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==Reception==
==Reception==
The film had its world premiere in Monroe, Louisiana, on 27 October 1959.<ref>{{cite web|date=29 September 1959|website=Motion Picture daily|url=https://archive.org/details/motionpicturedai86unse/page/n459?q=%22hound+dog+man%22}}</ref>
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.<ref>"1959: Probable Domestic Take", ''Variety'', 6 January 1960 p 34</ref>
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.<ref>"1959: Probable Domestic Take", ''Variety'', 6 January 1960 p 34</ref>



Revision as of 10:28, 2 April 2019

Hound-Dog Man
Directed byDon Siegel
Written byWinston Miller
Fred Gipson
Produced byJerry Wald
StarringFabian
Stuart Whitman
Carol Lynley
Arthur O'Connell
CinematographyCharles G. Clarke
Edited byLouis Loeffler
Music byCyril J. Mockridge
Production
company
A Company of Artists
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release date
  • November 1959 (1959-11)
Running time
87 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1,045,000[1]

Hound-Dog Man is a 1959 film directed by Don Siegel, based on the 1947 novel by Fred Gipson, and starring Fabian, Carol Lynley, and Stuart Whitman.

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 womanizing Blackie Scantling.

Cast

As of August 7, 2018, the three principal players, Fabian, Stuart Whitman, and Carol Lynley are still alive.

Original novel

Hound Dog Man
AuthorFred Gipson
CountryUSA
LanguageEnglish
Publication date
1949

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

Development

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 and director Don Siegel. 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]

Shooting

Filming took place in August–September 1959.

Songs

"Hound Dog Man"
Single by Fabian Forte
Released16 November 1959
Recorded1959
GenreRock and roll
Length2:10
LabelChancellor Records
Songwriter(s)Doc Pomus
Mort Shuman
Producer(s)Peter De Angelis
Fabian Forte singles chronology
""Got the Feeling"" "Hound Dog Man" ""This Friendly World""
"This Friendly World"
Single by Fabian Forte
Released23 November 1959
Recorded1959
GenreRock and roll
Length2:00
LabelChancellor Records
Songwriter(s)Ken Darby
Producer(s)Peter De Angelis
Fabian Forte singles chronology
""Hound Dog Man"" "This Friendly World" ""String Along""

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 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 had its world premiere in Monroe, Louisiana, on 27 October 1959.[13] 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.[14]

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.

Fabian later reflected in 1971 "it was a good story with a great cast... but "Hound Dog Man"?"[15]

References

  1. ^ Aubrey Solomon, Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History, Scarecrow Press, 1989 p253
  2. ^ Coon-huntin' Pictured for Caveman Cult: HOUND-DOG MAN. By Fred Gipson. Harper. 247 pp. $2.50. S.N.. The Washington Post 30 Jan 1949: B7.
  3. ^ Looking at Hollywood: Ida Lupino Writes Film Story About Embittered GI Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 30 Jan 1952: a2.
  4. ^ Looking at Hollywood: Jean Simmons Keeps Faith as Trouper Despite Law Spat HEDDA HOPPER'S STAFF. Chicago Daily Tribune 9 July 1952: a2.
  5. ^ PASSING PICTURE SCENE By A. H. WEILER. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 23 Mar 1958: X5.
  6. ^ Jerry Wald Will Produce Tom Sawyer Type Film Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) [Chicago, Ill] 17 Feb 1959: b2
  7. ^ Gina Signed for 'The Image Maker' Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times 15 June 1959: C14.
  8. ^ a b Thomas Doherty, Teenagers And Teenpics: Juvenilization Of American Movies, Temple University Press, 2010 p 175-176
  9. ^ $250,000-a-Year Fabian Income Startles Judge Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 18 July 1959: 8.
  10. ^ Looking at Hollywood: Seek Gardner McKay for 'Live Wire' Role Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) [Chicago, Ill] 22 July 1959: a4.
  11. ^ Jerry Wald Tells How to Make Three Pictures Simultaneously By MURRAY SCHUMACH Special to The New York Times 28 July 1959: 24.
  12. ^ Fabian Forte Discography at Fabianforte.net
  13. ^ Motion Picture daily. 29 September 1959 https://archive.org/details/motionpicturedai86unse/page/n459?q=%22hound+dog+man%22. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ^ "1959: Probable Domestic Take", Variety, 6 January 1960 p 34
  15. ^ "Hollywood Hold That Tiger". Cash Box. 18 December 1971. p. 14.

External links