

For his part, Mr. Mineo does exceedingly well, though at times he does lapse into hipster posturing, (in his finger pointing angry scenes he appears to be imitating Ben Gazzara). Given his extreme youth, however, he demonstrates more poise and depth than his teen idol peers. The only really embarrassing moments come when he is depicted as a cassock clad seminarian in prayer.

If nothing else, this film provides your only chance to see Sal Mineo in spats.