Ao Balanço das Horas

Journeyman director Fred Sears (also an actor in many films--I remember him from Charles Starrett westerns) was a good choice to direct this low-budget Sam Katzman-produced quickie, meant to cash in on the rock'n'roll fad and the celebrity of Bill Haley and His Comets. Sears gets right down to business and features the music throughout--with wonderful (mostly) mimed performances by Bill Haley of his classic early Decca recordings, which still rock out today. Also seen are the pioneering lounge-rocknroll band Freddie Bell and His Bellboys, who were fine entertainers in the Louis Prima vein and who provided Elvis with Hound Dog. A plot is woven into the film here and there to keep things moving, but the emphasis is on the music. Haley's friendly persona comes across well in his limited dialogue scenes, and the other characters in his band, such as sax player Rudy Pompilli, are quite animated, capturing a bit of what his live shows must have been like (probably much wilder than this film). Alan Freed also appears and is worked into the plot, and the Platters sing their two biggest hits. All together, it's an excellent time capsule into the early days of rock'n'roll, and it's a wonderful showcase for the great Bill Haley, who still has not received his due as a music pioneer. It's easy to see why the film caused riots when shown overseas. Don't miss it if you like Haley, Freed, and the glory days of rocknroll.

If you cruise by this one while channel surfing, your first instinct might be that this a B-grade science fiction movie. The acting and the script are more wooden than the furniture, but stick with it -- it's a vintage rock and roll gas.

Ignore the corny, predictable plot. Stick with the music of the Comets and the Platters. This music is timeless rock and roll.

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 ****

A lively, but not a factual description of the birth of rock 'n' roll. A couple of small time promoters break away from the big band way of life and stumble across a hot combo that packs a small dance hall.

Johnny Johnston, John Archer, Lisa Gaye and Alan Freed star. On screen musical performances by Bill Haley and his Comets, Freddie Bell and the Bellboys and the Platters make this one of the first feature films that concerns the beginnings of rock 'n' roll.

Enjoyable and fun to revisit. This has earned a cult following status in Europe.

Entertaining, albeit completely fictional, story about the early days of 'rock'n'roll'. The diaphanous plot finds band manager Steve Hollis (Johnny Johnston) having an musical epiphany while attending a small town dance in 'Strawberry Springs', where the kids are rocking and rolling to local band 'Bill Haley and His Comets'. Recognising the potential of the new sound, Steve plans to take the band to the top but has to contend with conniving agent Corinne Talbot (Alix Talton), who is carrying a torch for him and doesn't want him fraternising with "Young. Fresh." dancer Lisa (Lisa Gaye ). Haley and crew lip-sync a few good tunes including the titular classic, as do the Platters (including the standard "The Great Pretender") and the Bellboys (a somewhat less remembered act). There is lots of hip slang, keen music, a bit of S.E.X., and some crazy dancing (especially by Lisa Gaye and Earl Barton). Good, light-weight fun daddy-o!