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.
