The Cool Ones (1967)

A young, millionaire rock promoter decides to create a new boy/girl duo team for his teen TV dance show by teaming up an ambitious go-go dancer and a has-been pop star and presenting them to the public as a new romantic pair.

Director:

Gene Nelson

Writers:

Joyce Geller (screenplay), Gene Nelson (adaptation)

Stars:

Roddy McDowall, Debbie Watson, Gil Peterson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Roddy McDowall	...	Tony Krum
Debbie Watson	...	Hallie Rodgers
Gil Peterson	...	Cliff Donner
Phil Harris	...	Fred MacElwaine
Robert Coote	...	Stanley Krumley
Nita Talbot	...	Dee Dee Howitzer
George Furth	...	Howie
Mrs. Miller	...	Mrs. Miller
The Bantams	...	The Bantams
Glen Campbell	...	Patrick
The Leaves	...	The Leaves
T.J. and The Fourmations	...	T.J. and The Fourmations
Jim Begg	...	Charlie Forbes
James Millhollin	...	Manager
Phil Arnold	...	Uncle Steve

Storyline

Hallie Rogers is a pent-up go-go dancer itching for her big break. She's up for a spot on the network rock'n'roll show "Whizbam," a detailed send-up of both "Shindig" and "Hullaballo," but the studio bosses keep giving her the shaft. So Hallie wigs out, escapes from her go-go cage, and steals the mike from Glen Campbell, who's singing onstage at the time. While Glen does all he can to stop this crazy girl on live TV, Hallie shakes and shimmies her way out of impending handcuffs. The audience goes wild, imitating her moves, and when a misdirected camera sends a message out to the nation, a new dance craze is born - the Tantrum! Tony Krum, a teen tycoon begins to manage her booming career. Hallie gets fired from "Whizbam," but her go-go dancing pals take her to Palm Springs, where they see the Leaves perform. She soon meets out-of-step teen idol Cliff Donner, with whom she forms a duo.

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Plot Keywords:

teen idol | cable car | scene before opening credits | go go girl | private jet | 

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Taglines:

The groovy movie with the hip hit tunes!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 April 1967 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cool Baby, Cool!

Filming Locations:

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Palm Springs, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

William Conrad Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the last feature for Director of Photography Floyd Crosby, father of musician and singer David Crosby.

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Quotes

Sandy: This is a boys' world. Isn't it enough to be with *them* all the time... and get paid for it?

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Connections

References Password All-Stars (1961)

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Soundtracks

Just One of Those Things
(uncredited)
Written by Cole Porter
Performed by Glen Campbell with Debbie Watson
[Patrick & the East Enders are performing the song on Whiz-Bam when Hallie cuts in]

User Reviews

Eminently watchable slice of 60's go-go pop

Eminently watchable slice of 60's go-go pop that never gets as much attention as it deserves. "The Cool Ones" is not a good movie, but boy is it campy fun. From its first shots of the taping of a "Hullabaloo"-type teen TV dance show to its cornball conclusion with the lovers driving off into the sunset, "The Cool Ones" is a must for fans of "Austin Powers" or the 60's at its most faddish.

An oddly cynical tale of a go-go dancer who aspires to pop singing stardom, "The Cool Ones" boasts a musical score of tres-groovy songs by Lee Hazelwood (of Nancy Sinatra fame...by the way, that sounds like Ms. Sinatra dubbing Debbie Watson's vocals during "The Tantrum"...anybody know?), Teri Garr dancing up a storm, bad Sixties fashions, and male lead Gil Peterson (surely the model for the Ken doll) wearing the tightest pants humanly possible.

Roddy McDowall is good/bad as always, but my favorite is the scene - stealing Nita Talbot, who always seems to be two steps ahead of any movie she's in. Worth watching just to see the dance number in the ski lift...THOSE CLOTHES! Should be remade with Britney Spears in the lead!