Rock-a-Bye Baby (1958) - Star of the month... Connie Stevens

'Rock-a-Bye Baby' is a 1958 farce comedy directed and written by Frank Tashlin and starring Jerry Lewis, Marilyn Maxwell, Reginald Gardner, Salvatore Baccaloni, Hans Conried, Isobel Elsom, James Gleason & introducing Connie Stevens. Jerry Lewis also produced the film. The film features costume design by the great Edith Head, and songs by Harry Warren & Sammy Cahn.

When famous movie star Carla Naples (played by Marilyn Maxwell) discovers she is pregnant with triplets, her agent Harold Herman (played by Reginald Gardiner) sends her back to her hometown to avoid scandal. After her return, Carla is reunited with former sweetheart Clayton Poole (played by Jerry Lewis), who agrees to adopt the children once they are born. Matters are complicated once Clayton later discovers he must be married in order to adopt the children. Fortunately Carla's younger sister Sandy Naples (played by Connie Stevens) just happens to be in love with Clayton.

Jerry Lewis with Connie Stevens

Musical program

• "Rock-a-Bye Baby" - Jerry Lewis
• "The Land of La-La-La" - Jerry Lewis with Gary Lewis & Judy Franklin
• "Love is a Lonely Thing" - Jerry Lewis
• "Dormi-Dormi-Dormi (Sleep, Sleep, Sleep)" - Jerry Lewis & Salvatore Baccaloni
• "Why Can't He Care For Me?" - Connie Stevens
• "The White Virgin of the Nile" - Marilyn Maxwell

Musical highlights

Song: "Dormi, Dormi, Dormi (Sleep, Sleep, Sleep)" - Jerry Lewis & Salvatore Baccaloni

Song: "The White Virgin of the Nile" - Marilyn Maxwell

Did you know...

• George Sanders filmed some scenes for the film, which were later deleted
• Jerry Lewis cast Connie Stevens in this film after seeing her performance in the b-film 'Dragstrip Riot' (1958)
• The film was re-released in 1963 as a Jerry Lewis double feature with 'Don't Give Up the Ship' (1959)
• This film is a loose remake of "The Miracle of Morgan's Creek" (1944)

Marriage and legitimacy of children

A key theme to the film is the ideology of marriage and the legitimacy of children. Although Carla was married to her bullfighter husband (albeit a day before his death), she was still married to the father of her children. As it is not common knowledge that Carla had gotten married, Carla and her agent are both concerned about the general public's perception that her children are illegitimate, and how this may impact her career and box office success. This is strongly linked to the strict moral values of the 1950s, and the belief that one should be married before having children. Had the public known about Carla's wedding, it is likely the birth of triplets would have been very positive publicity for her. Fortunately for us, this is not the case, or we would not have a film to watch... :)   The unmarried issue also impacts Clayton, who is required to get married in order to adopt Carla's triplets. Sandy even tells clayton: "You're not married! They're not going to let a bachelor raise three little girls!"

Carla's maternal values are revealed towards the end of the film where she stands up to her agent, and tells him: "Being a mother is the only career that I want, or ever really wanted. I was a fool to leave my children." In order to redeem her actions, she alleges she and Clayton were secretly married. While this protects her reputation and the legitimacy of her children, it labels Clayton as a bigamist, where he faces jail.

Closing remarks

Very funny Jerry Lewis comedy will leave you laughing from the moment it starts until it ends. I like the way the film takes serious issues of the time - legitimacy of children and bigamy - and incorporates them into an amusing and entertaining farce.

In my opinion, this is one of Jerry Lewis' funnier movies without Dean Martin. The supporting cast does a great job in complimenting Jerry Lewis in the film. Of particular note is the beautiful Connie Stevens, who is both ditsy and funny in her first important film role. We are fortunate to hear Connie Stevens sing a song in the song "Why Can't He Care For Me?".  This is the film which launched Connie Stevens to stardom. She signed a contract with Warner Bros. shortly after the release of this film, and also secured her most famous role as Cricket Blake on the TV show "Hawaiian Eye".

Three reasons to watch this film...

• Jerry Lewis delivering a very funny performance
• Connie Stevens' first important film role
• Some of the cutest babies you'll ever see in a film

Suddenly (1954) - Star of the month... Frank Sinatra

John Baron (played by Sinatra) berates one of his hostages

'Suddenly' is a 1954 dramatic film noir thriller directed by Lewis Allen and starring Frank Sinatra, Sterling Hayden, James Gleason and Nancy Gates. The film's screenplay was written by Richard Sale.

The film is set in the tranquil town of Suddenly. When the American President is scheduled to make a visit to the town while passing through on a train, three gangsters, led by John Baron (Sinatra) hold a family hostage in their home as part of an assassination attempt on the president.

Ironically at the start of a film, a police officer says: "Things happen so slow now, the town councillor is thinking of changing the name to Gradually". Little do they know what is about to happen in this small town.

Use of guns

Sterling Hayden as Todd

A key theme in the film is the use of guns. At the start of the film, Ellen (played the Gates) does not like guns as her husband was recently shot in the war. When Todd (played by Hayden) buys Ellen's son a cap gun, Ellen is not happy. Todd tells Ellen, "The boys gotta learn sometime that guns aren't necessarily bad... It depends on who uses them." It is ironic later in the film Ellen must make consider this statement when making a choice as to whether or not to pick up a gun in order to save her family.

Home invasion

Another key theme in the film is home invasion. The home is the one place where we expect to feel and be safe.  Being held captive removes the barrier between personal and public space, and bring the dangerous realities of the outside world inside our front door. The claustrophobia you would feel when being held hostage in your home I imagine would be one of the most terrifying ordeals a person could experience.

Did you know...

• This film was shot in 4 weeks
• Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly watched this film a few days before assassinating President Kennedy - one could consider if this film was a catalyst for the assassination, or whether the event may not have taken place had Oswald not seen this film
• When 'Suddenly' was colorised for home video in 1986 by Hal Roach Studio, they coloured Frank Sinatra's famous blue eyes brown, causing much controversy. A second colourised version from 2009 by Legend Films, restores his eyes to it's natural blue color.
• The film's copyright was not renewed and the film is now in the public domain - hence the myriad of budget home video releases and availability online

The Hoodlum Saint (1947) - Star of the month... Angela Lansbury

'The Hoodlum Saint' is a 1946 romantic drama directed by Norman Taurog and starring William Powell, Esther Williams and Angela Lansbury with Rags Ragland, Lewis Stone, Frank McHugh, James Gleason and Slim Summerville.

Set in Baltimore in 1919, immediately after World War I. Major Terry O'Neill (played by Powell) returns home from the war, and finds the job he left as a newspaper editor is no longer waiting for him. Jobless and broke, Terry decides to crash a society wedding in order to try and make some connections and secure himself a job. At the wedding he meets and finds himself randomly kissing Kay Lorrison (played by Williams). After taking a job in New York, Terry finds himself torn between Kay and nightclub singer Dusty Millard (played by Lansbury).

Did you know...

• Although Angela Lansbury could sing, her singing in the film was dubbed by Doreen Tryden

Musical program

Angela Lansbury (dubbed by Doreen Tryden) performs 2 songs in the film:

• "If I Had You"
• "How Am I To Know?" 

Closing remarks

A below average romance from the 1940s has a few funny moments, but overall is nothing special. It is disappointing to see Angela Lansbury's singing dubbed once again - despite the fact Lansbury could sing quite well.  The other disappointment is the absence of Esther Williams' trademark swimming pool.