Hey, Let's Twist!

Last updated
Hey, Let's Twist!
Hey, Let's Twist! poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Greg Garrison
Screenplay by Hal Hackady
Produced byMartha Vera Romm
Starring Joey Dee
Jo Ann Campbell
Teddy Randazzo
Kay Armen
Zohra Lampert
Dino Di Luca
CinematographyGeorge Jacobson
Edited byArline Garson
Sidney Katz
Music by Henry Glover
Production
company
Harry Romm Productions
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date
  • December 31, 1961 (1961-12-31)
Running time
79 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$300,000 [1]
Box office$1 million (US/Canada) [2]

Hey, Let's Twist! is a 1961 American musical film directed by Greg Garrison and written by Hal Hackady. The film stars Joey Dee, Jo Ann Campbell, Teddy Randazzo, Kay Armen, Zohra Lampert and Dino Di Luca. The film was released on December 31, 1961, by Paramount Pictures. [3] [4]

Contents

The same team later made Two Tickets to Paris (1962).

Plot

The rise, fall, and resurgence of the Peppermint Lounge club is chronicled. The children of the owner almost ruin the club by updating the place but realize their error.

Cast

Production

The film shot for two weeks at Pathe Studios in New York. Filming started November 1961. It was made independently and distributed through Paramount. There were a number of "twist" movies shot around the same time, others including Don't Knock the Twist . [1]

Reception

The film performed well at the box office. A sequel to be set in Paris was announced, Viva La Twist. [5] This eventually became Two Tickets to Paris .

Related Research Articles

<i>Splendor in the Grass</i> 1961 American drama film

Splendor in the Grass is a 1961 American period drama film produced and directed by Elia Kazan, from a screenplay written by William Inge. It stars Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty as two high school sweethearts, navigating feelings of sexual repression, love, and heartbreak. Pat Hingle, Audrey Christie, Barbara Loden, Zohra Lampert, and Joanna Roos are featured in supporting roles.

[[File:Bundesarchiv' is a dance that was inspired by rock and roll music. From 1959 to the early sixties it became a worldwide dance craze, enjoying immense popularity while drawing controversies from critics who felt it was too provocative. It inspired dances such as the Jerk, the Pony, the Watusi, the Mashed Potato, the Funky Chicken, but none were as popular.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zohra Lampert</span> American actress

Zohra Lampert is an American actress, who has had roles on stage, film and television. She performed under her then-married name of Zohra Alton early in her career.

"Peppermint Twist" is a song written by Joey Dee and Henry Glover, recorded and released by Joey Dee and the Starliters in 1961. Capitalizing on the Twist dance craze and the nightclub in which Dee performed, the song hit No.1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in early 1962. The original recording of the song was considered too long for release on a 45 rpm single, so it was split into two parts. It was this first part, "Peppermint Twist ", with a length of 2:03, which became the No.1 hit; the mostly instrumental second half of the recording is rarely heard today.

The Peppermint Lounge was a popular discotheque located at 128 West 45th Street in New York City that was open from 1958 to 1965, although a new one was opened in 1980. It was the launchpad for the global Twist craze in the early 1960s. Many claim The Peppermint Lounge was also where go-go dancing originated, although this claim is subject to dispute.

"The Twist" is an American pop song written and originally released in 1958 by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters as a B-side to "Teardrops on Your Letter". It was inspired by the twist dance craze. Ballard's version was a moderate hit, peaking at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960. On the US Billboard Hot R&B Sides chart, the original version of "The Twist" first peaked at number 16 in 1959 and at number six in 1960. By 1962, the record sold in excess of one million copies, becoming Ballard's fourth million seller.

Joey Dee and the Starliters is an American popular music group. The group is best known for their million-selling recording "Peppermint Twist" (1961). The group's most notable lineup is considered to be Joey Dee, David Brigati, Larry Vernieri (vocals), Carlton Lattimore (organ), Sam Taylor (guitar) and Willie Davis (drums). Jimi Hendrix and Joe Pesci played guitar with the group at different times in the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Butler (guitarist)</span> American soul jazz guitarist

William Butler Jr. was an American soul jazz guitarist.

David Brigati is an American singer. He is sometimes known as "the fifth Rascal".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're Driving Me Crazy</span> Song

"You’re Driving Me Crazy" is an American popular song composed by Walter Donaldson in 1930 and recorded the same year by Lee Morse, Rudy Vallée & His Connecticut Yankees and Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teddy Randazzo</span> American pop singer-songwriter (1935–2003)

Alessandro Carmelo "Teddy" Randazzo was an American pop songwriter, singer, arranger and producer, who composed hit songs such as "Goin' Out of My Head", "It's Gonna Take a Miracle", "Pretty Blue Eyes", and "Hurt So Bad" in the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Royal Teens</span> American rock and roll band

The Royal Teens were an American rock and roll band that formed in New Jersey in 1956 and originally consisted of Bob Gaudio on piano, Tom Austin on drums, Billy Dalton on guitar, and Billy Crandall on saxophone. The group is best known for its single "Short Shorts", which was a number 3 hit in the United States in 1958. The follow-up single, 1959's "Believe Me", hit number 26. They never recorded an album, and broke up in 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joey and the Twisters</span> Doo-wop band

Joey and the Twisters was an American twist group, formed from remnants of the original Royal Teens around 1961. The group was led by Teens vocalist Joey Villa, along with several other members from the local Manhattan doo-wop scene. The band played regularly at the Peppermint Lounge in Manhattan, alongside Joey Dee and the Starliters and other acts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fannie Mae (song)</span> 1959 single by Buster Brown

"Fannie Mae" is a 1959 song, written and performed by the American blues and R&B singer, Buster Brown.

<i>The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard</i> 2009 American film

The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard is a 2009 American comedy film directed by Neal Brennan, produced by Adam McKay, Will Ferrell, Kevin Messick and Chris Henchy, written by Andy Stock and Rick Stempson and starring Jeremy Piven, Ving Rhames, James Brolin, David Koechner, Kathryn Hahn, Ed Helms, Jordana Spiro and Craig Robinson. Originally titled The Goods: The Don Ready Story, the film was theatrically released on August 14, 2009 in the United States by Paramount Pictures and was released on DVD as a rental only with no special features November 17 and for sale December 15. The film received mostly negative reviews from critics and grossed $15.3 million against a $10 million budget.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Glover</span> American songwriter, arranger, record producer and trumpet player

Henry Bernard Glover was an American songwriter, arranger, record producer and trumpet player. In the music industry of the time, Glover was one of the most successful and influential black executives. He gained eminence in the late 1940s, primarily working for the independent King label. His duties included operating as a producer, arranger, songwriter, engineer, trumpet player, talent scout, A&R man, studio constructor, while later in his career he became the owner of his own label. Glover worked with country, blues, R&B, pop, rock, and jazz musicians, and he helped King Records to become one of the largest independent labels of its time. Thanks to the efforts of family, friends and fans, Glover's hometown of Hot Springs, Arkansas celebrated the 100th anniversary of his birth in 2021 by inducting him into the downtown "Walk of Fame," the Mayor's "Proclamation," "Key to the City," and named a parklet "Henry Glover Way," along Black Broadway after him. In 2018, Glover was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the King Records 75th Anniversary. In 2013, he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kay Armen</span> Musical artist

Armenuhi Manoogian ; November 2, 1915 – October 3, 2011), better known by her stage name Kay Armen, was an American-Armenian singer popular during the 1940s and 1950s. Her career in show business spanned almost six decades; she worked on stage and in radio, television, and film. She wrote multiple songs, performed in nightclubs and recorded many records.

Dino Di Luca, also billed as Dino Diluca, was a leading Italian actor of both stage, screen and television. He was active in both Italy and the United States of America from the 1930s through the 1960s.

<i>Two Tickets to Paris</i> 1962 film by Greg Garrison

Two Tickets to Paris is a 1962 film directed by Greg Garrison and starring Joey Dee and the Starliters.

References

  1. 1 2 By A.H. WEILER. (1961, Nov 26). "BY WAY OF REPORT". New York Times
  2. "Big Rental Pictures of 1962". Variety. 9 Jan 1963. p. 13. Please note these are rentals and not gross figures
  3. "Hey, Let's Twist! (1961) - Overview". TCM.com. 1961-12-23. Retrieved 2015-04-01.
  4. "Movie Review - - 'The Errand Boy' and 'Hey, Let's Twist' on Neighborhood Bill". The New York Times . 1962-02-08. Retrieved 2015-04-01.
  5. "PRODUCERS RUSH NOVIES ON TWIST" (1962, Jan 06). New York Times