AniInterview
Sorry, this movie sucks
Steineded
How sad is this?
JinRoz
For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!
mark.waltz
If it was up to powerful music agent Alix Talton, Bill Haley and the Comets would not have a chance of making it in the business. The big band era has apparently come to an end, even though the Glenn Miller story and the Benny Goodman story had just been huge box office hits at the movies. But according to the screenplay, big bands can't fill up even half a room. On their way home from a gig after disbanding a big band, Alan Freed discovers a small town where Saturday night dance is a big deal, and Bill Haley and the Comets apparently work for vegetables rather than cold hard cash. Introducing them to Talton, Freed wants to make them stars, but the only gig they get is a literal dance for squares at an all girls school where the stuffy faculty wants no part of the boomin rock and roll industry. But going against the school officials demands, the comets become a smash when they begin to swing. Their success doesn't convince Talton to book them in premier clubs, and it seems like their success will not happen. But thanks to Freed and his plan to get them a big gig, Talton's efforts go unsuccessful.While the music here certainly is great, with the Comets performing the title song and other hits and a brief appearance by the Platters, there is something about this it just doesn't swing as far as true history is concerned. Big bands certainly were still around in the mid 1950's, and maybe if not making the top of the charts, they were certainly still successful. Even with the slight story however it is pretty fast moving and entertaining film. There seems to be no motivation on Talton's efforts to put out the Comet's fire before it even lights up. The only thing I can guess is that the writers wanted to show her at the power hungry females who love being able to make or break musicians, and this doesn't really give her character some motivation. So watch this for the music, if not the story or accuracy, and you might just lying there a passable time filler.
mike-2620
This is a magic film that captures the excitement of early rock n roll and the people who played it. Bill Haley and his comets are outstanding in what should be officially recognised as part of Movie history. The first ever rock n roll film to be made maybe a bit thin on the plot line, but makes up for it with its exciting dance scenes and thumping jumping music. Some previous comments have said they found the Lisa Gaye and Johnny Johnston characters age gap to be creepy. I didn't have a problem with this at all, as lots of young women married older men during the forties and fifties. Lisa Gaye was over 21 and Johnston was in his early thirties when the film was shot. "Rock around the Clock" is now out on DVD (not sure about the UK yet) and looks splendid in a re-mastered and restored edition that is well worth buying. Check out Earl Barton as Lisa's brother and dancing partner. Barton actually choreographed all the dance scenes and at the time was a much respected Hollywood choreographer. I'm giving this film a ten out of ten Daddio as it was the first and the best of the rock and roll films made during the fifties.
tavm
After its inclusion in the hit film The Blackboard Jungle, the song "Rock Around the Clock" was such a smash hit that B-movie producer Sam Katzman decided to make a movie with that title and have the single's act, Bill Haley and the Comets, perform that one, "See You Later, Alligator" and a few others here. He also booked Freddie Bell and His Bellboys and The Platters for additional appeal. I wonder if this was the only time the latter group performed their hits, "Only You" and "The Great Pretender" for the big screen. It's mainly for what I cited above as well as being the first time that this was a picture that showcased Rock 'n' Roll nearly in its entirety that would give it interest today. Otherwise, it's just a mostly bland plot about a manager trying to give Haley and his combo their big break with complications like his former female manager girlfriend vs. his current one in teenage dancer Lisa Gaye. (Seeing him and Lisa suddenly kiss after just meeting gave me the creeps!) Also, the guy who coined the new music sound's name, Alan Freed, does his introductions when the acts come on. So on that note, Rock Around the Clock is well worth a look. Oh, and unlike the end of The Blackboard Jungle, when the title song here ended the movie, there was no Big Band flourish to finish it. P.S. While the one other musical act, Tony Martinez and His Band are good too, it's obvious that-as the plot implied-they have a different appeal, possibly to the potential "squares" in the audience. And one of the Platters-Paul Robi-was born in New Orleans which is a two hour drive from my current home town of Baton Rouge.
Peter Swanson
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.
