The Rookie (1959 film)
The Rookie | |
---|---|
20th Century-Fox | |
Release date | December 1, 1959 |
Running time | 84 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $158,000 |
The Rookie is a 1959 American
Plot
Set in 1945, Thomas Patrick Noonan (
Sgt. Peter Marshall (
Cast
- Tommy Noonan as Pvt. Thomas Patrick Noonan
- Peter Marshallas MSgt. Pete Marshall
- Julie Newmar as Lili Marlene
- Joe Besser as Medical Corpsman
- Jerry Lester as Jerry Mann
- Claude Stroud as Col. Taylor
- Norman Leavitt as Maj. Evert
- Vince Barnett as 1st Janitor
- Herb Armstrong as Lt. Pat Sumner
- Richard Reeves as Bruce – Military Police Sergeant
- Don Corey as Cook
- Rodney Bell as 2nd Janitor
- George Eldredge as Gen. Bechtel
- Peter Leeds as Seville Quare
- Patrick O'Moore as Ship's Captain Weiss
Production
The Rookie was the first film in which Noonan and Marshall, who had appeared on television and in nightclubs during the late 1940s and 1950s, had starring roles.[2] Their only previous film work had been a cameo appearance in Starlift in 1951.[3]
The Rookie was intended to be the first in a series of films starring the comedy duo, who were being billed as the "new Abbott and Costello" by the studio.[4] The two also played the Japanese sailors who encounter the American soldiers on the deserted island.[4]
The Rookie was made by
It was made by API, the unit of Robert L. Lippert who was enthusiastic about The Rookie. "Do you realise this is the first time in movie history that we've been without a male comedy team?" said Lippert.[5]
Lippert said Julie Newmar was in the film for "oomph".[5]
Filming took place in August 1959 under the title The Last Rookie.[6]
Reception
Lippert said he spent $250,000 to sell the film.[5]
The Rookie scored a strong box office performance, encouraging 20th Century-Fox to rehire Noonan and Marshall for a second feature, originally titled Double Trouble but renamed Swingin' Along prior to its 1962 release. It was not successful and Noonan and Marshall broke up to pursue solo careers.[2]
See also
References
- ProQuest 1305828077.
- ^ ISBN 1-55853-980-8, pp. 3-7
- ^ Maltin, Leonard, Movie Comedy Teams Signet 1970, pp. 338-39
- ^ a b The Rookie at Turner Classic Movies
- ^ ProQuest 167507684.
- ProQuest 167525544.
External links
- The Rookie at IMDb
- The Rookie at AllMovie
- The Rookie at the TCM Movie Database
- The Rookie at the American Film Institute Catalog