Rock Around the Clock (1956)

So much average

Just what I expected

Absolutely Brilliant!

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

The first bona-fide rock and roll movie undoubtedly has the look of quick cash-in about it with its formulaic plot, stock characterisations and predictable pauses for musical numbers but it has an identifiable charm about it and at a mere 77 minutes long, certainly doesn't overstay its welcome.Sure, rock and roll really hit its stride a little later with its more direct progenitors like Elvis, Jerry Lee and Little Richard, all of whom make the line-up here of the Comets, Platters and The Bell-Hops seem somewhat tame by comparison, but there's no denying the vigour and freshness of the music itself, even if portly, kiss-curled Bill looks old enough to be the youngsters' pet uncle.The Comets' popularity, like their name suggests, came crashing back to earth soon enough with the rise of the Tupelo Mississippi Flash, but their brand of enthusiastic swinging beat music can still set toes tapping and the band members could certainly put on a show. Just a shame that the title song, an epochal record for sure, doesn't even get played in its entirety at the end. The Platters deliver their two lovely hit songs with aplomb and the Bell Hops ably fill the gaps left for teenage energy and enthusiasm. Interesting too, to see celebrated DJ Alan Freed in his element, before the Payola scandal engulfed him.The background story of competing managers pushing and pulling over the fates of their rock and rolling protégés just about holds together with Jonny Johnson performing well as the Comets' new manager. Maybe if the likes of him had managed Presley things might have turned out differently for the movement's biggest star.An interesting and enjoyable document of the changing times, especially for the musical numbers with great accompanying dance routines.

Promoter Steve Hollis (Johnny Johnston) is looking for a new act for teenage audiences. He comes upon Bill Haley and the Comets playing in a small town. They drive the teenagers wild and feature a brother/sister team (Earl Barton/Lisa Gaye) who do some incredible dancing to the music. He signs them up and immediately falls in love with Gaye (and vice versa). However the evil Miss Talbot (Alix Talton) loves Hollis herself. He spurns her so she sets out to to make sure that Haley, the Comets, Gaye and Barton can't get a job.Really silly stuff with lousy dialogue chockful of 50s slang that just sounds ridiculous now. Everybody is so polite and nice to each other--even the "evil" schemes of Talbot are pretty mild. Also Johnston and Gaye fall in love in seconds! It's pretty creepy though--Johnston is easily old enough to be her father! None of this matters though. This shows Bill Hlaey and the Comets and the Platters performing and that alone makes this a valuable time capsule of the 1950s when rock and roll was starting to get popular. The groups ARE lip syncing to their songs (and pretty badly in the case of The Platters) but still... When the Platters sang "Only You" and "The Great pretender" this movie is just magic. The acting is pretty terrible (Bill Haley especially) but the songs are good, the movie is short and the dance routines between Barton and Gaye are really pretty impressive. Hard to believe that this was banned in some cities in the US when it first came out. In other cases some theatre owners told the projectionist to cut the sound when the music numbers came on! Check out the ending which says "The Living End"! Harmless and kind of fun. I give it a 6.

Though it wasn't the first film to mention "rock and roll," this is known as the "first real rock film" and it's a mixed bag. Basically it's a vehicle for rock and roll pioneer Bill Haley and his band, The Comets. In the very thin story, two square music managers realize that their old type of traditional dance music is dying out in favor of the latest "rock 'n' roll" fad. When they see Haley and the Comets perform their classic "See You Later Alligator" at a small town dance and witness all the kids dancing up a storm, they decide to try and get this group to play full-time and make it big. The film's not very interesting when it veers away from the music, but along the way we get several more Bill Haley songs (the famous title hit itself, plus "Razzle Dazzle," "Rock Rock Rock" and others), and we're also treated to The Bellboys. But the main attraction is easily The Platters, who expertly perform two of their big hits - "Only You" and "The Great Pretender". The latter is so fabulous it sends chills up the spine. **1/2 out of ****

To really appreciate this film, you have to be a guy/gal who was into pop music when it first came out in 1954 or so---Bill Haley and the Comets were the first group to follow the early fifties sound of Frankie Laine, Johnny Ray, etc., that really had a "bounce" to their music---Elvis soon followed, along with Little Richard, Fats Domino and Pat Boone and the like. All of their hits up to then are in this movie, along with the Platters' two early million sellers. Why this movie is not out on DVD I'll never understand---if "The Girl Can't Help it" can make it to video, this one should----hope someone lights a fire under the powers that be who can make this popping' fifties hit available soon.