''Hey, Let's Twist!'' is a 1961 American
musical film
Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serve merely as breaks ...
directed by
Greg Garrison
Marvin Ginsburg (February 20, 1924 – March 25, 2005), known professionally as Greg Garrison, was an American Television producer, producer and Television director, director in television.
Career
Garrison started his television career by accide ...
and written by
Hal Hackady
Harold Clayton MacHackady (February 10, 1922 – October 12, 2015), best known as Hal Hackady, and sometimes credited as Hal Hackaday, was an American lyricist, librettist and screenwriter.
Life
He was born in Middletown, Connecticut in 192 ...
. The film stars
Joey Dee
Joey Dee and the Starliters (also credited as Joey Dee and the Starlighters) is an American popular music group. The group is best known for their million-selling recording "Peppermint Twist" (1961).
The group's most notable lineup is considere ...
,
Jo Ann Campbell
Jo Ann Campbell (born July 20, 1938 in Jacksonville, Florida) is an American singer who was one of the pioneers of rockabilly.
Campbell began attending music school at the age of four, and won many honors as a drum majorette at Fletcher High S ...
,
Teddy Randazzo
Alessandro Carmelo "Teddy" Randazzo (May 13, 1935 – November 21, 2003) was an American pop songwriter, singer, arranger and producer, who composed hit songs such as "Goin' Out of My Head", "It's Gonna Take a Miracle", "Pretty Blue Eyes", ...
,
Kay Armen
Armenuhi Manoogian ( hy, Արմենուհի Մանուկեան); November 2, 1915 – October 3, 2011), better known by her stage name Kay Armen, was an American Armenian singer popular during the 1940s and 1950s. Her career in show business spann ...
,
Zohra Lampert
Zohra Lampert is an American actress, who has had roles on stage, film and television. She performed under her then-married name of Zohra Alton early in her career.
Among her performances were as the title character in the 1971 cult horror film ...
and
Dino Di Luca
Dino Di Luca (5 May 1903 - 11 May 1991), also billed as Dino Diluca, was a leading Italian actor of both stage, screen and television. He was active in both Italy and the United States of America from the 1930s through the 1960s.
Biography
Dino D ...
. The film was released on December 31, 1961, by
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...
.
The same team later made ''
Two Tickets to Paris
''Two Tickets to Paris'' is a 1962 film directed by Greg Garrison and starring Joey Dee and the Starliters.
Plot
An engaged couple, Joey and Piper, travel to Paris where Joey has a gig performing.
Cast
*Joey Dee as Joey Dee
*Gary Crosby (actor), ...
'' (1962).
Plot
The rise, fall, and resurgence of the Peppermint Lounge club is chronicled. The children of the owner almost ruin the club by updating the place but realize their error.
Cast
*
Joey Dee
Joey Dee and the Starliters (also credited as Joey Dee and the Starlighters) is an American popular music group. The group is best known for their million-selling recording "Peppermint Twist" (1961).
The group's most notable lineup is considere ...
as Himself
*
Jo Ann Campbell
Jo Ann Campbell (born July 20, 1938 in Jacksonville, Florida) is an American singer who was one of the pioneers of rockabilly.
Campbell began attending music school at the age of four, and won many honors as a drum majorette at Fletcher High S ...
as Piper
*
Teddy Randazzo
Alessandro Carmelo "Teddy" Randazzo (May 13, 1935 – November 21, 2003) was an American pop songwriter, singer, arranger and producer, who composed hit songs such as "Goin' Out of My Head", "It's Gonna Take a Miracle", "Pretty Blue Eyes", ...
as Rickey Dee
*
Kay Armen
Armenuhi Manoogian ( hy, Արմենուհի Մանուկեան); November 2, 1915 – October 3, 2011), better known by her stage name Kay Armen, was an American Armenian singer popular during the 1940s and 1950s. Her career in show business spann ...
as Angie
*
Zohra Lampert
Zohra Lampert is an American actress, who has had roles on stage, film and television. She performed under her then-married name of Zohra Alton early in her career.
Among her performances were as the title character in the 1971 cult horror film ...
as Sharon
*
Dino Di Luca
Dino Di Luca (5 May 1903 - 11 May 1991), also billed as Dino Diluca, was a leading Italian actor of both stage, screen and television. He was active in both Italy and the United States of America from the 1930s through the 1960s.
Biography
Dino D ...
as Papa
*
Hope Hampton
Hope Hampton (Mae Elizabeth Hampton; February 19, 1897 – January 23, 1982) was an American silent motion picture actress and producer, who was noted for her seemingly effortless incarnation of siren and flapper types in silent-picture roles d ...
as herself
* Richard Dickens as Rore
* The Peppermint Loungers as Themselves
*
Joe Pesci
Joseph Frank Pesci ( , ; born February 9, 1943) is an American actor and musician. He is known for portraying tough, volatile characters in a variety of genres and for his collaborations with Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese in the films ''Ra ...
as Extra (uncredited) (His movie debut)
Production
The film shot for two weeks at Pathe Studios in New York. Filming started November 1961. It was made independently and distributed through Paramount. There were a number of "twist" movies shot around the same time, others including ''
Don't Knock the Twist
''Don't Knock the Twist'' is a 1962 comedy musical film starring Lang Jeffries, directed by Oscar Rudolph and produced by Sam Katzman for release by Columbia Pictures. It is a sequel to the 1961 film ''Twist Around the Clock'', featuring m ...
''.
Reception
The film performed well at the box office. A sequel to be set in Paris was announced, ''Viva La Twist''.
"PRODUCERS RUSH NOVIES ON TWIST"
(1962, Jan 06). ''New York Times'' This eventually became ''Two Tickets to Paris
''Two Tickets to Paris'' is a 1962 film directed by Greg Garrison and starring Joey Dee and the Starliters.
Plot
An engaged couple, Joey and Piper, travel to Paris where Joey has a gig performing.
Cast
*Joey Dee as Joey Dee
*Gary Crosby (actor), ...
''.
References
External links
*
* Soundtrack by Joey Dee And The Starliters (Label:Roulette – R 25168 )
* https://www.discogs.com/Joey-Dee-The-Starliters-Hey-Lets-Twist-Original-Soundtrack-Recording/release/2975349
1961 films
1961 directorial debut films
1961 musical films
American black-and-white films
American musical films
1960s English-language films
Paramount Pictures films
1960s American films
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