1959

 

Director: Don Siegel

Writers: Fred Gipson (book)
Winston Miller

Release Date: November 1959 (USA)

Genre: Comedy / Drama

Plot Synopsis: A rustic drama set in the early 20th century, Hound Dog Man is the simple story of a young man, Spud Kinney (Dennis Holmes) constantly in hot water for disobeying his mother (Betty Field). The lad should be watching the family farm, but he falls in with his older brother, Clint (pop music's teen heartthrob Fabian), and his reckless buddy Blackie Scantling (Stuart Whitman) who take him hunting in hillbilly country. The boy falls in love with a beautiful mountain girl (Carol Lynley), while Blackie has his own fling with another attractive hillbilly maiden, Nita Stringer (Dodie Stevens), and then becomes mixed up with an older, married woman, Sussie Bell (Margo Moore). Not much else happens, but perhaps not much else is needed. This leisurely little film represents the film debut of Fabian, who not unexpectedly sings several songs (some written by another teen idol, Frankie Avalon). Lynley and Whitman would team up again several years later for the much underrated Shock Treatment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Runtime: 87 min

Cast (in credits order)
Fabian ... Clint
Stuart Whitman ... Blackie Scantling
Carol Lynley ... Dony Wallace
Arthur O'Connell ... Aaron McKinney
Dodie Stevens ... Nita Stringer
Betty Field ... Cora McKinney
Royal Dano ... Fiddling Tom Waller
Margo Moore ... Susie Bell Payson
Claude Akins ... Hog Peyson
Edgar Buchanan ... Doc Cole
Jane Darwell ... Grandma Wilson
L.Q. Jones ... Dave Wilson
Virginia Gregg ... Amy Waller
Dennis Holmes ... Spud McKinney
Rachel Stephens ... Rachel Wilson
James Beck ... Terminus Dooley (as Jim Beck)
Hope Summers ... Jewell Crouch
Harry Carter ... Sol Fikes

Produced by: Jerry Wald and Curtis Harrington