El rey del twist

Hollywood just never did get it when it came to rock & roll in the early years, did they? I think I know one thing that was wrong with movies about rock in the pre-'Easy Rider' days--they were full o' SQUARES, man! This one is an effort by Columbia Pictures to capitalize on the Twist dance craze. It was produced by the noted cost-cutter Sam Katzman, the man responsible for the worst of Elvis Presley's films, and it shows. It's strictly formula: a simple, basic plot; lots of time consumed by (lip-synched) performances; and a few pretty girls wiggling around. Even so, this movie is comparatively bad for its type--and that means very bad.

The music is no saving grace here. It features Chubby Checker, who, despite his big hits, is no more than a peripheral character in rock & roll history. Vic Dana, the Dovells and Linda Scott are all but forgotten. Gene Chandler does do his big hit, "Duke of Earl," all duded up. That's not much of a highlight package. This flick is only for the fanatic who wants to see every old R&R film ever made.

A very entertaining film with music that takes me back to my senior year in high school. Unlike most of these rock n roll movies, this one clearly shows middle aged and even elderly adults enjoying the music of teenagers. I find that refreshing, although mostly unrealistic. I also enjoy watching Georgine Darcy's(Madge) and her "brother" doing their dance routine. Georgine is a real pro and makes the show more enjoyable.(I would love to know how to contact her.) A real neat movie!

Ted Haver (Lang Jeffries) is a harried TV exec who must orchestrate an epic "Twist Spectacular" to beat the competing broadcast network. Lang recruits Chubby Checker and other "top talent" like the Linda Scott. He also discovers -- via a Peeping Tom session -- neighborhood "teen" Madge and her "brother" doing the wildest Twist steps, and he convinces her to be in the show ("I'll do it for the Orphans!") Lang's gal pal, Dulcey Corbin, gets jealous of Madge and uses her latest "Twist" fashions to stir up controversy. Film Highlight: Nightclub revelers demonstrate piety during Vic Dana's somber rendition of "Little Altar Boy".

"Hank Ballard and the Midnighters" Wrote and Recorded "The Twist" as the B-Side of "Teardrops On Your Letter"...The "B" Got Some Play and Charted Modestly.

Then, 2 Years Later "Chubby Checker" Not Only Stole the Name from "Fats Domino" but Stole the Song "The Twist", almost a Clone of the Hank Ballard Record with the Same Vocal Style, and Not a Note or a Word Changed.

By a Turn that is Completely Inexplicable, the CC Version Shot to #1 and Ignited a "Twist-Craze" that Swept the Nation.

But Once the "Old Folks", not Only Parents, but Grand-Parents of the "Teens" Started Twisting the Night-Away....it was OVER for that Particular Novelty, Remembered Mostly for the "Geezers" Crashing the Party.

There were 3 "Twist-Movies", this was the Sequel to "Twist Around the Clock" ("Rock Around the Clock" & "Don't Knock the Rock"), and the Peppermint Flavored "Hey Let's Twist" (1961) Featuring "Joey Dee and the Starlighters.

Both Movies are Indicative of the Clueless Hollywood Horning in On Music and Life-Style of Teenagers. This Went On for a Few Years, with this being the Final-Insult.

The Saving Grace of the Genre was that Each Movie Did Manage to Include 1or2 "Nuggets" of Pure-Gold.

There's some Fools-Gold in this Movie...The Bristol Stomp (the Dovells), The Mashed Potatoes (Dee Dee Sharp-Music Only), Linda Scott, and that's About it, Unless You Want to Include that "Flash-in-the-Pan"...Chubby Checker.

The High-Light is Gene Chandler Doing "Duke of Earl" in Top-Hat and Monocle...The Low-Light and the Most Cringe-Inducing Moment Comes when Vic Dana Sings "Little Altar Boy".

You can tell right away that this is a quickie to join the parade of "twist" theme movies. A TV executive (Lang Jeffries)is trying to put together a TV special a couple weeks ahead of a competing station. He just happens to call on Chubby Checker to come to his rescue. Chubby wrangles Gene Chandler, Vic Dana, Linda Scott and the Dovells to appear. The spotlight ends up on a young dancer(Georgine Darcy).

Plenty of shimmy shakin' goin' on. Of course the talent, excluding Checker of course, are barely one hit wonders. Very little depth to the plot, but watching again will bring back some memories.

Also in the cast are Mari Blanchard, Stephen Preston and Nydia Westman.