Watch Rock Around the Clock For Free

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Blistering performances.

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!

Alan Freed was at the top of the world of rock & roll in 1956. In three years he would become part of the first payola scandal being accused & convicted of accepting bribes to play records on his popular radio show. Right now, this movie is his first one & he plays a sort of Dick Clark type emcee as himself. This would be the first of 3 films he would do in 1956.Johnny Johnston in his next to last screen role plays Steve Hollis whose real story as a rock & roll promoter is the loose basis of this movie. Alix Talton plays Corrine Talbot, a woman business person who is the bank roller for Hollis efforts to promote rock & roll. Alix voice reminds me of Eve Arden, but she is shaped differently than Eve.What is really great about this movie is the music. This is top shelf early rock & roll with Bill Halley & The Comets doing the title track 3 or 4 different times & a couple of other numbers. The Platters are here too in top form & doing the classic "The Great Pretender". The music really takes a front seat here, the Hollis story is here just to hold the music together.This movie is a little stronger than Rock, Rock, Rock which would be later this same year. Lisa Gaye is here as Lisa Johns, competing for the attention of Steve Hollis & actually winning the battle over Talbot. Johns would go on to do a lot of television roles after this film, her 10th on screen role. Her first appearance on screen was as one of the bobbysoxer's in Jimmy Stewarts Glenn Miller Story 2 years earlier.

It ain't great cinema, folks, but it IS fun. It's also a great reminder of the roots of rock- and-roll (old-fashioned hyphenated spelling intentional), and how far that musical genre has developed in the last (choke) 50 years. I was only 9 when this film was released, and had never seen it until today (thanks, Turner Classics). Bill Hailey was certainly no Eric Clapton on the guitar, but was definitely a showman...in what would now be considered a cornball sort of way. The whole film is a good display of the fact that choreographing singers' movements didn't start with Madonnna. It also shows modern viewers that the Platters could REALLY sing!Another thing I really enjoyed was the dancing in this movie. Lisa Gaye and Earl Barton could move! About an hour and 15 minutes into the film (which is only about 1:20 long) there's a number which shows them off well, during which they're joined by a couple of dozen other excellent dancers. It's a fun way to end the film.

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.