Before watching this, the only thing I previously knew Tommy Sands from was his role in the Disney 1961 version of Babes in Toyland. Here, he's a Rock star named Ewell Walker plucked from his roots in Louisiana (the state where I currently live) who gets word from an aunt that his preacher dad is dying. This was only an hour so much of the drama concerns Sands' communication with his bedridden dad as well as his dealings with his agent (Fred Clark in a role much different from his more comedic one on "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show" as Harry Morton # 3) about his conflicting interests between show business and life. Quite compelling and I can't wait to watch the theatrical version called Sing Boy Sing a few days from now. Oh, and I also liked the song performed here, "Teenage Crush" at the beginning which I found out was a hit song for Sands after this show aired. So on that note, "The Singin' Idol" ep of "Kraft Theatre" is worth a look for anyone interested in a fictional depiction of a certain rock star during the '50s.
3 Reviews
Really good...but the full-length movie version is even better.
planktonrules25 April 2024
"The Singin' Idol" is a very good installment of "Kraft Television Theatre". And, like so many of the best live teleplays from this era, Hollywood soon came calling and made a full-length movie out of it. In some cases, such as "Requiem for a Heavyweight", the TV version is better. But in others, the movie version is better...such as with "Marty", "12 Angry Men" and this story, which was remade as "Sing Boy Sing".
Nearly the entire cast of this "Kraft Television Theatre" would not appear in the movie version, though Tommy Sands starred in both and this made him, somewhat briefly, a big star. In the case of Sands, he was perfect for the role...so why bother recasting?!
The two films are very similar and are a morality tale about a rock 'n roll star who is at the top of the game...but also struggles with reconciling this with his gospel roots. However, the movie is different because it really makes the singer's agent (sort of a Colonel Parker type) to be a real sleazy jerk. He's jerky in the TV version...he's practically Satan in the movie. For me, this is the reason I prefer the movie. Both are very good but the part of the manager really set the two productions apart.
My advice is this: watch BOTH films. As both are on YouTube, this is pretty easy to do.
Nearly the entire cast of this "Kraft Television Theatre" would not appear in the movie version, though Tommy Sands starred in both and this made him, somewhat briefly, a big star. In the case of Sands, he was perfect for the role...so why bother recasting?!
The two films are very similar and are a morality tale about a rock 'n roll star who is at the top of the game...but also struggles with reconciling this with his gospel roots. However, the movie is different because it really makes the singer's agent (sort of a Colonel Parker type) to be a real sleazy jerk. He's jerky in the TV version...he's practically Satan in the movie. For me, this is the reason I prefer the movie. Both are very good but the part of the manager really set the two productions apart.
My advice is this: watch BOTH films. As both are on YouTube, this is pretty easy to do.
A story about a teen idol torn between his roots and his fame
bellino-angelo201411 February 2018
I am one of the few fans today of Tommy Sands, and personally I love his songs and enjoyed his movies. And personally I think he was better than Elvis. And this episode is one of his best performances to date.
It's about a young music sensation, named Ewell Walker (played by Tommy Sands), and known as ''The Singin' Idol'' that often has troubles because of his sly manager, Sharkey (played by Fred Clark), and even when Sands returns home he is saddened by his father's death, and he is more persuaded of leave the show business career after he transformes a church hymn in a rock'n roll tune, not without causing the anger of Sharkey, the teen fans and the press.
This episode of ''Kraft Television Theatre'' was the inspiration for the 1958 movie ''Sing, Boy, Sing'', always with Tommy Sands, but, instead of Fred Clark, Edmond O'Brien. And the plot is very identical. It's on Youtube if you want to give a try!
It's about a young music sensation, named Ewell Walker (played by Tommy Sands), and known as ''The Singin' Idol'' that often has troubles because of his sly manager, Sharkey (played by Fred Clark), and even when Sands returns home he is saddened by his father's death, and he is more persuaded of leave the show business career after he transformes a church hymn in a rock'n roll tune, not without causing the anger of Sharkey, the teen fans and the press.
This episode of ''Kraft Television Theatre'' was the inspiration for the 1958 movie ''Sing, Boy, Sing'', always with Tommy Sands, but, instead of Fred Clark, Edmond O'Brien. And the plot is very identical. It's on Youtube if you want to give a try!
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