I recently saw this film mainly because of Johnny Desmond. Johnny got his start with the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band during World War 2. After the war, he became a television favorite, appearing on "The Breakfast Club" and dozens of other variety shows. Here he plays Calypso Johnny, a popular singer whose partners in a record company are being bullied by a jukebox owner gangster. Hmm. About the same time this film was made, Frank Tashlin directed "The Girl can't Help It", a story about a gangster strong-arming a musician to make his girlfriend a star. Another coincidence is the appearance of the great Treniers in both films. Joel Grey is very good in this film. It's also a treat to see a young Alan Arkin and his group The Tarriers perform the original "Banana Boat Song" which he wrote. it would make a fun compilation to show these films back to back.
Review of Calypso Heat Wave
