Hal Hackady Movies
- 1962
Two love-struck American teens embark upon a transatlantic cruise so that they might married and end up having a variety of tuneful misadventures in this romantic musical comedy that features "Twist" sensations Joey Dee and the Starlighters. The lover's travails begin when each is tempted by the fruit of others. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joey Dee, Gary Crosby, (more)
- 1961
Set within New York's Peppermint Lounge, and starring the once popular Joey Dee and the Starliters, this lively musical seeks to cash in on their hit "The Peppermint Twist. " The story centers on two brothers who originally opened the sweet hangout to give teens a place to bop and boogie. It used to be open to anyone, but after it became popular, they decide to only allow rich kids in. The kids don't like this and so begin boycotting the joint until the brothers decide to allow everybody in. Look closely for a young Joe Pesci playing guitar with the Starliters; it is his feature film debut. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joey Dee, Teddy Randazzo, (more)
- 1958
Senior Prom is another of those musical salads of the 1950s, heavy on the guest stars but very light on plot. The story concerns the romance between pretty high-schooler Gay Sherridan (Jill Corey) and wealthy BMOC Carter Breed III (portrayed by future "Billy Jack" star-auteur Tom Laughlin). Actually, the right boy for Gay is poor-but-likeable Tom Harper (Paul Hampton), so guess who winds up taking Gay to the senior prom? Well, nobody really cares, not with such topnotch musical talents on hand as Louis Prima & Keely Smith, Sam Butera & The Witnesses, Connee Boswell, Bob Crosby, Toni Arden, Jose Melis, Freddy Martin & His Orchestra, Les Elgart, and even Mitch Miller. And, oh yes, Ed Sullivan shows up too. Senior Prom was produced by Harry Romm and directed by David Lowell Rich, the same team responsible for the Three Stooges' comeback feature Have Rocket Will Travel; in fact, this musical's associate producer was Moe Howard! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jill Corey, Paul Hampton, (more)
- 1958
Singer Julius LaRosa, whose greatest fame lies in the fact that he was fired on the air by radio-TV personality Arthur Godfrey, heads the cast of the near-plotless musicfest Let's Rock. LaRosa plays a top recording star who suffers a dip in popularity when rock-n-roll becomes the national craze. With the help of girlfriend Phyllis Newman, LaRosa is able to recapture his audience by adjusting to the "new sound." Forget the plot: this the film in which Danny and the Juniors perform their hit single "At the Hop" and the Royal Teens participate in a production-number version of their smash "Short Shorts". And besides, who couldn't love a film which offers not only Paul Anka and Della Reese, but also the legendary Wink Martindale!!! Let's Rock was later reissued as Keep It Cool. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Julius LaRosa, Phyllis Newman, (more)
