Review of The Gene Krupa Story

Don Weis directs this movie about probably the best jazz drummer of all-time, Gene Krupa(Sal Mineo). I have to say I think this is one of Mineo's best roles. Krupa grew up poor and constantly had troubles with his father wanting him to become a priest. Gene was already making a couple of bucks playing drums and it was deep inside him; all Krupa wanted out of life, at first, was to be a musician. Gene and his best friend Eddie Sirota(James Darren)head to NYC to make it big. Krupa gets his big brake with the Bennie Goodman orchestra and after much success, the charismatic drummer fronts his own band. Gene, at the top of his career, would be arrested for having marijuana cigarettes. After serving jail time it was rough getting any work at all because most people was considering him a drug addict. A second chance on music and life comes as band leader Tommy Dorsey(Bobby Troup)features Krupa as a special guest with his band. This film depicts a lot of what material I've read about the jazz great. Also in the cast: Susan Kohner, Yvonne Craig, Lawrence Dobkin, Susan Oliver and Celia Lovsky. Making cameo appearances as themselves are Anita O'Day, Shelly Manne, Red Nichols and Buddy Lester. Trickier drum solos were dubbed in by Gene himself.