Jailhouse Rock (1957 film)
Encyclopedia
Jailhouse Rock is an American musical film
directed by Richard Thorpe
for MGM
. The film stars Elvis Presley
in his third film and MGM debut, Judy Tyler
, and Mickey Shaughnessy
.
The film tells the story of Vince Everett (Elvis Presley), an ex-convict who discovers his musical talent during his time in jail. His cellmate, Hunk Houghton (Mickey Shaughnessy
) teaches him to play guitar and sing. Shortly after being released from prison, Vince meets in a night club Peggy van Alden (Judy Tyler), a music scout who asks him to record a demo. Peggy and Vince take the demo arrangements of a song to a label that ultimately publishes it under one of their established artists. To avoid studios, Peggy and Vince open their own label to release future recordings, finally achieving success. Soon the fame and fortune change Vince, whose personality becomes self-centered and disloyal towards his associate, Peggy, and to his former cellmate, Hunk.
The movie was premiered on October 17, 1957, in Memphis and was released nationwide on November 8, 1957. It peaked at number 3 on Variety box office chart, and reached number 14 in the year's box office totals grossing $4 million. By 1969, the movie grossed between the United States and Canada, a similar amount to The Wizard of Oz
. The movie earned originally mixed reviews, with most of the negative ones directed to Presley's persona. In 2004, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.
), a construction worker goes to a bar after receiving his paycheck. He pays his debts to the owner and after he plays an arm wrestling match with him, a woman that was watching, sits next to him and they start to talk. While they talk a man pushes the woman, and while Vince tries to calm the man down, he spills a drink in Vince's shirt. Vince starts a brawl with the man, who he accidentally kills. He is sentenced to one to ten years for manslaughter and sent to the State Prison. Vince meets his cellmate Hunk Houghton (Mickey Shaughnessy
), a former country & western singer, who after hearing him singing and playing basic guitar tunes, helps him to improve the rhythm of his voice, and his guitar techniques by teaching him more chords. Soon, Hunk convinces Vince to participate of an upcoming inmate show in the prison organized by the committee of the state to be broadcasted on television. Vince gets several letters in response to his performance, but Hunk who is present in the mail room pays with cigarettes the men to not deliver them to Vince. Aware if his talent, and the upcoming release of Vince, Hunk offers him a partnership deal, and convinces a reluctant Vince to sign a contract to split half of the profits of their act.
After he is released, Vince receives the letters and realizes that his mail was blocked. Hunk gets him a job at a night club, but instead of as a singer as Vince thinks, the owner of the club offers hims a job as a barboy. Determined to prove to the reluctant club owner that he can sing well, he moves to the stage and starts to perform a number. Frustrated by a laughing customer, he crashes his guitar against the table and leaves the club. A girl that was sitting next to him while he was talking to the bar owner follows him, and introduces herself as Peggy van Alden, a music scout. Peggy takes Vince to record a demo to perfect his singing by listening to his own recordings. Peggy and Vince later take the final version of a demo, "Don't Leave Me Now", to a label to publish the record. The manager assures them that he would play the tape to the president of the label in New York on the phone. To celebrate the recent recording, Peggy invites Vince to a party at her parents house. While other attendants talk about a jazz record that its playing, distant to their comments and unable to understand the topic when asked about his opinion he replies impolitely as he leaves the party. Peggy follows him for an explanation of his behavior, and clarified him that the other guests were trying to invite him to the conversation. While he walks again he goes back to Peggy and kisses her, she then says "How dare you think such cheap tactics would work with me!". Vince replies, "That ain't tactics, honey. It's just the beast in me", as he walks away Peggy smiles. The next morning Vince apologizes for his behavior, both enter to a record shop looking requesting Vince's single. The seller assures that "Don't Leave Me Now" is a success, but when she brings the record, the artist for the song is Mickey Alba. Realizing that the record company stole his arrangements for one of their established artists he confronts the manager and after slapping him he leaves the place.
To avoid that his material is stolen again Vince offers Peggy start their own record company, using the studios where they recorded the demo and hiring a lawyer to run the legal side. Peggy takes him to meet Mr. Shores (Vaughn Taylor
). Vince unsuccessfully tries convince of his upcoming success and offers him to be his manager. Vince records for the new label "Laurel Records" the single, "Treat Me Nice", that Peggy takes to a DJ. After being played on the radio ignites his career, and he ultimately reaches a managerial agreement with Mr. Shores. Vince visits Peggy later that evening, and after kissing her, he asks her out for a dinner. Peggy refuses, because she accepted a dinner with the DJ of the radio that played Vince's single. Frustrated, Vince stays in the room.
The recent hit and the booking of acts, affords Vince the chance to appear again on television. During at a party in his house he introduces Peggy to Laury Jackson (Anne Neyland), a singer that Vince joined to the label to make her jealous. As she leaves, Hunk arrives to and asks Vince for a number in the upcoming show. Reluctant to Hunk's old style, he accepts to try. During the show Vince sings "Jailhouse Rock" in a reconstruction of a cell block as he dances followed by other inmates. Hunk follows Vince but his number is cancelled while they were recording, leaving him in anger. As he is expecting to hear from Peggy, Vince talks to Hunk. He clarifies him that he would not let him to stop the success of his career and that his time in music was over. Hunk mentions his contract, but Vince points out that he mentioned that to his lawyer who assured him that the contract was not valid, and instead offers Hunk ten percent, that he ultimately accepts.
Vince later signs a movie deal with Climax Studios. At the time he arrives, the president asks him to be around the studio star Sherry Wilson (Jennifer Holden
), to be seen together as a publicity move. Uncomfortable the actress accepts, and they spend the day together. During the shooting of the movie, in a scene Vince was supposed to kiss Sherry. He starts to kiss her and after the director marked the end of the scene they still kiss each other. During a party at his new house, he talks to Hunk, who grows tired of Vince for the change of his personality as he becomes self-centered, and his requests to walk his dogs. Sherry approaches him, but he walks directly to Peggy as she arrives and hugs her, but she upsets him when she clarifies that went to talk about his upcoming record. Mr Shores later approaches him with an offer of Geneva Records to purchase Laurel Records.
Vince talks to Peggy about the deal, who refuses to sell the company. Vince announces that he is going to proceed with the sale since he owns 60% of the company, while Peggy tries to convince him to not do it because she considered it part of her life. Upset by his disloyalty with towards Peggy, Hunk provokes Vince, who refuses to fight. Hunk finally hits Vince in the throat, damaging his vocal cords. Vince is rushed to a hospital, where he is visited by Hunk and Peggy. He forgives Hunk, and during his recovery he realizes of his love for Peggy and the effects that fame produced him. His doctor later visits him at his home and announces that his vocal cords are fully recovered. The movie ends as Vince sings "Young and Beautiful".
The first scenes to be shot were for the dance sequence to the song "Jailhouse Rock". It was choreographed by Alex Romero
, who initially created moves inspired in the style of Fred Astaire
and Gene Kelly
. Presley was not convinced. Romero, in order to create a more proper number, played Presley some of his songs, and asked him to dance to create a new choreography. The next morning, Presley started shooting the scene with the new choreography. During the performance, a dental cap became loose from one of Presley's teeth, that he later inhaled it into his lung. Presley was rushed to a hospital, where a removal surgery was performed. After recovering at the hospital, he returned to the set. The shooting resumed on May 13, 1957, and it was completed on June 17.
Jailhouse Rock became the last film of Judy Tyler
, who died in an automobile accident two weeks after the shooting was completed. Presley, moved by the death of his co-star, never watched the completed film.
box office chart, as well as reaching number 14 for the year at the box office. The movie had an original budget of $400,000 (equivalent to $ in dollars), and it grossed $4 million (equivalent to $ million in dollars) at the box office. In 1957 Presley was ranked 4th as leading box office commodity in film industry. According to Variety, by 1969 the grossing of the movie in the United States and Canada was comparable to the Wizard of Oz.
described the movie as: "A hackneyed, blown-up tale with cheap human values".
The New York Times
wrote: "For reasons best known to Guy Trosper, who wrote the script, two delightfully capable people [Mickey Shaughnesse and Judy Tyler] are forced to hang on to the hero's flying mane and ego for the entire picture [...] Presley fans may not like the idea of his being the churlish egotistical wonderboy of TV and screen for a good half of the picture [...] Elvis break loose with his St. Vitus specialty. Ten to one Next time he'll make it". Meanwhile, Time
wrote: "For moviegoers who may not care for that personality, Presley himself offers in the film a word of consolation: 'Don't Worry,' he says, 'I'll grow on you.' If he does, it will be quite a depressing job to scrape him off." Comparing it with the horror movies on theaters at the time, The Miami News
wrote: "Only Elvis Presley and his "Jailhouse Rock" can keep pace with the movie debut of this "personality," the records show. In estimating the lasting appeal of their grotesque performer"
Cue magazine delivered another unfavorable review, describing the movie plot as: "(an) Unpleasant, mediocre and tasteless drama of a surly, (about a) Ill- mannered, hillbilly convict whose glowering creed and epileptic singling style make him top record star. Jazz magazine Down Beat
particularly criticized Presley, as well as his acting: "For all the vulgarity and animal sexuality of the "old" Elvis, his exhibitionism had beat and was not without a unique excitement. In Jailhouse Rock this is kept to an absolute minimum. He even eschews the old gitter on the assumption, we presume, that his thespic ability is a more convincing prop [...] As the dollar-hungry recording star, Elvis' acting is unaccountably amateurish, considering the real life coaching he's had for the role. He plays the surly churlish heartthrob of competent actress Judy Tyler with indifferent blandness; charges into a romantic clinch with her like Don Quixote tilting at a particularly formidable windmill." British magazine, The Spectator
wrote: "Jailhouse Rock, Elvis Presley's new film, is so nasty that it makes our Elvis, who just passes in a merely silly film like Loving You, seem dangerously near being repulsive. Presumably aimed at adolescents (who else?)"
In contrast to the previous reviews, the movie also earned positive responses. The Schenectady Gazette favored the movie: "In high dramatic style Presley suffers the turns and torments of this latest vehicle to display his sensational charms. Jennifer Holden and Judy Tyler offer examples of blonde and brunette female charms through out, but it's dear Elvis who gets the soft focus camera and arty photography. [...] The producers haven't wasted too much money on production detail, but it's sure enough Elvis Presley in top singing and personality form." The Gadsden Times
also favored the movie, praising particularly the participation of Presley: "Elvis Presley not only proves himself as a dramatic actor in "Jailhouse Rock," but also reveals his versatility by dancing on the screen for the first time. The movie [...] also contains Elvis' unique style of singing."
Look
praised the movie, describing the reception of an audience in a Los Angeles theater: "We wish all our readers could have been present at the Pico Theatre in Los Angeles when that audience registered, loud and often, its approval of what may accurately be described as the star's first big dramatic singing role. M-G-M's "Jailhouse Rock" is destined to attract not only this vigorous young singer's youthful audience but many others who will hear of its power as a dramatic entertainment."
Later, author Thomas Doherty wrote in his 2002 book, Teenagers and Teenpics: The Juvenilization of American Movies in the 1950s: "In Jailhouse Rock, the treatment of rock 'n' roll music, both as narrative content and as cinematic performance is knowing and respectful [...] The elaborate choreography for the title tune, the long takes and uninterrupted screen time given to the other numbers, and the musical pacing--the rock 'n' roll builds in quality and intensity--all show an indigenous appreciation of Presley's rock 'n' Roll."
Critic Hal Erickson wrote for Allrovi:"Jailhouse Rock offers us the sensual, "dangerous" Elvis that had won the hearts of the kids and earned the animosity of their elders. [...] Jailhouse Rock is a perfect balance of song and story from beginning to end; seldom would Elvis be so well showcased in the future." Also for Allrovi, critic Mark Deming wrote: "If Jailhouse Rock isn't Elvis Presley's best movie, it's close enough to the top of the heap to be essential viewing for anyone interested in The King's legacy, and it's one of his few vehicles which really caught his raw, sexy energy and sneering charisma on film [...] Richard Thorpe's direction isn't especially inspired, but he keeps the story moving along well enough, and the production number for the title song is one of the few times Presley's live-wire magnetism made its way through the studio's choreography."
, as being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". The film is famous for the dance sequence in which Presley sings the title track while cavorting with other "inmates" through a block of jail cells. The sequence is widely acknowledged as the most memorable musical scene in Presley's 30 narrative movies, and it is credited musical historians as the prototype for the modern music video. Jailhouse Rock ranked 495th on Empire
s 2008 list of the 500 greatest movies of all time. The review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes
reports the film as holding an overall 79% "Fresh" approval rating based on 14 reviews, with a rating average of 6.9 out of 10.
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
directed by Richard Thorpe
Richard Thorpe
Richard Thorpe was an American film director.Born Rollo Smolt Thorpe in Hutchinson, Kansas, he began his entertainment career performing in vaudeville and onstage. In 1921 he began in motion pictures as an actor and directed his first silent film in 1923. He went on to direct more than one hundred...
for MGM
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
. The film stars Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
in his third film and MGM debut, Judy Tyler
Judy Tyler
Judy Tyler was an American actress.-Early life and career:Born Judith Mae Hess in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she came from a show business family and was encouraged to study dance and acting...
, and Mickey Shaughnessy
Mickey Shaughnessy
Joseph Michael "Mickey" Shaughnessy was an Irish American character actor who specialized in playing lovable, but not-too-bright lugs...
.
The film tells the story of Vince Everett (Elvis Presley), an ex-convict who discovers his musical talent during his time in jail. His cellmate, Hunk Houghton (Mickey Shaughnessy
Mickey Shaughnessy
Joseph Michael "Mickey" Shaughnessy was an Irish American character actor who specialized in playing lovable, but not-too-bright lugs...
) teaches him to play guitar and sing. Shortly after being released from prison, Vince meets in a night club Peggy van Alden (Judy Tyler), a music scout who asks him to record a demo. Peggy and Vince take the demo arrangements of a song to a label that ultimately publishes it under one of their established artists. To avoid studios, Peggy and Vince open their own label to release future recordings, finally achieving success. Soon the fame and fortune change Vince, whose personality becomes self-centered and disloyal towards his associate, Peggy, and to his former cellmate, Hunk.
The movie was premiered on October 17, 1957, in Memphis and was released nationwide on November 8, 1957. It peaked at number 3 on Variety box office chart, and reached number 14 in the year's box office totals grossing $4 million. By 1969, the movie grossed between the United States and Canada, a similar amount to The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
. The movie earned originally mixed reviews, with most of the negative ones directed to Presley's persona. In 2004, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.
Plot
Vince Everett (Elvis PresleyElvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
), a construction worker goes to a bar after receiving his paycheck. He pays his debts to the owner and after he plays an arm wrestling match with him, a woman that was watching, sits next to him and they start to talk. While they talk a man pushes the woman, and while Vince tries to calm the man down, he spills a drink in Vince's shirt. Vince starts a brawl with the man, who he accidentally kills. He is sentenced to one to ten years for manslaughter and sent to the State Prison. Vince meets his cellmate Hunk Houghton (Mickey Shaughnessy
Mickey Shaughnessy
Joseph Michael "Mickey" Shaughnessy was an Irish American character actor who specialized in playing lovable, but not-too-bright lugs...
), a former country & western singer, who after hearing him singing and playing basic guitar tunes, helps him to improve the rhythm of his voice, and his guitar techniques by teaching him more chords. Soon, Hunk convinces Vince to participate of an upcoming inmate show in the prison organized by the committee of the state to be broadcasted on television. Vince gets several letters in response to his performance, but Hunk who is present in the mail room pays with cigarettes the men to not deliver them to Vince. Aware if his talent, and the upcoming release of Vince, Hunk offers him a partnership deal, and convinces a reluctant Vince to sign a contract to split half of the profits of their act.
After he is released, Vince receives the letters and realizes that his mail was blocked. Hunk gets him a job at a night club, but instead of as a singer as Vince thinks, the owner of the club offers hims a job as a barboy. Determined to prove to the reluctant club owner that he can sing well, he moves to the stage and starts to perform a number. Frustrated by a laughing customer, he crashes his guitar against the table and leaves the club. A girl that was sitting next to him while he was talking to the bar owner follows him, and introduces herself as Peggy van Alden, a music scout. Peggy takes Vince to record a demo to perfect his singing by listening to his own recordings. Peggy and Vince later take the final version of a demo, "Don't Leave Me Now", to a label to publish the record. The manager assures them that he would play the tape to the president of the label in New York on the phone. To celebrate the recent recording, Peggy invites Vince to a party at her parents house. While other attendants talk about a jazz record that its playing, distant to their comments and unable to understand the topic when asked about his opinion he replies impolitely as he leaves the party. Peggy follows him for an explanation of his behavior, and clarified him that the other guests were trying to invite him to the conversation. While he walks again he goes back to Peggy and kisses her, she then says "How dare you think such cheap tactics would work with me!". Vince replies, "That ain't tactics, honey. It's just the beast in me", as he walks away Peggy smiles. The next morning Vince apologizes for his behavior, both enter to a record shop looking requesting Vince's single. The seller assures that "Don't Leave Me Now" is a success, but when she brings the record, the artist for the song is Mickey Alba. Realizing that the record company stole his arrangements for one of their established artists he confronts the manager and after slapping him he leaves the place.
To avoid that his material is stolen again Vince offers Peggy start their own record company, using the studios where they recorded the demo and hiring a lawyer to run the legal side. Peggy takes him to meet Mr. Shores (Vaughn Taylor
Vaughn Taylor (actor)
Vaughn Taylor was an American film and television actor. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts.His film credits include Jailhouse Rock, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Psycho and In Cold Blood....
). Vince unsuccessfully tries convince of his upcoming success and offers him to be his manager. Vince records for the new label "Laurel Records" the single, "Treat Me Nice", that Peggy takes to a DJ. After being played on the radio ignites his career, and he ultimately reaches a managerial agreement with Mr. Shores. Vince visits Peggy later that evening, and after kissing her, he asks her out for a dinner. Peggy refuses, because she accepted a dinner with the DJ of the radio that played Vince's single. Frustrated, Vince stays in the room.
The recent hit and the booking of acts, affords Vince the chance to appear again on television. During at a party in his house he introduces Peggy to Laury Jackson (Anne Neyland), a singer that Vince joined to the label to make her jealous. As she leaves, Hunk arrives to and asks Vince for a number in the upcoming show. Reluctant to Hunk's old style, he accepts to try. During the show Vince sings "Jailhouse Rock" in a reconstruction of a cell block as he dances followed by other inmates. Hunk follows Vince but his number is cancelled while they were recording, leaving him in anger. As he is expecting to hear from Peggy, Vince talks to Hunk. He clarifies him that he would not let him to stop the success of his career and that his time in music was over. Hunk mentions his contract, but Vince points out that he mentioned that to his lawyer who assured him that the contract was not valid, and instead offers Hunk ten percent, that he ultimately accepts.
Vince later signs a movie deal with Climax Studios. At the time he arrives, the president asks him to be around the studio star Sherry Wilson (Jennifer Holden
Jennifer Holden
Jennifer Holden , born in Chicago, Illinois, is an actress who appeared in such films as Jailhouse Rock, Buchanan Rides Alone, and Gang War.-See also:**...
), to be seen together as a publicity move. Uncomfortable the actress accepts, and they spend the day together. During the shooting of the movie, in a scene Vince was supposed to kiss Sherry. He starts to kiss her and after the director marked the end of the scene they still kiss each other. During a party at his new house, he talks to Hunk, who grows tired of Vince for the change of his personality as he becomes self-centered, and his requests to walk his dogs. Sherry approaches him, but he walks directly to Peggy as she arrives and hugs her, but she upsets him when she clarifies that went to talk about his upcoming record. Mr Shores later approaches him with an offer of Geneva Records to purchase Laurel Records.
Vince talks to Peggy about the deal, who refuses to sell the company. Vince announces that he is going to proceed with the sale since he owns 60% of the company, while Peggy tries to convince him to not do it because she considered it part of her life. Upset by his disloyalty with towards Peggy, Hunk provokes Vince, who refuses to fight. Hunk finally hits Vince in the throat, damaging his vocal cords. Vince is rushed to a hospital, where he is visited by Hunk and Peggy. He forgives Hunk, and during his recovery he realizes of his love for Peggy and the effects that fame produced him. His doctor later visits him at his home and announces that his vocal cords are fully recovered. The movie ends as Vince sings "Young and Beautiful".
Primary cast
- Elvis PresleyElvis PresleyElvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
: Vince Everett - Judy TylerJudy TylerJudy Tyler was an American actress.-Early life and career:Born Judith Mae Hess in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she came from a show business family and was encouraged to study dance and acting...
: Peggy Van Alden - Mickey ShaughnessyMickey ShaughnessyJoseph Michael "Mickey" Shaughnessy was an Irish American character actor who specialized in playing lovable, but not-too-bright lugs...
: Hunk Houghton - Dean JonesDean Jones (actor)Dean Carroll Jones is an American actor. Jones is best known for his light-hearted leading roles in several Walt Disney movies between 1965 and 1977, most notably The Love Bug.-Early years:...
: Teddy Talbot - Vaughn TaylorVaughn Taylor (actor)Vaughn Taylor was an American film and television actor. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts.His film credits include Jailhouse Rock, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Psycho and In Cold Blood....
: Mr. Shores (narrator) - Jennifer HoldenJennifer HoldenJennifer Holden , born in Chicago, Illinois, is an actress who appeared in such films as Jailhouse Rock, Buchanan Rides Alone, and Gang War.-See also:**...
: Sherry Wilson - Anne Neyland: Laury Jackson
- Bill HickmanBill HickmanWilliam "Bill" Hickman was a stunt driver/actor from the 1950s through to the late 1970s. Hickman played a major role in terms of development and execution in three of the greatest movie car chase sequences of all time....
: Guard who whips Vince - Scotty MooreScotty MooreWinfield Scott "Scotty" Moore III is an American guitarist. He is best known for his backing of Elvis Presley in the first part of his career, between 1954 and the beginning of Elvis' Hollywood years...
: Guitar Player (uncredited) - Bill BlackBill BlackWilliam Patton "Bill" Black, Jr. was an American musician who is noted as one of the pioneers of rockabilly music. Black was the bassist in Elvis Presley's early trio and the leader of Bill Black's Combo....
: Bass Player (uncredited) - D.J. Fontana: Drummer (uncredited)
- Mike Stoller: Piano Player (uncredited)
- Glenn StrangeGlenn StrangeGlenn Strange was an American actor who appeared mostly in Western films. He is best known for playing the Frankenstein Monster in three Universal films during the 1940s and for his role as Sam Noonan, the bartender on CBS's Gunsmoke television series...
: Matt-Convict (uncredited) - Sammy KayeSammy KayeSammy Kaye , born Samuel Zarnocay, Jr., was an American bandleader and songwriter, whose tag line, "Swing and sway with Sammy Kaye", became one of the most famous of the Big Band Era.-Biography:...
: Horace Winterbottom (Photo in studio)
Production
The film was Presley's first for MGM, filmed in black and white. MGM initially wanted to title the film "The Hard Way" and then "Jailhouse Kid", before settling on the title of the main song.The first scenes to be shot were for the dance sequence to the song "Jailhouse Rock". It was choreographed by Alex Romero
Alex Romero
Alexander Rafael Romero Galban is a professional baseball outfielder.-Baseball career:Romero was born on october 3, 1995. She is 5 feet tall and she currently attends Bishop Diego High School as an undrafted free agent...
, who initially created moves inspired in the style of Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute...
and Gene Kelly
Gene Kelly
Eugene Curran "Gene" Kelly was an American dancer, actor, singer, film director and producer, and choreographer...
. Presley was not convinced. Romero, in order to create a more proper number, played Presley some of his songs, and asked him to dance to create a new choreography. The next morning, Presley started shooting the scene with the new choreography. During the performance, a dental cap became loose from one of Presley's teeth, that he later inhaled it into his lung. Presley was rushed to a hospital, where a removal surgery was performed. After recovering at the hospital, he returned to the set. The shooting resumed on May 13, 1957, and it was completed on June 17.
Jailhouse Rock became the last film of Judy Tyler
Judy Tyler
Judy Tyler was an American actress.-Early life and career:Born Judith Mae Hess in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she came from a show business family and was encouraged to study dance and acting...
, who died in an automobile accident two weeks after the shooting was completed. Presley, moved by the death of his co-star, never watched the completed film.
Reception
Jailhouse Rock was premiered on November 8, 1957 at Loews State Theater in Memphis, Tennessee. It opened nationally on November 18, and peaked at number 3 on VarietyVariety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
box office chart, as well as reaching number 14 for the year at the box office. The movie had an original budget of $400,000 (equivalent to $ in dollars), and it grossed $4 million (equivalent to $ million in dollars) at the box office. In 1957 Presley was ranked 4th as leading box office commodity in film industry. According to Variety, by 1969 the grossing of the movie in the United States and Canada was comparable to the Wizard of Oz.
Critical reception
Despite the success in the box office, the movie earned mixed critics. Considered scandalous at the time of its release, featuring Vince Everett as an anti-hero character, Jailhouse Rock presented a convict as a hero, the use of the word hell to swear, as well as a scene of Presley lying in bed with co-star Judy Tyler. The PTAParent-Teacher Association
In the U.S. a parent-teacher association or Parent-Teacher-Student Association is a formal organization composed of parents, teachers and staff that is intended to facilitate parental participation in a public or private school. Most public and private K-8 schools in the U.S. have a PTA, a...
described the movie as: "A hackneyed, blown-up tale with cheap human values".
The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
wrote: "For reasons best known to Guy Trosper, who wrote the script, two delightfully capable people [Mickey Shaughnesse and Judy Tyler] are forced to hang on to the hero's flying mane and ego for the entire picture [...] Presley fans may not like the idea of his being the churlish egotistical wonderboy of TV and screen for a good half of the picture [...] Elvis break loose with his St. Vitus specialty. Ten to one Next time he'll make it". Meanwhile, Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
wrote: "For moviegoers who may not care for that personality, Presley himself offers in the film a word of consolation: 'Don't Worry,' he says, 'I'll grow on you.' If he does, it will be quite a depressing job to scrape him off." Comparing it with the horror movies on theaters at the time, The Miami News
The Miami News
The Miami News was the dominant evening newspaper in Miami, Florida for most of the 20th century, its chief concurrent competitor being the morning-edition of The Miami Herald. The paper started publishing in May 1896 as a weekly called The Miami Metropolis. The Metropolis had become a daily paper...
wrote: "Only Elvis Presley and his "Jailhouse Rock" can keep pace with the movie debut of this "personality," the records show. In estimating the lasting appeal of their grotesque performer"
Cue magazine delivered another unfavorable review, describing the movie plot as: "(an) Unpleasant, mediocre and tasteless drama of a surly, (about a) Ill- mannered, hillbilly convict whose glowering creed and epileptic singling style make him top record star. Jazz magazine Down Beat
Down Beat
Down Beat is an American magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond" to indicate its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chicago, Illinois...
particularly criticized Presley, as well as his acting: "For all the vulgarity and animal sexuality of the "old" Elvis, his exhibitionism had beat and was not without a unique excitement. In Jailhouse Rock this is kept to an absolute minimum. He even eschews the old gitter on the assumption, we presume, that his thespic ability is a more convincing prop [...] As the dollar-hungry recording star, Elvis' acting is unaccountably amateurish, considering the real life coaching he's had for the role. He plays the surly churlish heartthrob of competent actress Judy Tyler with indifferent blandness; charges into a romantic clinch with her like Don Quixote tilting at a particularly formidable windmill." British magazine, The Spectator
The Spectator
The Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
wrote: "Jailhouse Rock, Elvis Presley's new film, is so nasty that it makes our Elvis, who just passes in a merely silly film like Loving You, seem dangerously near being repulsive. Presumably aimed at adolescents (who else?)"
In contrast to the previous reviews, the movie also earned positive responses. The Schenectady Gazette favored the movie: "In high dramatic style Presley suffers the turns and torments of this latest vehicle to display his sensational charms. Jennifer Holden and Judy Tyler offer examples of blonde and brunette female charms through out, but it's dear Elvis who gets the soft focus camera and arty photography. [...] The producers haven't wasted too much money on production detail, but it's sure enough Elvis Presley in top singing and personality form." The Gadsden Times
The Gadsden Times
The Gadsden Times is a daily newspaper serving Gadsden, Alabama, and the surrounding area in northeastern Alabama.The newspaper is a member of the New York Times Regional Media Group, a subsidiary of the New York Times Company, through the corporate entity of NYT Holdings, Inc., an Alabama...
also favored the movie, praising particularly the participation of Presley: "Elvis Presley not only proves himself as a dramatic actor in "Jailhouse Rock," but also reveals his versatility by dancing on the screen for the first time. The movie [...] also contains Elvis' unique style of singing."
Look
Look (American magazine)
Look was a bi-weekly, general-interest magazine published in Des Moines, Iowa from 1937 to 1971, with more of an emphasis on photographs than articles...
praised the movie, describing the reception of an audience in a Los Angeles theater: "We wish all our readers could have been present at the Pico Theatre in Los Angeles when that audience registered, loud and often, its approval of what may accurately be described as the star's first big dramatic singing role. M-G-M's "Jailhouse Rock" is destined to attract not only this vigorous young singer's youthful audience but many others who will hear of its power as a dramatic entertainment."
Later, author Thomas Doherty wrote in his 2002 book, Teenagers and Teenpics: The Juvenilization of American Movies in the 1950s: "In Jailhouse Rock, the treatment of rock 'n' roll music, both as narrative content and as cinematic performance is knowing and respectful [...] The elaborate choreography for the title tune, the long takes and uninterrupted screen time given to the other numbers, and the musical pacing--the rock 'n' roll builds in quality and intensity--all show an indigenous appreciation of Presley's rock 'n' Roll."
Critic Hal Erickson wrote for Allrovi:"Jailhouse Rock offers us the sensual, "dangerous" Elvis that had won the hearts of the kids and earned the animosity of their elders. [...] Jailhouse Rock is a perfect balance of song and story from beginning to end; seldom would Elvis be so well showcased in the future." Also for Allrovi, critic Mark Deming wrote: "If Jailhouse Rock isn't Elvis Presley's best movie, it's close enough to the top of the heap to be essential viewing for anyone interested in The King's legacy, and it's one of his few vehicles which really caught his raw, sexy energy and sneering charisma on film [...] Richard Thorpe's direction isn't especially inspired, but he keeps the story moving along well enough, and the production number for the title song is one of the few times Presley's live-wire magnetism made its way through the studio's choreography."
Accolades
In 1991, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller were awarded with an ASCAP Award for Most Performed Feature Film Standards for the song "Jailhouse Rock". In 2004, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film RegistryNational Film Registry
The National Film Registry is the United States National Film Preservation Board's selection of films for preservation in the Library of Congress. The Board, established by the National Film Preservation Act of 1988, was reauthorized by acts of Congress in 1992, 1996, 2005, and again in October 2008...
, as being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". The film is famous for the dance sequence in which Presley sings the title track while cavorting with other "inmates" through a block of jail cells. The sequence is widely acknowledged as the most memorable musical scene in Presley's 30 narrative movies, and it is credited musical historians as the prototype for the modern music video. Jailhouse Rock ranked 495th on Empire
Empire (magazine)
Empire is a British film magazine published monthly by Bauer Consumer Media. From the first issue in July 1989, the magazine was edited by Barry McIlheney and published by Emap. Bauer purchased Emap Consumer Media in early 2008...
s 2008 list of the 500 greatest movies of all time. The review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
reports the film as holding an overall 79% "Fresh" approval rating based on 14 reviews, with a rating average of 6.9 out of 10.
Soundtrack
The following songs were sung in the film:- "One More Day" (Sid Tepper & Roy C. Bennett) Performed by Mickey Shaughnessy
- "Young And Beautiful" (Abner Silver & Aaron Schroeder) Performed by Elvis Presley
- "I Want To Be Free" (Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller)
- "Don't Leave Me Now" (Aaron Schroeder & Ben Weisman)
- "Treat Me Nice" (Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller)
- "Jailhouse Rock" (Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller) Choreographed by Elvis Presley
- "(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care" Baby I Don't Care" is a song written in 1957 by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It has become a minor pop standard, with notable versions being performed by Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly. Elvis Presley's version was released on his Jailhouse Rock EP, and reached number fourteen on the R&B charts...
" (Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller)