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Daddy-O

  • 1958
  • Approved
  • 1h 14m
IMDb RATING
2.8/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
Daddy-O (1958)
CrimeMusicMysteryRomanceThriller

A singing truck driver meets a feisty blonde who challenges him to a drag race. When he is offered a new job that also includes drug running, he must fight to save his friends and himself.A singing truck driver meets a feisty blonde who challenges him to a drag race. When he is offered a new job that also includes drug running, he must fight to save his friends and himself.A singing truck driver meets a feisty blonde who challenges him to a drag race. When he is offered a new job that also includes drug running, he must fight to save his friends and himself.

  • Director
    • Lou Place
  • Writer
    • David Moessinger
  • Stars
    • Dick Contino
    • Sandra Giles
    • Bruno VeSota
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    2.8/10
    1.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Lou Place
    • Writer
      • David Moessinger
    • Stars
      • Dick Contino
      • Sandra Giles
      • Bruno VeSota
    • 21User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos9

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    Top Cast18

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    Dick Contino
    • Phil Sandifer
    Sandra Giles
    • Jana Ryan
    Bruno VeSota
    Bruno VeSota
    • Sidney Chillas
    • (as Bruno VeSoto)
    Joanne Arnold
    • Marcia Hayes
    • (as Gloria Victor)
    Ron McNeil
    • Duke Manion
    Tipp McClure
    • Bruce Green
    • (as Jack McClure)
    Sonia Torgeson
    • Peg Lawrence
    Kelly Gordon
    • Ken
    Joseph Donte
    • Frank Wooster
    Ruth Scott
    William Riggs
    Robert Banas
    Robert Banas
    • Sonny DiMarco
    • (as Bob Banas)
    Hank Mann
    Hank Mann
    • Barney
    John Garwood
    John Garwood
      Pierrette Hailey
      Cheston Tarver
      Joseph Martin
      • Kerm
      Gilbert Brady
      • Club patron
      • (uncredited)
      • Director
        • Lou Place
      • Writer
        • David Moessinger
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

      User reviews21

      2.81.1K
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      Featured reviews

      1paul_giraldi

      this is the funniest movie I have ever seen

      This movie was soooo bad it was actually good. Aside from the shirts changing from scene to scent you should watch and pay attention to the cars. They also change from scene to scene, especially in the beginning of the movie during the famous car crash. Also the singing had to be the most made of, badly performed sequence on film. I have never seen a movie with so many glaring mistakes but I think that is the magic of this film, it kept you interested in seeing what else could be phonied. I could not stop watching once I started just to see what new and exciting adventures were just around the bend. Can I get a copy of this great movie somewhere?
      5gavin6942

      Not As Awful As Some Assume

      Phil, a part-time truck driver and singer who wears his pants far too high, meets a feisty platinum blonde who challenges him to a drag race through Griffith Park. When he is caught and loses his license, he meets up with the sketchy Frank Wooster who offers him a job singing in his new nightclub.

      What makes this film notable is that it is the first film score for John Williams. Maybe it is not something he is proud of, but I would love to see the soundtrack released if it has not been already. It is good to appreciate all the work of a great composer, even the work that might not be considered great.

      Because the film ended up on "Mystery Science Theater", people assume it is bad. But it actually seems to be a decent film. Maybe it could use a little polish, but it is a fun movie and really seems to predate the 1960s AIP pictures.
      ticklemetorgo

      This whole movie is fun, with or without MST

      Well what can you say about Daddy-O, it really isn't good at all, I don't even know how to rate it, though there are worse movies out there. This film actually has a story, plot, action and a decent ending. The problem, IT"S ALL GOOFY!! And I don't think the director meant it to be that way, but it is.

      Dick Contino is our hero, an aged teenager who wears skin tight shirts and extremely hiked up pants (with the belt buckle to the side)Anyway he's accused of killing his friend Sonny while racing a peroxide queen who becomes his main squeeze. Anyway he investigates Sonny's death because the LAPD are too lazy to do it themselves. He gets involved with running drugs for doughy guy and squinty (which again the LAPD don't bother to investigate)Lots of things happen which will take too long to explain but in the end the bad guys lose, Dick gets his girl and pants stay hiked.
      icehole4

      Daddy-O, can I borrow the Car-eo?

      This film is extremely dated. It's a typical youth-gone-amok movie that populated drive-ins in the 1950's. Dick Contino, he of the big pecs and mediocre singing voice, does the best he can to save this film. however, it's not enough. Sandra Giles, who played Jana, was definitely chosen for her large chest and blonde locks, and not her acting ability. The guy with the coke-bottle thick glasses really was an offensive stereotype. The main problem is that Daddy-O's character really doesn't give you a lot to like him; the heroine Jana gives you even less to like her.

      Avoid this one unless you're watching the MST3K version. "got to keep your pants up!"
      4Jared G.

      Sorry, Can't help you, gym policy

      This is a fun movie. It's bad enough to laugh at but not so incomprehensible as to be completely frustrated by it. Contino is a hoot as the lead and VeSota is actually pretty decent. A staple of Corman films, VeSota is not really a terrible actor, just is laden down with flat, character roles. The Guy who runs the gym though, Bruce, is just so GOOFY that it defies belief. It seems his permanent expression is to squint through thick glasses with a gawking mouth.

      Has a pretty bad soundtrack too, filled with Contino songs. The rest of the score was done by John Williams. Yes, THAT John Williams, the same who did Jaws, ET, and Star Wars.

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      Related interests

      James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
      Crime
      Prince and Apollonia Kotero in Purple Rain (1984)
      Music
      Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
      Mystery
      Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
      Romance
      Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
      Thriller

      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        This film marks composer John Williams's first feature film score.
      • Goofs
        When Daddy-O is being chased by the police he is wearing a striped shirt. When he comes to the truck ramp before the big jump, it changes to a solid-color collared shirt. When the car lands, it changes back to the striped shirt.
      • Quotes

        Jana Ryan: Want some?

      • Crazy credits
        Bruno VeSota is listed in the credits as "Bruno Vesoto"
      • Connections
        Featured in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Daddy-O (1991)

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      FAQ14

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      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • March 1958 (United States)
      • Country of origin
        • United States
      • Language
        • English
      • Also known as
        • Out on Probation
      • Filming locations
        • Los Angeles, California, USA(Griffith Park)
      • Production company
        • Imperial Productions (II)
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Box office

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      • Budget
        • $100,000 (estimated)
      See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

      Tech specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        • 1h 14m(74 min)
      • Color
        • Black and White
      • Sound mix
        • Mono
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.37 : 1

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