Jailhouse Rock (1957) 6.3
After serving time for manslaughter, young Vince Everett becomes a teenage rock star. Director:Richard Thorpe |
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Jailhouse Rock (1957) 6.3
After serving time for manslaughter, young Vince Everett becomes a teenage rock star. Director:Richard Thorpe |
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| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Elvis Presley | ... | ||
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Judy Tyler | ... | |
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Mickey Shaughnessy | ... | |
| Vaughn Taylor | ... |
Mr. Shores
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Jennifer Holden | ... |
Sherry Wilson
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| Dean Jones | ... |
Teddy Talbot
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Anne Neyland | ... |
Laury Jackson
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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? Written by <jgp3553@excite.com>
Great songs, a fine leading actor and actress (Elvis, not the world's greatest actor but doing his Method bit here; and the ill-fated Judy Tyler), and an engrossing story make 'Jailhouse Rock' a great rock 'n' roll musical, and by far one of the best movies made by The King at the peak of his powers.
Yes, there are some cringeworthy bits ('it's only the beast in me'), but in the main this is a rags to riches tale which showcases some raw Presley performances, especially the title track and the quieter 'Young and Beautiful' alongside a contemporary tale of fights, attitude, and the county jail.
The great surprise is that this film still looks and feels fresh after more than fifty years. The pity is that Elvis would only have a handful of decent performances before the rot set in with 'Kissin Cousins', 'Tickle Me', and the like.