The Gene Krupa Story (1959)

Sal Mineo: Gene Krupa

Photos 

Quotes 

• Gene Krupa : Who's the snake charmer?

  Dorissa Dinell : Anita O'Day. Not bad - if you like talent.

• Gene Krupa : You're a wonderful gal, Ethel. You know that, don't you?

  Ethel Maguire : Oh, that's just a rumor I started. Besides, I think you're wonderful too. So, we're even.

• [first lines] 

  Father : How many times am I going to tell you?

  Gene Krupa : Papa.

  Father : How many times? Banging on pots and pans and garbage can covers wasn't enough noise for you. And driving us all crazy by playin' on the washboard with mother's thimble. That was not enough noise either.

  Gene Krupa : But it doesn't have to be noise. There's music in drums, Papa. I know there is.

• Dorissa Dinell : I don't like to eat alone. So, why don't we have supper or breakfast or both and get to like each other? We ought to if you're going to do all my record dates. I'm not going to bite you.

  Gene Krupa : I'm not worried about you biting me. There happens to be a girl.

  Dorissa Dinell : There always is.

• Eddie Sirota : Last week you almost got us pulverized in that car.

  Gene Krupa : So, that was last week. And almost doesn't count. What's the matter? You want to live forever?

  Eddie Sirota : Nope. Just as long as I can.

• Gene Krupa : What good is making good if can't have everything that goes with it. The parties. The kicks.

• Gene Krupa : What are we giving away here?

  Guitarist : The most! On sip and you're gone from the vale of tears.

  Gene Krupa : Reefers?

  Guitarist : Reap the tender weed. Or as the peasants say: tea. And I don't mean Oolong.

  Gene Krupa : So that's what they look like. Huh?

  Guitarist : Don't give me that, Daddy-O. How else would you get that crazy kick on your drums.

  Gene Krupa : Oh, come off it Jack. You think I need anything like that to get me out there?

• Tommy Dorsey : Dorsey's the name. Tommy. And this is my brother Jim.

  Red Nichols : I'm Red Nichols. Wow! You kick a lot of drums, Jack.

  Gene Krupa : Gene. Gene Krupa.

• Gene Krupa : [on the phone]  This is no time to be sleeping, Cinderella. Yeah, we're all going up to Harlem for some BBQ spare ribs, which Nichols says is the most!

• Davey Tough : Hey, there goes Red Nichols. And there goes Dorsey.

  Gene Krupa : And here goes Krupa!

  Davey Tough : With them?

• Gene Krupa : Who'd you meet in the lobby?

  Eddie Sirota : Davey Tough. Remember?

  Gene Krupa : Yeah, sure. I remember.

  Eddie Sirota : He said to say hello and how come we didn't make it to D.D.'s some night.

  Gene Krupa : All right, I'll bite. What's a D.D.?

  Eddie Sirota : Oh, I don't know, a session at Dorissa Dinell's place, "The Lady D". That's were all the big guys drop in after hours. Dorsey, Teagarden, Red Nichols.

  Gene Krupa : Dorsey! Teagarden! Red Nichols! Did you get the address?

  Eddie Sirota : Yeah.

  Gene Krupa : Then what are you waiting for? Come on. Let's go!

• Dorissa Dinell : Where have you been?

  Gene Krupa : Out. Way out.

• Gene Krupa : Eddie, boy, we got to try real hard to be satisfied with the best! Well, that's what making money is for. To have a good time before it all caves in on you.

• Gene Krupa : Why did you come back?

  Ethel Maguire : Because 'hope' can be - very foolish.

• Gene Krupa : Hey, you know something? Every time I see you, you're looking better. This time you're looking like the next time.

• Gene Krupa : Now, who's gonna believe it? There I am a million miles from nowhere. Locked up in a dead letter office. And you drop in. What are you doing in a joint like this?

• Gene Krupa : Sure I've messed with some reefers! Don't ask me why; because, I don't know. Maybe I had to see what everybody was talking about. Maybe I was alone, I thought it might be kicks. Like somebody drinks too much or gambles more than he meant to. Or messes with a woman he thinks is poison. Because that's exactly what it is. That stuff not only threw my timing off, but, it made may sticks kind of slippery.

• Gene Krupa : What brought you to Philly?

  Ethel Maguire : A train. I finally found out where you were; so, I thought I'd come down and catch some of that scary Krupa drumming.

  Gene Krupa : You shouldn't have. Oh, you don't belong in a dump like this.

  Ethel Maguire : Neither do you.

• Gene Krupa : You look good, Eth.

  Ethel Maguire : I spent all day trying.

• [last lines] 

  Gene Krupa : What's the matter? Didn't you think I'd ever learn?

• Gloria Corregio : Hey, drummer boy, come quick! I need your help. Come on. Hurry!

  [grabs Gene and runs off behind a tree] 

  Gloria Corregio : Can I bite your lower lip?

  Gene Krupa : I thought you needed help?

  Gloria Corregio : Oh, I do, baby. I do! Mmm, that moon and that music. Mmm!

• Dorissa Dinell : Snow again, Junior. I didn't quite get your drift.

  Gene Krupa : I said thank God I'm not a mink.

  Dorissa Dinell : Aren't you though.

• Eddie Sirota : Gene, you gotta come down. The way you're going, you're going to wind up in a hospital.

  Gene Krupa : It's the only way to go - if you're gonna go at all. Big!

• Gene Krupa : It's only a matter of time and I'll be right back on top again. Bigger than ever.

  Ethel Maguire : Oh, great! Because, well, when I heard that you'd been playing at chop suey parlors and strip joints, I sort of began to wonder.

• Gene Krupa : Boy, there are smells and - smells, huh?