The Gene Krupa Story

Biography of penultimate jazz drummer Krupa (played here with enthusiasm by young Sal Mineo) as he achieves fame and fortune for his unique talent, then squanders his success on alcohol, illicit substances and loose women. Mineo is sharp and authentic-looking in his impersonations of the frenetic, almost chaotic looking drumming, while Kohner is his antithesis, a placid, mature girl who despite his lack of judgment and indiscretions, sticks by him, ultimately resurrecting his career after he's incarcerated for narcotics possession (in spite of his protests "they weren't my reefers!"). She encourages him to learn to read music, while his fair-weather friends encourage him to party to excess, his grip on the sticks stutters and concerns grow for his well being.

Larry Dobkin is Krupa's cool-as-cucumber attorney, but the trio of girls assembled to tempt Mineo (principally youthful Craig and sultry Oliver) are welcome distractions from the musical numbers (which are superbly choreographed and not over represented). Darren isn't bad as his trumpet-playing concerned friend and future "Love Boat" captain Gavin McLeod is on deck in a small role as Krupa's brother.

The subject matter is handled with conservatism and the drug dependency issue isn't really explored in any detail (the scene in which he rejects Oliver's offer of a doobie is a little cheesy, surely even by the contemporary standards). Still it's a bit more than a casual theme, and this is more than just a string of musical numbers loosely bound in a biopic melodrama. Mineo's performance is well balanced, while Kohner is appropriately understated and the musical numbers more than compensate for any particular lack of dramatic intensity. Worth a look.