The Cool Ones

Director: Gene Nelson Gene Nelson

Overview

This musical comedy pokes fun at the music industry as it tells of the romantic travails of two popular singers thrust together by an ingenious promoter/matchmaker as a publicity stunt. The young male needs to revive his flagging career while the female singer is trying to get her big break; so both of them reluctantly go along with their manager's harebrained scheme. You can guess what happens next. Songs include: "The Cool Ones," "A Bad Woman's Love," "Whiz Bam Opener," "This Town," "High," "Up Your Totem Pole with Love," "Tantrum," and "Where Did I Go Wrong?"

Product Details

Release Date:	08/07/2012
UPC:	0883316615904
Original Release:	1967
Source:	Warner Archives
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[monaural]
Language:	English
Time:	1:35:00
Sales rank:	45,607

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Debbie Watson	Hallie Rogers
Gil Peterson	Cliff Donner
Roddy McDowall	Tony Krum
Nita Talbot	Dee Dee
Phil Harris	MacElwaine
Robert Coote	Stan
George Furth	Howie
Mrs. Elvira Miller	Mrs. Miller
Jim Begg	Charles Forbes
James Millhollin	Manager
Phil Arnold	Uncle Steve
Melanie Alexander	Sandy
Glen Campbell	Patrick
Ernie Freeman	Composer

Technical Credits

Gene Nelson

Robert Kaufman

Gene Nelson	Director,Screenwriter
Robert Kaufman	Screenwriter
William Conrad	Producer

Editorial Reviews

Some bad movies are more entertaining than their much better cousins, and The Cool Ones falls squarely into that category. Make no mistake about it: this is a very, very bad movie. A supposed satire, the barbs it lobs at its targets are inane and often pointless -- which pretty well summarizes both the plot and dialogue as well. (In what other movie would the appellation "rainbow trout" be considered a compliment?) The performances are simply atrocious, with Roddy McDowall clearly (and rightfully) embarrassed. Debbie Watson and Gil Peterson don't seem to be aware of how ridiculous their roles are, lending their performances some amateurish innocence; it doesn't make their acting any better, but it adds to the fun. The musical numbers, of course, are unforgettable, including "High," set aboard a tram climbing a mountain, and the entirely too groovy dance fad "The Tantrum." Peterson's "Secret Love" and Glen Campbell's "Just One of Those Things" are also memorably bad, but nothing compares to Mrs. Miller's frightening and hilarious "It's Magic." As far as the choreography goes, it's energetic, very period, and totally pointless. Gene Nelson's direction is entirely off the mark, which turns out to be a blessing; if he had left the performers to their own devices and just let the camera roll, the end result would have been just as bad, but considerably duller. Unlike other bad musicals (such as Xanadu), The Cool Ones' lack of quality makes it a great deal of fun -- at least for a while.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler