ROCKABILLY BABY

Virginia Field and Gary Vinson

ROCKABILLY BABY (1957). Director: William F. Claxton. 

Eleanor Carter (Virginia Field) arrives in the small town of Springdale with her two teenagers in tow: Cathy (Judy Busch) and Jimmy (Gary Vinson). It isn't long before the two youths are making friends in high school, including Linda (Marlene Willis), flirtatious Jackie (Sandy Wirth), and her boyfriend, Chuck (Charles Willcox), who lets Jimmy take his spot on the water polo team. Meanwhile Eleanor has managed to charm the new principal, Tom Griffth (Douglas Kennedy) and the wealthy town matriarch, Mrs. Wellington (Ellen Corby), who turns out not to be so dour after she has a martini or two with Eleanor. But the nasty Eunice Johnson (Irene Ryan, who played Granny on The Beverly Hillbillies) discovers that Eleanor has a secret -- she used to be known as stripper "Dixie West" -- what will the town say to that? 

Ellen Corby and Irene Ryan

Rockabilly Baby is an amiable picture with effective players and some pleasant if unmemorable tunes. An obese cellist scratches the life out of her cello; Marlene Willis sings a bouncy number and manages not to go flat too often; bitchy Jackie deliberately spills her drink on Linda then makes a play for Jimmy, who rejects her; and her boyfriend Chuck tells her off. Not exactly the stuff of great drama. Douglas Kennedy, who normally played villainous roles, is fine as the principal who is attracted to Eleanor. The real Les Brown and his Band of Renown shows up at the end to deliver some Dixieland-type jazz. William F. Claxton later directed the giant bunny monster movie Night of the Lepus.   

Verdict: Go, Granny, go! **1/2.