Jailhouse Rock (film)

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For other uses, see Jailhouse Rock.
Jailhouse Rock
Directed by Richard Thorpe
Produced by Pandro S. Berman
Written by Nedrick Young (story)
Guy Trosper (screenwriter)
Starring Elvis Presley
Judy Tyler
Music by See list
Cinematography Robert J. Bronner
Editing by Ralph E. Winters
Distributed by MGM
Release date(s) October 17, 1957
Running time 96 min.
Language English
IMDb profile

Jailhouse Rock is an American motion picture directed by Richard Thorpe, released by MGM on November 8, 1957. The film stars Elvis Presley (his third ever film role), Judy Tyler, and Mickey Shaughnessy. Tragically, co-star Tyler was killed in an automobile accident a few weeks after the film was completed, and like Loving You before it, Presley was so upset that he refused to ever watch the completed film. In 2004, this film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

Contents

[edit] Primary cast

[edit] Synopsis

Presley plays "Vince Everett," an ex-convict working in the music industry, and a character analogous to Presley's then public image. After going to jail for a bar fight he did not start, Everett meets Hunk Houghton in prison, and the two men form a bond. Houghton, a washed-up country singer, teaches Everett to play an old guitar, and to sing a few songs.

Upon his release, Everett lands work at night clubs, but not singing. He meets Peggy Van Alden, a record company talent scout, who after agrees to allow Everett to record a song. They bring his record to an executive at a small record label, who then records the exact arrangement with one of his established stars. Everett and Van Alden then start their own label to bring Everett's records to the public, and fame, riches, and a film career ensue.

Everett's prison buddy Houghton shows up, and instead of getting in on the action as anticipated, has to settle for being Everett's gofer. Throughout the film, Everett is the epitome of the spoiled star, surly, uncommunicative, bellicose, and treating all around him with either cruelty or diffidence, especially Van Alden and Houghton. A final fight at the end of the movie with Houghton, meant to give Everett his comeuppance, damages his vocal cords, bringing into question his ability to ever sing again. He learns his lesson in humility, and expresses his true feelings for Van Alden and Houghton.

[edit] Soundtrack

Main article: Jailhouse Rock (EP)

Unlike his previous film, a full long-playing album soundtrack was not originally devised for Jailhouse Rock. Instead, five of the six songs written for Presley were released as an extended play, seven-inch 45 RPM record on RCA Records, Jailhouse Rock.

In April 1997, a full soundtrack CD comprising of the songs from Jailhouse Rock and his first film Love Me Tender was released, featuring:

  • Jailhouse Rock (Hit version)
  • Treat Me Nice (Hit version)
  • I Want To Be Free (EP version)
  • Don't Leave Me Now (Previously unreleased)
  • Young And Beautiful (EP version)
  • Baby, I Don't Care (You're So Square)
  • Jailhouse Rock (Movie version)
  • Treat Me Nice (Movie version)
  • I Want To Be Free (Movie version)
  • Young And Beautiful (Movie version)
  • Don't Leave Me Now (Previously unreleased alternate version)
  • Love Me Tender (Hit version)
  • Poor Boy
  • Let Me
  • We're Gonna Move
  • Love Me Tender (End title version)
  • Let Me (unreleased version)
  • We're Gonna Move (Unreleased stereo alternate take)
  • Poor Boy (Unreleased stereo version)
  • Love Me Tender (Unreleased stereo version)

[edit] Trivia

  • The pair of shapely female legs seen walking across the stage in the scene where Presley and Judy Tyler meet belong to showgirl Gloria Pall.
  • The film is most famous for the dance sequence in which Elvis sings the title track while cavorting with other "inmates" through a jail cell block. The sequence is widely acknowledged as the most exciting and best-executed musical scene in any of the 29 Presley narrative movies, and is also credited by some musical historians as being the first prototype for the modern music video. This sequence was also duplicated by Britney Spears during her infamous 2007 MTV Video Music Awards Performance.
  • In August 2007 a Deluxe Edition with some special material was released.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] DVD reviews

[edit] Blu-ray reviews

[edit] HD DVD reviews