O Rei do Rock and Roll

This contrived, let's-showcase-rock 'n' roll-stars film is only worth seeing for rare performances of LaVerne Baker, Clyde McPhatter, Little Richard, Frankie Lymon, and others.

However it is certainly NOT worth seeing for the appallingly wooden acting - but then what do you expect with a movie starring Rocky Graziano!?!

Mr. Rock and Roll is another in a series of quickly produced movies that give us all a glimpse into early rock and roll. This film could have been a GREAT film but, for some reason, it seems like most of the acts chose their worst songs for this movie. Laverne Baker is a case in point, and whatever made the great Moonglows wear mexican outfits (sombrero's even!) and do a horrible song "Barcelona Rock"? Ugh! Ferlin Husky's tunes are forgettable and what on earth is a Shaye Cogan? Lionel Hampton seems just as mis placed as country star Ferlin Husky. Historically speaking, this would be our last look at Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers (they dis-banded shortly after the film was released). Their two numbers are not their best, but very good. Teddy Randazzo's songs are well done (he sings, among others, "Kiddio", which was a hit for co-star and friend Brook Benton some years later). Teddy also gives a fine acting performance as does Alan Freed.

With better songs, Mr. Rock and Roll would be a classic, but if you enjoy early rock and roll, this is still a good movie to see.

My cousin has fond memories of seeing Mister Rock and Roll because after the movie there was a stage show. Alan Freed's show featured Jackie Wilson and Joanne Campbell. He can't recall who appeared on the show aside from the performers listed here and has tried looking everywhere. The place for this event was the Loew's Paradise theater in the Bronx. Is there anyone out there who lived in the Bronx during that period who remembers this show and the artists who performed that night? The movie opened October 1957 so I am guessing October or perhaps November. My cousin said there were other shows held at the Paradise Theater but it was this particular one that he attended.

Yesterday, I watched Don't Knock the Rock which featured the recently passed Little Richard singing "Tutti Frutti" and "Long Tall Sally". Today, I just watched this which had him singing "Lucille". Even though that was his only song in this particular movie, he still stands out mainly because of his overall appearance among those of other musical performers like those of Brook Benton, Clyde McPhatter, La Vern Baker, Frankie Lyman and the Teenagers, and even Chuck Berry, the only other performer who only performs one set. One legendary musician who came before all of them, Lionel Hampton, seems to fit right in among them especially when he plays the vibraphone. All of them and more are introed by the legendary DJ Alan Freed who often plays himself in these movies and has introed many of them before and after in other films (Chuck Berry appears in many of them of which I previously reviewed on this site a few years ago when he passed). This one doesn't have too much of a plot-just a few scenes about how awful Rock 'n' Roll is among the older generation-as this is presented more in a revue-type format. For that reason, I definitely recommend Mister Rock and Roll!

I recently watched the TV Movie `Mr. Rock 'n' Roll' so when I saw the original feature in the schedules I decided to have a look at it to make a comparison. Well, for me, neither of them is very good but at least the more recent version canvasses the issue of payola (DJ's being paid to play certain records) while the most controversial moment in the original is when Alan Freed, playing himself very badly, confesses `The only thing I'm guilty of is being present at the birth of rock and roll'

Apart from that, in the new version there are bad look-a-likes miming to the original recordings whereas in the fifties film we see some of the actual performers miming to recordings. And a mixed bunch they are! Teddy Randazzo starts with a most inferior Elvis impersonation though he later proves himself quite a reasonable crooner. Incidentally in the acting stakes Teddy makes Elvis look like Sir Laurence Olivier, neither he nor Freed are capable of delivering a line. Brooke Benton has a beautiful rich, deep voice and Frankie Lymon's singing is a highlight. Of the rest Ferlin Huskey, who smokes while singing, is a country & western artist out of place here, Laverne Baker seems to be a novelty or comedy singer while Lionel Hampton tries to be Cab Calloway, fails! I must admit Hampton's xylophone playing is very pleasant but hardly rock and roll. A couple called Fisher & Marks attempt to provide comic relief, succeed in being embarrassing, as are the Moonglows in sombreros singing `Barcelona Rock'. And speaking of embarrassment brings me to Rocky Graziano, an ex-boxer trying to be funny. Enough said.

To sum up, `Mister Rock and Roll' barely qualifies as a movie but if you want to see these artistes maybe it's worth a look.