Rock-A-Bye Baby (film)

Last updated

Rock-A-Bye Baby
Rockabyebaby.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Frank Tashlin
Written byFrank Tashlin
Based onA previous screenplay
by Preston Sturges
Produced by Jerry Lewis
Starring
Cinematography Haskell B. Boggs
Edited by Alma Macrorie
Music by
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release dates
Running time
103 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1.2 million [1]
Box office$3.1 million (US and Canada rentals) [2] [3]
1,608,274 admissions (France) [4]

Rock-A-Bye Baby is a 1958 American musical comedy film starring Jerry Lewis. A loose remake of Preston Sturges' film The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944), the film was directed and written by Frank Tashlin, and features Marilyn Maxwell, Connie Stevens and Reginald Gardiner.

Contents

Plot

Clayton Poole is a small-town TV repairman whose former sweetheart, Carla Naples, is now a famous movie star. Carla has cultivated a reputation as a virgin who does not have affairs or carouse with men in typical Hollywood fashion. On a romantic fling, she secretly marries Carlos, a famous Mexican bullfighter; the next morning the couple agree it was unwise and plan to have it annulled, but her husband dies that day in a bull-fight. Distraught, Carla tore up her marriage license, not realizing she was pregnant; there's no legal documentation to legitimize the child. Her agent, Harold Herman tries to avoid a scandal by sending Carla into the country to give birth. He suggests that they send the baby back to the town where she grew up, Midvale, Indiana. The cover story will be that she is going into seclusion to prepare for her next role, the lead in a controversial religious epic The White Virgin of the Nile. After, she can adopt her baby. Carla says that her sister is too young and her father hasn't forgiven her for becoming a movie star, so Carla decides on Clayton to take care of her baby.

After she gives birth, Carla asks if Clayton will help her. Still professing his undying devotion, Clayton agrees to care for the child. He is very surprised to discover that it is triplets, not one baby. Carla's sister, Sandy, offers to help Clayton (she is in love with him and will do anything to get his attention).

Clayton works very hard to take care of the triplets, taking on extra work and attending a course on motherhood at a local college, but Midvale's child services want to place them with a well-to-do two-parent family. He earns the respect of Carla's father in his efforts to care for the triplets; both he and Carla's sister, Sandy, support Clayton keeping the babies.

On the final court day, the Naples family jump in to rescue Clayton and the triplets. Sandy enters the court in a wedding gown, pursued by her father, who is carrying a shotgun and claims that the babies are Sandy's. The Judge marries them, the implication being that they can keep the triplets. Meanwhile, Carla has seen the Midvale news and is afraid that her triplets will be taken from Clayton. She releases a press statement that triplets are hers and that she and Clayton are secretly married. Now suspected of bigamy, Clayton goes into hiding with the triplets.

Then, truth comes out: in the wake of the bigamy scandal, Mexican authorities reveal Carla's secret marriage to Carlos, so Clayton isn't a bigamist, nor is he the father of the triplets, nor are the triplets illegitimate. Harold (Carla's agent), who is in love with Carla, proposes. She accepts. Clayton then realizes that he's actually in love with Sandy, who has always loved him, not Carla. While taking a romantic walk and wondering when they can marry, they realize that they are married. Nine months later, Sandy gives birth to quintuplets. A statue of Clayton and his five babies is erected in front of the town courthouse, as Midvale's Hero. [5] [6]

Cast

Cast notes:

Production

Rock-A-Bye Baby was loosely based on the Preston Sturges' film The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944), which starred Eddie Bracken and Betty Hutton.

Rock-a-Bye Baby was filmed from November 18, 1957, through January 8, 1958, [9] and opened in Los Angeles on July 16, 1958, followed by a premiere in New York City on July 23. It entered general release shortly afterwards. [10] The film was re-released in 1962 on a double bill with another Jerry Lewis film, Don't Give Up The Ship . [7]

Songs and music

The songs in Rock-A-Bye Baby were written by Harry Warren (music) and Sammy Cahn (lyrics): [11] [12]

Songs and music notes:

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 63% rating based on 8 reviews, with an average rating of 5.70/10. [15]

Home media

The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on February 14, 2012, through the Olive Films company.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connie Stevens</span> American actress and singer (born 1938)

Connie Stevens is an American actress and singer. Born in Brooklyn to musician parents, Stevens was raised there until age 12, when she was sent to live with family friends in rural Missouri after she witnessed a murder in the city. In 1953, at age 15, Stevens relocated with her father to Los Angeles.

<i>The Nutty Professor</i> (1963 film) 1963 film by Jerry Lewis

The Nutty Professor is a 1963 American science fiction comedy film directed, co-written by, and starring Jerry Lewis. The film also co-stars Stella Stevens, Del Moore, Kathleen Freeman, Howard Morris, and Elvia Allman. The score was composed by Walter Scharf. A parody of Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, it follows bullied scientist Julius Kelp as he creates a serum that transforms him into a handsome man, which he subsequently uses under his alter ego Buddy Love.

<i>The Goddess</i> (1958 film) 1958 drama film by John Cromwell

The Goddess is a 1958 American drama film directed by John Cromwell and starring Kim Stanley and Lloyd Bridges. From a screenplay by Paddy Chayefsky, the film is an in-depth character study of the life of a troubled and lonely girl who becomes a movie star adored by millions, but is miserable in her private life. The movie was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

<i>A Woman Rebels</i> 1936 film by Mark Sandrich

A Woman Rebels is a 1936 American historical drama film adapted from the 1930 novel Portrait of a Rebel by Netta Syrett and starring Katharine Hepburn as Pamela Thistlewaite, who rebels against the social mores of Victorian England. The film was directed by Mark Sandrich; it was the film debut of Van Heflin, and the second last film of David Manners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheree North</span> American actress, dancer, and singer (1932–2005)

Sheree North was an American actress, dancer, and singer, known for being one of 20th Century-Fox's intended successors to Marilyn Monroe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marilyn Maxwell</span> American actress (1921–1972)

Marvel Marilyn Maxwell was an American actress and entertainer. In a career that spanned the 1940s and 1950s, she appeared in several films and radio programs, and entertained the troops during World War II and the Korean War on USO tours with Bob Hope.

<i>Duchess of Idaho</i> 1950 film by Robert Zigler Leonard

Duchess of Idaho is an American musical romantic comedy produced in 1950 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Directed by Robert Z. Leonard, it was the fourth film pairing Esther Williams and Van Johnson. It was filmed at the MGM Studios lot and exteriors shot in Sun Valley, Idaho.

<i>Artists and Models</i> 1955 film by Frank Tashlin

Artists and Models is a 1955 American musical romantic comedy film in VistaVision directed by Frank Tashlin, marking Martin and Lewis's 14th feature together as a team. The film co-stars Shirley MacLaine and Dorothy Malone, with Eva Gabor and Anita Ekberg appearing in brief roles.

<i>Lets Make Love</i> 1960 film by George Cukor

Let's Make Love is a 1960 American musical comedy film made by 20th Century Fox in DeLuxe Color and CinemaScope. Directed by George Cukor and produced by Jerry Wald from a screenplay by Norman Krasna, Hal Kanter, and Arthur Miller, the film stars Marilyn Monroe, Yves Montand, and Tony Randall. It would be Monroe's last musical film performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody</span> 1918 single by Al Jolson

"Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" is a popular song written by Jean Schwartz, with lyrics by Sam M. Lewis and Joe Young. The song was introduced by Al Jolson in the Broadway musical Sinbad and published in 1918.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Lewis (musician)</span> American musician (born 1945)

Gary Lewis is an American musician who was the leader of Gary Lewis & the Playboys.

<i>The Tunnel of Love</i> 1958 film by Gene Kelly

The Tunnel of Love is a 1958 American romantic comedy film directed by Gene Kelly and starring Doris Day and Richard Widmark. The film follows a married suburban couple who want a child but are unable to conceive. After adopting a child, they find the baby looks suspiciously like the adoptive father (Widmark). It is based on the 1957 hit Broadway play by Peter De Vries and Joseph Fields, which in turn was based on De Vries' 1954 novel. The Tunnel of Love is the first film directed by Kelly in which he did not also appear. Day received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for her performance.

<i>Palm Springs Weekend</i> 1963 film directed by Norman Taurog

Palm Springs Weekend is a 1963 Warner Bros. bedroom comedy film directed by Norman Taurog. It has elements of the beach party genre and has been called "a sort of Westernized version of Where the Boys Are" by Billboard magazine. It stars Troy Donahue, Stefanie Powers, Robert Conrad, Ty Hardin, and Connie Stevens.

<i>Full of Life</i> 1956 film by Richard Quine

Full of Life is a 1956 American comedy-drama film directed by Richard Quine and starring Judy Holliday and Richard Conte. It was nominated for an award by the Writers Guild of America in 1957.

<i>Those Redheads from Seattle</i> 1953 film by Lewis R. Foster

Those Redheads from Seattle is a 1953 American musical western film produced in 3-D directed by Lewis R. Foster and starring Rhonda Fleming, Gene Barry and Agnes Moorehead, and released by Paramount Pictures. It was the first 3-D musical.

<i>Hard to Get</i> (1938 film) 1938 film by Ray Enright

Hard to Get is a 1938 American romantic comedy film starring Dick Powell and Olivia de Havilland. Written by Jerry Wald, Maurice Leo, and Richard Macaulay, and directed by Ray Enright, the film is about a spoiled young heiress who tries to charge some gasoline at an auto court and is forced by the attendant to work out her bill by making beds and cleaning rooms. Resolving to get even, she pretends to have forgiven him, and then sends him to her father to get financing for his plan to develop a string of auto courts across the country, knowing he will only be wasting his time. Hard to Get was released by Warner Bros. Pictures in the United States on November 5, 1938.

Father Is a Prince is a 1940 comedy film directed by Noel M. Smith, starring Grant Mitchell and Nana Bryant. Father is a Prince is a remake of the 1934 comedy-drama Big Hearted Herbert, itself based on a play by Sophie Kerr.

<i>The Green-Eyed Blonde</i> 1957 film

The Green-Eyed Blonde is a 1957 American drama film directed by Bernard Girard and written by Dalton Trumbo, a blacklisted Hollywood screenwriter; the script was credited to his front, Sally Stubblefield. The film stars Susan Oliver, Melinda Plowman, Beverly Long, Norma Jean Nilsson, Tommie Moore and Carla Merey. The film was released by Warner Bros. on December 14, 1957.

<i>Bachelor Daddy</i> 1941 film by Harold Young

Bachelor Daddy is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Harold Young and written by Robert Lees and Frederic I. Rinaldo. The film stars Baby Sandy, Edward Everett Horton, Donald Woods, Raymond Walburn, Evelyn Ankers, Kathryn Adams Doty, Franklin Pangborn and Jed Prouty. The film was released on June 4, 1941, by Universal Pictures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marian Collier (actress)</span> American film and television actress (1931–2021)

Marian Chulay was an American film and television actress. She was known for playing Marilyn Scott in the American drama television series Mr. Novak.

References

  1. ↑ "New York Sound Track". Variety . September 3, 1958. p. 30. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  2. ↑ Cohn, Lawrence (October 15, 1990). "All-Time Film Rental Champs". Variety . p. M182.
  3. ↑ "Top Grossers of 1958". Variety. January 7, 1959. p. 48. Please note figures are for US and Canada only and are domestic rentals accruing to distributors as opposed to theatre gross
  4. ↑ Box office information for film in France at Box Office Story
  5. ↑ TCM Full synopsis
  6. ↑ Brennan, Sandra Plot synopsis (Allmovie)
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 TCM Notes
  8. ↑ Allmovie Cast
  9. ↑ IMDB Business data [ unreliable source? ]
  10. ↑ TCM Overview
  11. ↑ IMDB Soundtracks [ unreliable source? ]
  12. ↑ TCM Music
  13. ↑ This is not the song "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" by Jean Schwartz (music) and Sam M. Lewis and Joe Young (lyrics), dating from 1918, with which Jerry Lewis had a Top Ten hit in the 1950s. Nor is it (given the context of the film) the nursery rhyme of the same title.
  14. ↑ TCM Full credits
  15. ↑ "Rock-a-Bye Baby". Rotten Tomatoes .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.