Sunday Spectacular: The Bachelor

Seen at Museum of Broadcasting (10/10/09) in New York. Probably a very routine item for the period. Ordinary camera work, sets, writing. Its primary points of interest are (1) Steve Allen's standard song, "This Could Be the Start of Something," (2) Carol Haney choreography, particularly the excellent ballet which she dances with Peter Gennaro and another Broadway dancer (whose name escapes me at the moment) -- very Fosse influenced, and, for a three-person ballet, pretty spectacular, (3) a rare appearance in a musical by Jayne Mansfield (who has a very demeaning role and doesn't sing very well, and (4) a dynamic performance by Julie Wilson, who looks, and especially sounds, great. Renzo Cesano (billed as "Renzo Cesano The Continental") does a very decent Walter Chiari type burlesque Italian. Strangely, though music and lyrics are credited to Steve Allen, there is an additional m&l credit to Ervin Drake, designating specifically his three-song contribution. And they are three of the worst songs I've ever heard (though I'm not a Drake basher: I think much of his long-maligned score for "What Makes Sammy Run?" is pretty attractive). All in all, pretty much a trial to sit through. Fortunately, it was followed by the Tab Hunter special, "Hans Brinker," which was another kettle of fish altogether (see my comment).