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Compositions: Films

Daddy-O
Daddy-O

The Film | The Music
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Compositions: Films

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The Film

Alternate Title: Out on Probation
Release date: December 18, 1958
Studio: Imperial Productions/American International Pictures
Running time: 71 minutes
Director: Lou Place
Cast: Dick Contino, Sandra Giles, Bruno VeSoto, Gloria Victor, Ron McNeil, Jack McClure, Sonia Torgeson, Kelly Gordon, Joseph Donte, Ruth Scott, Williams Riggs, Bob Banas, Hank Mann, Gabe DeLutre, Pierrette Hailey, Cheston Tarver, Joesph Martin
Technical information: mono, black and white



Truck driver Phil Sandifer (Contino), nicknamed "Daddy-O," is nearly run off the road by buxom blonde Jana (Giles), who he later encounters at a local bar. After singing a song with the house band, Phil is challenged by Jana to a race through a nearby park. Meanwhile, Phil's friend Sonny is forced off the road and dies in a car crash. Phil is arrested for reckless driving and accused of killing Sonny, but he proves he is innocent and merely has his license revoked. Phil suspects Jana, but after she proves to him she couldn't have done it, they team up to find Sonny's killer. Before long, they're involved with drug smugglers.

Ineptly written, acted, photographed and edited, Daddy-O clearly has no aspirations beyond grade-Z drive-in fodder. It is often howlingly bad, and for this reason is of entertainment value for its many unintentional laughs. (In fact, Daddy-O was the featured film on an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000.)

Daddy-O

The Film | The Music
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The Music

Music by: Johnny Williams

To say the music is the best thing in this film is to overstate the obvious. Although it wouldn't attract much attention save for the fact that it's John Williams' first feature film credit, the music is quite serviceable and just about the only competent contribution to this otherwise quickly forgettable effort.

The musical idiom Williams adopts for the dramatic score is what is often referred to as "crime jazz"; similar music is heard in numerous TV detective series of the period, including Checkmate, a series Williams scored shortly after working on this film. In addition to the background music cues (listed below), there are also numerous source cues (emanating from jukeboxes or "performed" by an on-screen rock and roll combo) including three very bad rock and roll songs ("Rock Candy Baby", "Angel Eye" and "Honeycomb") sung by the title character. Williams' contribution to these rock and roll elements is unclear, although it's quickly evident why no one would be willing to take credit for them.

Daddy-O

The Film | The Music
Audio | Video
References | Links
Audio

No recording of any music from Daddy-O has ever been released.


Columbia Tristar 91633
Video

Daddy-O was released on VHS by Columbia TriStar Home Video in 1992 (Columbia Tristar 91633); the video transfer is surprisingly good. It is not available in any other format.  The film has also been the subject of an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 (which includes a reference to John Williams when his name appears in the credits).

Daddy-O

The Film | The Music
Audio | Video
References | Links
References


Daddy-O

The Film | The Music
Audio | Video
References | Links
Links

Internet Movie Database entry for Daddy-O

Cinebooks Database entry for Daddy-O

All Movie Guide entry for Daddy-O


Page last modified
June 05, 2006
 
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