I saw this movie on TCM on TV several weeks ago. I hadn't seen it since it first opened at Radio City Music Hall. I just loved it! Bobby Rydell (real name: Robert Ritadelli) had a nice singing voice and was a surprisingly good dancer. I'm so surprised that he never really did any more movies after Birdie.
shareI read that he always prefrerred singing to acting, so maybe thats why
Juno MacGuff: I named my guitar "Roosevelt"-not Ted, Franklin. You know, the cute one, with polio.
Bobby Rydell (one of many "Bobbys") was a teen heart throb in those days. Him and Fabian (swoon), and Frankie Avalon (swoon x2). Clean, wholesome...guys even your GRANDPARENTS would love.
They don't make em like that anymore either.
Last I checked, they ALL look mighty yummy to me!
I remember seeing Rydell on some TV variety shows way back when. He had a better voice than most of the South Philly ilk and could even handle "standards."
"We're fighting for this woman's honor, which is more than she ever did."
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If you’re going to quote Groucho Marx in “Duck Soup,” for fuck’s sake GIVE HIM A CREDIT.
Sheesh!
Maybe the acting that was required of him in BBB wasn't all that demanding, but I thought he did a great job, and was really enjoyable to watch. He had such an expressive face, one that seemed to exude the sheer ecstasy of a teenager's first love.
shareHe did many movies after Birdie. He was a growing up actor.
I love you, Kristen Stewart. :) You are so beautiful and talented. I would love to perform with you.
You must have him confused with someone else. This was his only leading role in a movie. He had minor things in two small movies after BBB. He did not grow up as an actor.
He was popular for hte song...Volare, whoa whoa. Volare, whoa whoa whoa whoa. No wonder..my happy heart sings....your love..has given me wings. Volare....(and so on)
I didn't like Rydell as the boyfriend, actually. He sang really well, and he was popular at the time, which I guess is why he got the part. But it was unbelievable that Ann Margaret would fall for what was kind of a dorky looking little skinny dude like that.
But he kept up with the others and did a fine job, even if he didn't look the part.
Later on he got a nose job. You'd think that would've been an improvement, but it actually made him look unrecognizable and kinda odd.
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He was very good. His hit record of "Sway" is the best version of that song by a male singer (Rosemary Clooney's version being the best overall). Great voice.
shareRIP
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