Jailhouse Rock (1957)

After serving time for manslaughter, young Vince Everett becomes a teenage rock star.

Director:

Richard Thorpe

Writers:

Guy Trosper (screenplay), Nedrick Young (story)

Stars:

Elvis Presley, Judy Tyler, Mickey Shaughnessy

2 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Elvis Presley	...	Vince Everett
Judy Tyler	...	Peggy Van Alden
Mickey Shaughnessy	...	Hunk Houghton
Vaughn Taylor	...	Mr. Shores
Jennifer Holden	...	Sherry Wilson
Dean Jones	...	Teddy Talbot
Anne Neyland	...	Laury Jackson

Storyline

Vince Everett is serving a one-year jail sentence for manslaughter. While in the big house, his cellmate, a former country singer, introduces him to the record business. Everett takes to it so well that he decides to become a singer when he gets out. However, he is quickly disillusioned by the record business. But with the help of a new friend, he decides to form his own label, and soon becomes an overnight sensation. But when he becomes a superstar, will his desire for fame and money cause him to forget the people who got him there?

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Plot Keywords:

singer | manslaughter | jail | fame | country singer | 

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Taglines:

Elvis in Action as Never Before!

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Musical

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 November 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Le rock du bagne

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$400,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$4,000,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Avon Productions (II)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Perspecta Sound encoding) (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the lawn party scene, just after Vince embraces an unresponsive Peggy, the hired orchestra begins an instrumental number. The tune they're playing is "All I Do Is Dream Of You", from the 1934 film "Sadie McKee". This same tune, with vocal accompaniment, was featured in a series of television commercials for Bell Canada during the mid-1970s.

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Goofs

When Vince and Peggy enter her parents house you can see the black "T" tape on the carpet where Elvis has to stand. (This is more visible in the colorized version).

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Quotes

Peggy Van Alden: Vince, what about Laurel Records? What is it?
Vince Everett: We got an offer for the label, Peg. It's just too good to turn down.
Peggy Van Alden: An offer? What kind of an offer?
Vince Everett: To sell out to Geneva Records.
[raises his hand]
Vince Everett: Wait a minute. Wait'll you hear the deal. Seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars, a capital gain. That's 225,000 in cold cash for you, after taxes.
Peggy Van Alden: But, Vince, I don't wanna sell out.
Vince Everett: I'm afraid you got not choice, kid. I own...
Peggy Van Alden: I know. Sixty percent.
Vince Everett: That's the way the mop flops. You'd think I was ...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in MGM: When the Lion Roars (1992)

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Soundtracks

Don't Leave Me Now
(uncredited)
Written by Aaron Schröder (as Aaron Schroeder) & Ben Weisman
Performed by Elvis Presley

User Reviews

Elvis's best film

I saw this film when it came out. I was a sophomore in high school, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I just saw it again on TCM, and guess what? I still enjoy it! This is by no means a work of art; it's plain old fashioned entertainment. Some of the actors in the supporting parts are stilted, and Elvis himself will never be confused with Brando or Dean. But Elvis was a singer, to this day the greatest in rock and roll history, and the musical numbers are first rate. Mickey Shaughnessy, who I can't recall seeing anywhere else, is perfect for the part of Elvis's hillbilly cell mate, and the tragic Judy Tyler shines as the leading lady. (For trivia buffs, she was Princess Summerfallwinterspring on the Howdy Doody Show.) And for those too young to remember the 50s, which probably includes the majority of this website's users, this will provide a good sample of popular entertainment in that era. 7/10