Jailhouse Rock (1957)

SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

Good concept, poorly executed.

From my favorite movies..

The film was still a fun one that will make you laugh and have you leaving the theater feeling like you just stole something valuable and got away with it.

Good music with a pretty good story. Worth a watch for any fan of the King!

As you probably know, many people consider "Jailhouse Rock" to be Elvis Presley's best movie. While I haven't seen all of Presley's movies, I am pretty confident all the same to agree with that general feeling, since it is a pretty good movie. The movie has plenty of interesting things about it, one of the most prominent things being that Elvis here plays a rougher character with a significant mean and unlikable streak, much different from the clean cut characters he played later in his career. In fact, the surrounding material is more mature and hard hitting than what Presley was surrounding with in subsequent movies, among other things showing how difficult even in the 1950s it was for a musician to achieve significant success. Of course, most people will tune into the movie not for that aforementioned material, but instead to see Elvis sing and dance. There are less musical numbers than in subsequent Elvis movies, but the musical numbers are well done, the best one being, of course, the title number. The movie definitely shows very well what Elvis was capable of, so it's a pity that his subsequent movies soon after became for the most part fluffy and forgettable exercises.

Jailhouse Rock (1957): Dir: Richard Thorpe / Cast: Elvis Presley, Judy Tyler, Mickey Shaughnessy, Dean Jones, Jennifer Holden: Surprisingly engaging and entertaining musical about hard truths. It stars Elvis Presley as Vince Everett who goes to jail when he accidentally kills someone in a bar fight. In prison he meets Hunk Houghton, a country singer who knows the goings on in the joint and allows Everett in on a singing act put on in prison that is airs on TV. When he gets out he encounters Peggy Van Alden, a music promoter who struggles to help Everett get his music out there. When things begin to look up it goes to Everett's head and it divides him from those important to him. Big highlight is the Jailhouse Rock number where Presley stages the familiar energetic tune. Judy Tyler plays Peggy who struggles to balance Everett's career demands with his rapidly declining attitude. Mickey Shaughnessy plays Hunk who allowed Everett to engage his talent in prison before expanding it upon release. Unfortunately Hunk is mistreated and neglected by Everett when he gets out and hopes for favors returned. Dean Jones is seen briefly as a disc jockey who first plays Everett's single and then shows interest in Peggy. Jennifer Holden plays a starlet hooked up with Everett for publicity but she lacks enthusiasm for the tabloid charade. It exists to showcase Elvis and one of his biggest and most memorable hits. Score: 9 / 10

Loving You...Jailhouse Rock...King Creole...Flaming Star.These are the movies that Presley fans can point to without embarrassment. You could also mention Viva Las Vegas, but that was only the best of the all those other cornball clunkers that were used to tame the rebel and put the King out to pasture.Truth be told, Elvis was only really Elvis until he went into the Army. Here we get a chance to see the long haired Hillbilly Cat before he was roped, corralled, and led around like a broken stallion. The sideburns are still there, along with the duck tail cut (although a bit groomed), and the swagger.In the film he gets to brood and act like a jerk (very well done), "take the dogs for a walk...it ain't like I'm asking you to shine my shoes". He flops his head around like a punk, snarls his lip, and talks like a teenage rebel that is ready for a rumble. He uses street slang and always looks cool.And there is that voice. If he had never swiveled a hip or got all shook up, he would have still had that incredible ballad voice that is as smooth as butter and is pure vocal velvet. In this film there are a couple of RnR numbers and a few slow songs and the title diddy is a 20th century icon. Speaking of icons, it is quite a shame that today when you see anyone making reference they are dressed in some God-awful, white studded jumpsuit and that is what passes as Elvis remembered.This movie is a wonderful reminder and a good way to purify those later mid seventies images of a Fallen King. He did make some comeback performances from 1968-to the early 70's that were exciting and a sweet treat for all his fans. But he died tragically, just a few years too late.