Roger Corman directed this unusual quickie, sort of a low-rent rock & roll version of Josef Von Sternberg's THE BLUE ANGEL. David J. Stewart costars as Christie, the lovesick middle-aged manager of a club/carnival who's up to his neck in debt and completely besmitten with his star act,... [More]

Roger Corman directed this unusual quickie, sort of a low-rent rock & roll version of Josef Von Sternberg's THE BLUE ANGEL. David J. Stewart costars as Christie, the lovesick middle-aged manager of a club/carnival who's up to his neck in debt and completely besmitten with his star act, raven-haired singing sensation Nathalie Cook (Susan Cabot). Unfortunately for Christie, Nathalie is in love with the much younger Stanley (Brian Hutton), a sharp-eyed gambler who uses Christie's weaknesses against him and wins the carnival and club in a game of high-card draw. Poor Christie is reduced to playing a clown, and a most depressing clown he is, still pining for Nathalie and eventually resorting to extremely desperate measures to win her back. In between these anguished moments there's plenty of hot rockin' at the club, with performances by the Platters, the Blockbusters, Bob Luman and the Shadows, and David Houston. Cabot sings "Ou-Shoo-Bla-Do" and "There's No Place Without You," adding some crazy dancing with an unbilled guy in thick glasses. Corman regulars Jonathan Haze and Dick Miller are both good as the respective sidekicks of the dueling lovers. [Less]