Runtime: 96 minutes
Directed by: Richard Thorpe
Starring: Elvis, Judy Tyler, Mickey Shaughnessy, Vaughn Taylor, Dean Jones
From: MGM
I had to tip my cap to what would have been the 90th birthday of Elvis. I have a list of his movies and I’ve enjoyed his music since I was a kid. This does not excuse the most unsavory aspects of his life, from the drugs to his behavior to what I’ll call “the questionable start” of his relationship w/ Priscilla. The King was in many corny movies which at least usually made me chuckle due to silliness. Thankfully, he once was in serious films, such as Jailhouse Rock, played last night on TCM.
Vince Edwards is sentenced to prison for manslaughter after attempting to protect a girl from her cruel drunk beau, then killing the SOB w/ several punches. While in the slammer, his cellmate is a former country singer. Much to my amusement, even back then the currency in jail is cigarettes and the movie stressed that point. Once he served his time, there were many bumps on the road to potential stardom.
Edwards is not always a likable protagonist. That made the journey more compelling as his behavior never became a turn-off. Of course it’s a serious film and it had a quality soundtrack, especially the title tune and especially the musical number done when Jailhouse Rock is played. One asset is that music promoter/love interest Judy Tyler was always an easy character to sympathize with. What a shame that only a few days after production completed, Tyler and her husband were killed in a car wreck. Presley was so crushed by the news, he allegedly never watched the film. She was only 24, her husband only 19, so what a tragedy.
It's a nice 50’s musical drama, albeit one where it helps if you like The King and can accept him playing a more atypical role than usual compared to his typical lightweight nonsense on the silver screen.
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