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 dates
  • November 1959 (1959-11)
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 womanizing Blackie Scantling.

Cast

Original novel

Hound Dog Man
Author Fred Gipson
Country USA
Language English
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

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"
Single by Fabian Forte
Released 16 November 1959
Recorded 1959
Genre Rock and roll
Length 2:10
Label Chancellor Records
Writer(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
Released 23 November 1959
Recorded 1959
Genre Rock and roll
Length 2:00
Label Chancellor Records
Writer(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" 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

  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 (1923-1954) [Washington, D.C] 30 Jan 1949: B7.
  3. ↑ Looking at Hollywood: Ida Lupino Writes Film Story About Embittered GI Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) [Chicago, Ill] 30 Jan 1952: a2.
  4. ↑ 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.
  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 (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 15 June 1959: C14.
  8. 1 2 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 SCHUMACHSpecial to The New York Times.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 28 July 1959: 24.
  12. ↑ Fabian Forte Discography at Fabianforte.net
  13. ↑ "1959: Probable Domestic Take", Variety, 6 January 1960 p 34
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