Shake, Rattle & Rock!

It seems like there have been lots of movies portraying stuffy adults not caring for rock 'n' roll, or even considering it evil. In that respect "Shake, Rattle & Rock!" is nothing new. But the movie makes no pretense about just being an excuse to have fun. And anyway, how can you not like seeing Fats Domino? The plot has a TV show host (Mike Connors) hiring teen delinquents for his show to prove that they can change their ways through rock 'n' roll. Sure enough, the straight-laced senior citizens want to outlaw this new music.

Obviously, there are some scenes in this movie that will probably make us cringe in the 21st century. Aside from the footage of the African dance treated as subhuman, there's no racial mixing in the bands. But as long as we understand that, the movie's really cool. It's another reminder that - contrary to what the staid old people would have us believe - rock 'n' roll will live forever! And I even think that I could see up some of the girls' dresses...

Also starring Sterling Holloway and Margaret Dumont (of the Marx Brothers' movies).