Movie Night: Jailhouse Rock.

Review #327: Jailhouse Rock.

Cast
Elvis Presley (Vince Everett), Judy Tyler (Peggy Van Alden), Mickey Shaughnessy (Hunk Houghton), Vaughn Taylor (Mr. Shores), Jennifer Holden (Sherry Wilson), and Dean Jones (Teddy Talbot) Directed by Richard Thorpe.

Review
Sometimes, it's just a weird choice for the end of the year, for December 31, 2011, I reviewed Duck Soup (#085), and a year later, I wonder if this would be as good a choice like last year. In a way, I was kinda right. And who else to end the year, but...Elvis. Yeah, I hadn't mentioned him or even watched a film with him until today (On the eve of some sort of new year), but I had heard about his film roles and...their varying success. Elvis Presley appeared in 31 films (and two concert documentaries) in his lifetime, this being released 55 years ago. Presley does a decent job, not exactly a great persona, but he does have a commanding presence, and his singing (Have I mentioned singing ever before here?) is excellent, including the Jailhouse Rock sequence which is one of the most memorable music sequences in film. The rest of the film isn't as commanding or great, but Tyler does a great job, it's a shame that this was sadly her last performance (she died after production). The film doesn't have much story per say, but it does have entertainment value.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.