It has to be "Hit the Deck", one of my favorites. Just a little kiss or two for Debbie & Russ. A blu-ray would be nice.
WOW!
DO I FEEL OLD!!!
When I saw HIT THE DECK in 1955, Debbie was about 23, Russ about 21, and I was 15.
Debbie is now 81, Russ nearly 79, and I'm 73!
(.....but, in 1955, they were big, popular, young movie stars that I only saw on the big screen in the darkness of my hometown movie theatre, and little did I ever suspect that I would work with each of them in later years. Life has unexpected and interesting little twists and turns.)
When I saw HIT THE DECK in 1955, Debbie was about 23, Russ about 21, and I was 15.
Debbie is now 81, Russ nearly 79, and I'm 73!
(.....but, in 1955, they were big, popular, young movie stars that I only saw on the big screen in the darkness of my hometown movie theatre, and little did I ever suspect that I would work with each of them in later years. Life has unexpected and interesting little twists and turns.)
Hit the Deck was one of my first 12" LP musical soundtracks. I played it so much I wore it out. I was only disappointed that it didn't include the Hallelujah! finale. I was thrilled to find it in the first That's Entertainment film and on the CD of that soundtrack. Finally Rhino released the complete score, and in stereo.
This is truly a part of history. "Hallelujah" became the theme music for the new Austrian news show "Zeit im Bild" in fall 1955 (the year the country became "independent" again). The show is still here (and under its original name, although it was only meant to be a temporary solution), the music has - unfortunately - since been changed several times. I don't know for how long they used it, but this youtube clip from 1968 still has it:
I would assume that it was used well into the 1970s. The producers must have been inspired by "Hit The Deck" - and what's more, they must have seen a screening abroad (or heard the record!) since the movie didn't open here until 1956. Unfortunately, it has not been on TV as long as I can think, either. I'm not sure if the folks working there have ever noticed the story behind the theme music...
