ianlouisiana Review of The Gene Krupa Story

The Gene Krupa Story (1959)

Drummer drinks,smokes dope and likes girls,Hold the front page

[4/10 · 2 May 2006]

Mr Krupa should have seen this one coming.After the success of his ex-boss's biopic "The Benny Goodman Story" it could have been a choice between him and Harry James who had the added kudos of being married to Betty Grable.For whatever reason they picked a charismatic gum-chewing tousle-haired stick juggling drummer with a colourful history and a pot bust over the straight-laced trumpeter with a movie star wife who was probably contracted to another studio.That's Hollywood I guess. Mr Sal Mineo who could chew gum with the best of them and tousle up his hair real bad learned to juggle his drumsticks.Apart from a chubbiness in the cheeks he resembles Mr Krupa physically.Mr Krupa was an easy-going guy by all accounts,and certainly the first white swing drummer of any consequence.Like BG he was an early employer of black musicians in his band(Roy Eldridge - outstanding on Krupa's "After you've gone"). His best - known singer Miss Anita O'Day appears in the movie,following up her success in "Jazz on a summer's day",and,frankly,is the only thing worth watching.Whilst BG was well treated in his film,Mr Krupa isn't. On the grounds that there is no such thing as bad publicity he may have decided to leave well enough alone,but anyone coming to the movie cold could be excused for thinking he was a complete prat,which wasn't in fact the case."Drum Crazy" is trite and sensationalist,cheapening the memory of a man who,in his day,was a huge star.I hope he laughed all the way to the bank.