Il re del rock and roll

The best part of the film is, of course, rock n roll music of the day as done by original artists. On the other side of the coin is some of the worst music as well. To tell which is which, one needs simply to view the movie and it becomes obvious. Also, some of the "teenagers" shown have to be pushing 30 or more. However, all in all, I enjoyed this film for the nostalgia of the 50s which, like many others of it's kind, it does contain.

A movie that pre-dates music videos by a number of years, "Rock, Rock, Rock" showcased a number of well-known and not so well-known groups in a venue that, admittedly, had very little plot. However, this was 1956, and to have Alan Freed take groups that had, and still were having, so much social impact in "the real world" and put them together on celluloid was a marvellous event. Again, this was 1956, and I don't think I would have seen Cirino and the Bowties, Johnny Burnette, Teddy Randazzo, Jimmy Cavallo and the Houserockers anywhere else during that period. I watched/shouted to/screamed to/danced/to this movie in 1956 (at 10 years of age) and have seen it about 14-15 times since. I'm certain that had I seen it in 1999 for the first time, my point of view would have been much different, but that's only natural. After all, what kind of critical analysis will Pink Floyd's "The Wall" get in the year 2020? If you can look at this movie with "1956 eyes," you get a heck of a lot more than just "weak plot." By the way, Chubby Checker was NOT in this film.

Another rock 'n' roll quickie. Flimsy plot, but some very good musical performances. Future sex-kitten, thirteen year old Tuesday Weld makes her debut with the situation of trying to buy a dress for the prom. She 'lip syncs' to the voice of Connie Francis. Her boyfriend(Teddy Randazzo) wins a talent contest and somehow talks DJ Alan Freed into bringing a gaggle of talent to the prom. Randazzo's singing was about as boring as little Ivy Schulman's was dreadful.

Redeeming this film are the performances by The Moonglows, Chuck Berry, The Flamingos, Lavern Baker, The Johnny Burnett Trio and Frankie Lymon. The Bowties and the House Rockers were a joke. There were worse movies out there at the time. This is surely worth the price of admission and a cherry coke.

Note: I found it pretty cool that Miss Weld's character admits spending allowance money on playing Elvis records on the jukebox. Later, in 1961, she would actually play a sexpot trying to seduce him in WILD IN THE COUNTRY.

If you're a fan of the early days of Rock and Roll, then this is a must see. Rock Rock Rock has one of the best line ups of early rock talent seen in these types of films. Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers do two numbers as do The Moonglows. Also on hand are rare film appearances by The Flamingos and LaVerne Baker. Rock Rock Rock also contains the only film performance by the great rockabilly group, The Johnny Burnette Trio. Singer-songwriter-producer Teddy Randazzo does several songs with The Three Chuckles and is the male lead opposite Tuesday Weld (whose singing voice is over dubbed by a then unknown Connie Francis. The plot however, is unbelievably ridiculous (it centers around a prom dress!) and Tuedsay Weld plays an incredibly DUMB teenager (she thinks 1 percent of a dollar is one dollar). Alan Freed is great though, introducing the acts and you'll hear one of his top tenor sax specialists, Freddie Mitchell. Fast forward through the "story" and head for the musical numbers if you want, but don't miss this one if you love early Rock and Roll!

Jaw-dropping black-and-white cheapie has typical teen scheming to get herself a strapless prom dress for the dance, which is being hosted by none other than Alan Freed (here desperately trying to sing and keep a beat). Tuesday Weld, very young and very green, opens the movie by bursting into song (with Connie Francis' vocals!). Corny, silly, deliriously dated but enjoyable on a garbage-flick level. Camp enthusiasts will be feasting on this trash-relic for years. Look fast for Valerie Harper as a rock-loving teen in the over-appreciative audience. ** from ****