Lonely Boy (1962)

Talk about wholesome! One fan has 555 photos of this fella on her wall and parents and screaming youngsters seem to have taken to this charming and handsome young man with equal enthusiasm. This documentary follows this man from Ottawa to Atlantic city stardom - in just five years. He isn't exactly camera shy, down to his underwear in the first five minutes as he rather hastily prepares to go on stage - even if his appearance features a completely different suit - continuity I guess. "The bells were ringing, the birds were singing" - no, his lyrics aren't exactly challenging but when he gives an interview, he comes across as a decent lad who grew up, shed 170lbs, and turned himself into an heart-throb. He's quite candid about his success. He reckons 60% of that comes from his perceived sex appeal, and he doesn't mind at all, trying to stop and chat with fans when he can. Irvin Feld, his manager, is honest is admitting that even at just nineteen, his act has already had a nose job! We follow his career as it takes him to some of the big clubs where his personality was minting his cash for him. A born entertainer - and a schmoozer too. He is clearly very comfortable around people and the cameras, and it does look natural as he rehearses - solo and with his band, jokes and at times comes across as very Elvis-esque. It's maybe a touch adulatory, and the contributors who feature do tend to big him up just a little too much, but on the evidence of the crowds we see and on the sizeable chunks of his performances included, this is a man going places with an acting career surely on the cards.