Swingin' Along

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Swingin' Along
Swingin' Along.jpg
Directed by Charles Barton
Screenplay byJameson Brewer
Produced by Jack Leewood
Starring Tommy Noonan
Peter Marshall
Barbara Eden
Carol Christensen
Cinematography Arthur E. Arling
Edited by Betty Steinberg
Music byArthur Morton
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date
  • January 1961 (1961-01)
Running time
74 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$800,000 [1]

Swingin' Along is a 1961 American comedy film directed by Charles Barton. The film, which was released by 20th Century Fox, marked the final appearance of the comedy team of Tommy Noonan and Peter Marshall. The film focuses on Noonan as a courier who dreams of becoming a songwriter and Marshall as a con artist who wants to enter Noonan's original composition in a music competition. The film co-stars Barbara Eden and features musical performances by Ray Charles, Bobby Vee and Roger Williams. [2] [3]

Contents

According to Peter Marshall, the film was originally planned under the title Double Trouble and the screenplay was originally written for Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. [4] It was later re-released with the Double Trouble title.

Plot

Freddy Merkle never finishes anything. He has a half-done painting, half a sculpture and a sonata he's been composing for quite a while. His aunt, Sophie, encourages him to finish something he starts, so he can marry his girlfriend. However Freddy, a delivery boy, can't find the inspiration.

Inside a pool room, Freddy runs into Duke, a fast-talking operator. When Freddie mentions a songwriting contest with a $2,500 first prize Duke becomes his "manager." At the coaxing of Duke and Ginny, the song is finally finished, but the sheet music blows away in the wind.

Freddy, forlorn as usual, decides to kill himself, but he can't even get that right. He's at the end of his rope when a kindly priest discovers the song, submits it to the contest and, sure enough, it becomes the winner.

Cast

Production

The film was developed by Robert Lippert. Then Buddy Adler took it off Lippert's slate and made it a main Fox production. It was filmed for $800,000. [1]

Reception

Release of the film was delayed. [5] The film was re edited by Robert Lippert. [6] This included adding some musical numbers. [1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Straight comedy into musical". Variety. 8 May 1961. p. 3.
  2. ↑ "Swingin' Along". TV Guide Online. Retrieved 2009-07-12.
  3. ↑ "Swingin'Along (1962) Full Synopsis". Turner Classic Movies Database. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved 2009-07-12.
  4. ↑ Marshall, Peter, Backstage with the Original Hollywood Square. University of California Press 2002. ISBN   1-55853-980-8, p. 7
  5. ↑ "Happier tone of 20th's sales staff". Variety. 11 October 1961. p. 3.
  6. ↑ "Inside stuff pictures". Variety. 12 July 1961. p. 20.
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