Musical Monday: Sing Boy Sing (1958)

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It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals.
In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.

This week’s musical:
Sing Boy Sing (1958) – Musical #825

Studio:
20th Century Fox

Director:
Henry Ephron

Starring:
Tommy Sands, Edmond O’Brien, Jerry Paris, Josephine Hutchinson, John McIntire, Lili Gentle, Regis Toomey, Diane Jergens, Tami Conner
Disc Jockeys as themselves: Art Ford, Bill Randle, Biff Collie

Plot:
Virgil Walker (Sands) is a teen heartthrob singer, whose life is controlled by his manager, Joseph Sharkey (O’Brien). Sharkey also keeps Virgil isolated from his family, with the help of press agent, Arnold Fisher (Paris). Virgil was raised in a small town by his pastor grandfather (McIntire). When Virgil’s grandfather becomes ill, Sharkey tries to keep Virgil from knowing and away from his family, fearing his grandfather will turn Virgil against his “sinful” singing career.

Trivia:
• Based on the teleplay “The Singin’ Idol.” Tommy Sands acted in the play on the “Kraft Theater” anthology program, which aired on Jan. 30, 1957. This film, SING BOY SING (1958), is an expanded version of the teleplay.
• First feature film of actor, singer Tommy Sands. The Kraft play was Tommy Sands’s first acting job.

Highlights:
• Performances from Tommy Sands and Nick Adams

Notable Songs:
• “Soda Pop Pop” performed by Tommy Sands
• “Sing Boy Sing” performed by Tommy Sands
• “Who Baby” performed by Tommy Sands

My review:
You often hear of books, plays and Broadway musicals being adapted into films. But I had never run across a classic film adapted from a television play until this week’s Musical Monday, SING BOY SING (1958).

In the film, a young singer, Virgil Walker (Sands) was raised by his preacher grandfather (McIntire). At age 20, Virgil’s manager, Joseph Sharkey (O’Brien) and press agent Arnold Fisher (Paris) run his life and keep him from hearing from his family, for fear his grandfather will talk him out of his career. They keep him so far away from people, Virgil hires a delicatessen delivery boy, C.K. (Adams) to be his friend and companion. When Virgil’s grandfather falls ill, Sharkey and Arnold intercept the calls and keep the information from him. When Virgil finds out, he’s angry with them but hurries home to his grandfather, but his fame falls him.

A talented young singer with a controlling manager who controlled his career and kept him isolated. Sound familiar? It could be a snapshot of the life and career of actor, singer Elvis Presley. Sands performs Elvis-like songs and wears his hair in a pompadour. It’s almost a wonder that Presley or his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, didn’t sue 20th Century Fox or the screenwriters.

After watching the film, I compared it to the Kraft Theater television play, which is a bit more grim than the film and has Sands looking even more like Elvis Presley, complete with sideburns and clothing.

The Kraft Theater was Tommy Sands’s first performance on film or TV and this was his first feature film role. I’ve always had a soft spot for Sands, but this film really shows his talent for acting. In general, I feel he’s forgotten. I think he’s much better than what he’s remembered for.

Another standout performance is Nick Adams, who plays Virgil’s hired friend. He’s a hick from Oklahoma trying to make it in New York City, and feels on top of the world for being friends with a celebrity. While his excitement is endearing, he is someone else who is using Virgil.

As it turns out, nearly everyone in the story is trying to use or control Virgil, even the ones you don’t expect.

This is an interesting and hidden gem of a film, which exhibits both Sands’s singing and acting talents.

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