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:

teensploitation | psychotronic film | small town | manager | band | 

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Taglines:

It's the whole story of rock and roll!

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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:

Sam Katzman 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

This is the first full-length rock'n'roll movie.

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Goofs

The TV cameras at the Jamboree have a "W" call-sign on them. Since they are supposed to be in Los Angeles, it would be expected that they had a "K" call-sign.

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Quotes

Mike Dodd: Corinne, listen to me. Steve's in love with Lisa Johns. He's not even looking at other women.
Corinne Talbot: So you think it's all decided?
Mike Dodd: Lisa wants a ring on her finger, you want to put a ring threw Steve's nose. Which do you think he'd rather have?

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Crazy Credits

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

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Connections

Featured in The Cinema Snob: Rock Around the Clock (2018)

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Soundtracks

Rudy's Rock
By Bill Haley
Written by Bill Haley and Rudy Pompilli (as Rudy Pompilii) (uncredited)

User Reviews

musically-historical fun

It ain't great cinema, folks, but it IS fun. It's also a great reminder of the roots of rock- and-roll (old-fashioned hyphenated spelling intentional), and how far that musical genre has developed in the last (choke) 50 years.

I was only 9 when this film was released, and had never seen it until today (thanks, Turner Classics). Bill Hailey was certainly no Eric Clapton on the guitar, but was definitely a showman...in what would now be considered a cornball sort of way. The whole film is a good display of the fact that choreographing singers' movements didn't start with Madonnna. It also shows modern viewers that the Platters could REALLY sing!

Another thing I really enjoyed was the dancing in this movie. Lisa Gaye and Earl Barton could move! About an hour and 15 minutes into the film (which is only about 1:20 long) there's a number which shows them off well, during which they're joined by a couple of dozen other excellent dancers. It's a fun way to end the film.