Hound-Dog Man
| Hound-Dog Man | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Don Siegel |
| Produced by | Jerry Wald |
| Starring | Fabian Stuart Whitman Carol Lynley |
| Music by | Cyril J. Mockridge |
Production company | A Company of Artists |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release date |
|
Running time | 87 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,045,000[1] |
Hound-Dog Man is a 1959 film directed by Don Siegel, based on the 1947 novel by Fred Gipson.
Plot
In 1912 Clint McKinney and his younger brother Spud talk their father Aaron into letting them go on a hunting trip with their older friend, the womanising Blackie Scantling.
Cast
- Fabian as Clint
- Stuart Whitman as Blackie Scantling
- Carol Lynley as Dony Wallace
- Arthur O'Connell as Aaron McKinney
- Dodie Stevens as Nita Stringer
- Betty Field as Cora McKinney
- Royal Dano as Fiddling Tom Waller
- Margo Moore as Susie Bell Payson
- Claude Akins as Hog Peyson
- Edgar Buchanan as Doc Cole
- Jane Darwell as Grandma Wilson
- L.Q. Jones as Dave Wilson
- Virginia Gregg as Amy Waller
- Dennis Holmes as Spud McKinney
- Rachel Stephens as Rachel Wilson
Original novel
| Author | Fred Gipson |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
Publication date | 1949 |
| Publication place | USA |
The original book was published in 1949, several years before Gipson's better known Old Yeller.[2] At one stage Ida Lupino expressed interest in obtaining the film rights, as a possible vehicle for Robert Mitchum[3][4]
Production
20th Century Fox bought the film rights in March 1958 following the success of the film of Old Yeller.[5] It was assigned to prolific producer Jerry Wald. Ricky Nelson, Lyndsay Crosby and David Ladd were mentioned early on as possible stars, along with Stuart Whitman, who did wind up playing the title role.[6] Tuesday Weld was at one stage mentioned as a possible female lead.[7]
The movie eventually became a starring vehicle for Fabian, who had released a series of hit singles. 20th Century Fox had enjoyed success launching pop stars Elvis Presley and Pat Boone into film careers and thought they could do the same with Fabian.[8] He was paid $35,000 for ten weeks work.[9]
Wald tried to get Jayne Mansfield to play the part of a blousy barmaid but was unsuccessful.[10] Dodie Stevens was cast because Wald's teenage sons liked her song "Pink Shoe Laces".[11]
Filming took place in August-September 1959.
Songs
| "Hound-Dog Man" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
| "Hound-Dog Man" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
The movie featured the following songs:
- "Hound Dog Man" performed by Fabian
- "This Friendly World" performed by Fabian
- "Single" performed by Fabian
- "I'm Growin' Up" performed by Fabian
- "Pretty Little Girl" performed by Fabian
- "What a Big Boy" performed by Dodie Stevens
"Hound Dog Man" was a hit single, reaching number 9 on the US charts. "This Friendly World" reached number 12.[12]
Reception
The film was not a commercial success, failing to make the Variety list of films that earned $1 million or more in rentals for 1959.[13] Fox executives later put this down to public rejection of Fabian, in particular the fact that his fans were very young and not ticket-buying teenagers.[8] However Fox later found Fabian could be effective in supporting roles of major stars for the studios, such as John Wayne in North to Alaska and Bing Crosby in High Time.
References
- ^ Aubrey Solomon, Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History, Scarecrow Press, 1989 p253
- ^ Coon-huntin' Pictured for Caveman Cult: HOUND-DOG MAN. By Fred Gipson. Harper. 247 pp. $2.50. S.N.. The Washington Post (1923-1954) [Washington, D.C] 30 Jan 1949: B7.
- ^ Looking at Hollywood: Ida Lupino Writes Film Story About Embittered GI Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) [Chicago, Ill] 30 Jan 1952: a2.
- ^ Looking at Hollywood: Jean Simmons Keeps Faith as Trouper Despite Law Spat HEDDA HOPPER'S STAFF. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) [Chicago, Ill] 09 July 1952: a2.
- ^ PASSING PICTURE SCENE By A. H. WEILER. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 23 Mar 1958: X5.
- ^ Jerry Wald Will Produce Tom Sawyer Type Film Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) [Chicago, Ill] 17 Feb 1959: b2
- ^ Gina Signed for 'The Image Maker' Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 15 June 1959: C14.
- ^ a b Thomas Doherty, Teenagers And Teenpics: Juvenilization Of American Movies, Temple University Press, 2010 p 175-176
- ^ $250,000-a-Year Fabian Income Startles Judge Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 18 July 1959: 8.
- ^ Looking at Hollywood: Seek Gardner McKay for 'Live Wire' Role Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) [Chicago, Ill] 22 July 1959: a4.
- ^ Jerry Wald Tells How to Make Three Pictures Simultaneously By MURRAY SCHUMACHSpecial to The New York Times.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 28 July 1959: 24.
- ^ Fabian Forte Discography at Fabianforte.net
- ^ "1959: Probable Domestic Take", Variety, 6 January 1960 p 34