This film was Elvis Presley’s third. Director Richard Thorpe was hired because he was known in Hollywood as the fastest director. For all intents and purposes, the film is just a vehicle for Elvis to sing and dance on the silver screen. The story isn’t special and the film isn’t trying to be great cinema. However, it works as strictly entertainment.
Presley is a captivating performer and I could name dozens of singers turned actors that have given far worse performances. Presley plays Vince Everett, a blue collar worker who gets sent to prison after accidentally killing a man in a bar fight. In jail, Everett learns to play the guitar from his cellmate Hunk Houghton (Mickey Shaughnessy, HOW THE WEST WAS WON), a former small time Country & Western singer. Everett is a born performer and Hunk knows it, signing him to a 50/50 contract. Once out of jail, Everett meets recorder promoter Peggy Van Alden (Judy Tyler, BOP GIRL GOES CALYPSO) and the rest is history as they say.
The film chronicles Everett’s rise to stardom and how it affects him and his friends. But really it just allows Elvis the chance to sing a few different types of songs. The famous “Jailhouse Rock” number is wonderfully choreographed and the minimal sets work. I’ve not seen Presley in anything else, but this plot probably suits him best. He is why you watch this film and he’s the reason it’s good.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
