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Jailhouse Rock (film)

Jailhouse Rock is a 1957 American musical drama film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Elvis Presley, Judy Tyler, Mickey Shaughnessy, Vaughn Taylor and Jennifer Holden. Adapted by Guy Trosper from a story written by Nedrick Young, the film tells the story of Vince Everett (Presley), a convict who learns the guitar while in prison and later becomes a star following his release.

Jailhouse Rock

Richard Thorpe

Guy Trosper

Nedrick Young

Pandro S. Berman

Robert J. Bronner

Ralph E. Winters

Jeff Alexander

Avon Productions

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

  • October 17, 1957 (1957-10-17) (Memphis)
  • November 8, 1957 (1957-11-08) (United States)

96 minutes

United States

English

$1 million[1]

$4 million[1]

The film's iconic soundtrack was written by songwriters Mike Stoller and Jerry Leiber. The dance sequence to the film's title song is often cited as "Presley's greatest moment on screen."


Jailhouse Rock premiered in Memphis, Tennessee on October 17, 1957, and was released nationwide on November 8, 1957. It peaked at #3 on the Variety box-office chart and finished #14 for the year, grossing $4 million. The film initially earned mixed reviews, with much of the negative targeted at Presley. In 2004, the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, who deemed it "culturally, aesthetically or historically significant."[2][3]

as Vince Everett, an ex-con who becomes a singing star.[4] Producer Pandro S. Berman's wife convinced him to make a film with Presley in the leading role. Presley's manager, Colonel Thomas Parker, was only interested in the film's score and the rights to record sales and publishing royalties,[5][6] and Presley was paid $250,000 and 50% of the film's royalties.[7]

Elvis Presley

as Peggy Van Alden, a music promoter who helps Vince build his career and becomes his lover.[4] Tyler was previously known for her part as Princess Summerfall Winterspring on the television show Howdy Doody and as Suzy in the Broadway musical Pipe Dream (1955).[8][9] Tyler took a three-month leave of absence from Howdy Doody to shoot the film. Tyler and her husband were killed in a car crash on July 3, just days after production was completed and before its premiere.[8] Presley was so devastated that he refused to watch the film.

Judy Tyler

as Hunk Houghton, Vince's cellmate and a former country singer. He teaches Vince the guitar and later becomes Vince's assistant.[4] Shaughnessy was known as Leva in From Here to Eternity (1953).[10] He was also a comedian, and Variety reported that Shaughnessy had performed a 45-minute routine deriding Presley sometime before the film was made. Elaine Dundy, author of the book Elvis and Gladys (1985), considered his selection an "odd choice" and the result of Berman's lack of involvement with casting.[11]

Mickey Shaughnessy

as Mr. Shores, an attorney whom Vince and Peggy hire to manage Vince's financial affairs.[12]

Vaughn Taylor

as the studio head (uncredited)

William Forrest

as starlet Sherry Wilson.[13] The film was Holden's debut; after auditioning for the role at MGM in May 1956, she was selected immediately. She studied drama with Lillian Roth and had previously appeared on stage.[14]

Jennifer Holden

as disc jockey Teddy Talbot. Jones was formerly a blues singer, and he was coached for the role by disc jockeys Ira Cooke and Dewey Phillips.[15] Jones went on to star in a string of Walt Disney films.

Dean Jones

"Jailhouse Rock" cowriter Mike Stoller (of the songwriting partnership) and Presley's regular band during that period—Scotty Moore, Bill Black and D. J. Fontana—appear as Vince's band throughout the film, though uncredited.[16]

Leiber and Stoller

"One More Day" (Sid Tepper, Roy C. Bennett) – performed by Mickey Shaughnessy

"" (Abner Silver, Aaron Schroeder)

Young and Beautiful

"I Want to Be Free" (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller)

"" (Aaron Schroeder, Ben Weisman)

Don't Leave Me Now

"" (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller)

Treat Me Nice

"" (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) – dance routine choreographed by Elvis Presley

Jailhouse Rock

"" (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) - Presley also played electric bass

(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care

Jailhouse Rock

2006: – Nominated[54]

AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals

List of American films of 1957

Jailhouse Rock essay by on the National Film Registry website [1]

Carrie Rickey

Jailhouse Rock essay by Daniel Eagan in America's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry, A&C Black, 2010  0826429777, pages 535-536 [2]

ISBN

at IMDb

Jailhouse Rock

at AllMovie

Jailhouse Rock

at the TCM Movie Database

Jailhouse Rock

at the American Film Institute Catalog

Jailhouse Rock

at Rotten Tomatoes

Jailhouse Rock