''Rock, Pretty Baby'' is a 1956 American

comedy Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...

musical film directed by Richard Bartlett and starring

Sal Mineo Salvatore Mineo Jr. (January 10, 1939 – February 12, 1976) was an American actor, singer, and director. He is best known for his role as John "Plato" Crawford in the drama film '' Rebel Without a Cause'' (1955), which earned him a nomination ...

John Saxon John Saxon (born Carmine Orrico; August 5, 1936 – July 25, 2020) was an American actor who worked on more than 200 film and television projects during a span of 60 years. He was known for his work in Westerns and horror films, often playing ...

and

Luana Patten Luana Patten (July 6, 1938 – May 1, 1996) was an American actress who appeared in films produced by Walt Disney Pictures, such as ''Song of the South'' (1946), ''Fun and Fancy Free'' (1947), and ''Melody Time'' (1948). Later in life, she pla ...

Plot

Young musician Jimmy Daley (Saxon) needs to come up with $300 to purchase the electric guitar he wants. He pawns his law books, to the disappointment of his father (Platt), a doctor whose goal is for Jimmy to become a lawyer. Jimmy's jealous nature results in a ruckus at a party and $150 in damage to a neighbor, which Dr. Daley insists his son pay. His girlfriend Joan Wright (Patten) learns that a battle of the bands has a cash prize. Jimmy and his group end up losing the contest, but he earns the respect of his dad.

Cast

as Angelo Barrato *

as Jimmy Daley *

as Joan Wright * Edward C. Platt as Thomas Daley Sr. M.D. *

Fay Wray Vina Fay Wray (September 15, 1907 – August 8, 2004) was a Canadian/American actress best known for starring as Ann Darrow in the 1933 film ''King Kong''. Through an acting career that spanned nearly six decades, Wray attained international r ...

as Beth Daley * Rod McKuen as 'Ox' Bentley * John Wilder as 'Fingers' Porter * Alan Reed Jr. as 'Sax' Lewis * Douglas Fowley as 'Pop' Wright *

Bob Courtney Bob Courtney (31 October 1922 – 24 October 2010) was a British-born South African actor and broadcaster. He appeared in more than twenty film roles and worked as an on-air presenter and broadcaster on Springbok Radio. Additionally, Courtney c ...

as 'Half-Note' Harris *

Shelley Fabares Michele Ann Marie "Shelley" Fabares (; born January 19, 1944) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her television roles as Mary Stone on the sitcom ''The Donna Reed Show'' (1958–1963) and as Christine Armstrong on the sitcom ...

as Twinky Daley * Susan Volkmann as Carol Saunders * Caryl Volkmann as Claire Saunders * April Kent as Kay Norton * Sue George as Lori Parker *

Walter Reed Walter Reed (September 13, 1851 – November 22, 1902) was a U.S. Army physician who in 1901 led the team that confirmed the theory of Cuban doctor Carlos Finlay that yellow fever is transmitted by a particular mosquito species rather than ...

as Mr. Reid * Glen Kramer as Bruce Carter * Johnny Grant as Johnny Grant * George Winslow as Thomas Daley, III

Production

The film was announced in June 1956, under the title ''Crazy Love''. Luana Patten had been a child actor then stopped working at age 14 to concentrate on school. After several years she told her agent she wanted to act again and she was cast in ''Rock Pretty Baby''. She signed at $650 a week. The contract had options for another seven years. Universal tried to exercise it and Patten sued to get out of it. Filming started July 1956. It was also known as ''The Living End'' before being titled ''Rock Pretty Baby''. Before the film came out, Al Daff of Universal said the movie "is not an important picture but it will gross more than many multi million dollar pictures."

Release

and John Saxon were sent out on a promotional tour on the launch of the film. Universal signed George Winslow to a two picture a year deal over five years on the basis of his performance in the movie. ''Variety'' said it "should emerge a box office winner." ''Filmink'' called it "a jaunty, energetic teen film, with a surprisingly hot late-night beach kissing scene between Saxon and co-star Luana Patten. It became a sleeper hit for Universal."

Sequel

In May 1957 Universal announced they would make a sequel '' Summer Love''.Saxon Starred in New Teen-age Salute; Jan Harrison Term-Pacted Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 1 May 1957: B11

References

External links

*{{IMDb title, 0049683
''Rock, Pretty Baby''
at

TCMDB Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is an American movie-oriented pay-TV network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in 1994, Turner Classic Movies is headquartered at Turner's Techwood broadcasting campus in the Midtown business district of A ...

1956 films 1956 musical comedy films American musical comedy films American black-and-white films Films directed by Richard Bartlett Films scored by Henry Mancini Universal Pictures films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films