Rock Around the Clock (1956)

Orchestra manager Steve Hollis realizes that big-band music is dead. People want something new, but what? On their way to New York, Steve and his companion Corny, stop at a motel in a small... See full summary »

Director:

Fred F. Sears

Writers:

Robert E. Kent (story and screenplay), James B. Gordon (story and screenplay)

Stars:

Bill Haley and the Comets, The Platters, Ernie Freeman Combo

Cast

Credited cast:
Bill Haley and the Comets	...	Bill Haley and his Comets
The Platters	...	The Platters
Ernie Freeman Combo	...	Ernie Freeman Combo
Tony Martinez and His Band	...	Tony Martinez and his Band
Freddie Bell and the Bellboys	...	Freddie Bell and the Bellboys (as Freddie Bell and His Bellboys)
Alan Freed	...	Alan Freed
Johnny Johnston	...	Steve Hollis
Alix Talton	...	Corinne Talbot
Lisa Gaye	...	Lisa Johns
John Archer	...	Mike Dodd
Henry Slate	...	Corny LaSalle
Earl Barton	...	Jimmy Johns
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
George Christopherson	...	Dancer
Lenny Smith	...	Dancer
Freda Angela Wyckoff	...	Dancer

Storyline

Orchestra manager Steve Hollis realizes that big-band music is dead. People want something new, but what? On their way to New York, Steve and his companion Corny, stop at a motel in a small place called Strawberry Springs. It's Saturday evening, and a huge number of young people are going to the Town Hall to listen to a local band called Bill Haley and His Comets, playing a new kind of music called rock'n'roll. It is accompanied by a new way of dancing, led by the siblings Lisa and Jimmy Johns. Steve immediately recognizes that this could be what all America is waiting for. He convinces the band and the dancers to let him organize their nationwide breakthrough, and goes to New York to arrange bookings with the top agent Corinne Talbot. Corinne has for a long time tried to get Steve to marry her, but in vain. She now realizes that Steve is in love with the young dancer Lisa Johns, which makes her change her strategy. Corinne tries to stop the rock'n'roll group everywhere, but despite ...

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Plot Keywords:

small town | manager | band | dancer | agent | 

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Taglines:

It's The MOST!!!

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Genres:

Comedy | Music | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 March 1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

Al compás del reloj

Box Office

Budget:

$300,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$4,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Clover Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

77 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"See You Later Alligator" was a brand-new recording, having been taped at Decca's Hollywood studio in December 1955, only a few weeks before filming began.

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Goofs

When Lisa Johns is being interviewed by Corinne Talbot at a street side diner, you see the same woman in a fur coat walk by the window (twice) while the same car and transit bus (twice) go by the window after the traffic signal changes.

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Quotes

Bill Haley: [singing] One, Two, Three O'clock, Four O'clock rock, Five, Six, Seven O'clock, Eight O'clock rock, Nine, Ten, Eleven O'clock, Twelve O'clock rock, We're gonna rock around the clock tonight...

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Crazy Credits

Instead of "The End," the movie concludes with THE LIVING END

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Connections

Followed by Don't Knock the Rock (1956)

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Soundtracks

Cueros (Skins)
Written by Tony Martinez (uncredited)
Performed by Tony Martinez and His Band (uncredited)
Recording through the courtesy of Mercury Record Corporation:

User Reviews

Very cool corn

If you cruise by this one while channel surfing, your first instinct might be that this a B-grade science fiction movie. The acting and the script are more wooden than the furniture, but stick with it -- it's a vintage rock and roll gas.

Ignore the corny, predictable plot. Stick with the music of the Comets and the Platters. This music is timeless rock and roll.