The best part of the film is, of course, rock n roll music of the day as done by original artists. On the other side of the coin is some of the worst music as well. To tell which is which, one needs simply to view the movie and it becomes obvious. Also, some of the "teenagers" shown have to be pushing 30 or more. However, all in all, I enjoyed this film for the nostalgia of the 50s which, like many others of it's kind, it does contain.
39 Reviews
Alan Freed Show comes to the prom.
michaelRokeefe19 November 2000
Another rock 'n' roll quickie. Flimsy plot, but some very good musical performances. Future sex-kitten, thirteen year old Tuesday Weld makes her debut with the situation of trying to buy a dress for the prom. She 'lip syncs' to the voice of Connie Francis. Her boyfriend(Teddy Randazzo) wins a talent contest and somehow talks DJ Alan Freed into bringing a gaggle of talent to the prom. Randazzo's singing was about as boring as little Ivy Schulman's was dreadful.
Redeeming this film are the performances by The Moonglows, Chuck Berry, The Flamingos, Lavern Baker, The Johnny Burnett Trio and Frankie Lymon. The Bowties and the House Rockers were a joke. There were worse movies out there at the time. This is surely worth the price of admission and a cherry coke.
Note: I found it pretty cool that Miss Weld's character admits spending allowance money on playing Elvis records on the jukebox. Later, in 1961, she would actually play a sexpot trying to seduce him in WILD IN THE COUNTRY.
Redeeming this film are the performances by The Moonglows, Chuck Berry, The Flamingos, Lavern Baker, The Johnny Burnett Trio and Frankie Lymon. The Bowties and the House Rockers were a joke. There were worse movies out there at the time. This is surely worth the price of admission and a cherry coke.
Note: I found it pretty cool that Miss Weld's character admits spending allowance money on playing Elvis records on the jukebox. Later, in 1961, she would actually play a sexpot trying to seduce him in WILD IN THE COUNTRY.
Interesting and unintentionally funny
rooster_davis5 April 2008
This movie is a riot. It's got the typical 50's music with some excuse for a show put on by Alan Freed, of course. Tuesday Weld plays a real simpleton of a girl who stupidly gets herself in serious 'trouble' at the hands of another equally stupid teenage girl - she lends the other girl money to buy a dress, thinking 100% interest was a fair amount, but the other girl says that rate is so high it's illegal so she isn't going to pay back the money at all. OH MY GOSH! Now Tuesday won't be able to buy her OWN dress for the dance - and she has lost her boyfriend to the other girl, because he loves blue formal gowns like the other girl bought with Tuesday's money. Can you grasp the level of sophistication of this plot? Tuesday also gets her banking advice from the local bank president named - are you ready? - MR. BIMBLE! Is that a scream or what? Maybe the most agonizingly funny part of this flick is the singing by Tommy Rogers. His song "Thanks To You" is so insanely sour and off-key, if you are even the slightest bit 'impaired' you may rupture yourself laughing at it. Some movies are so bad they just stink, but this one is so bad it's entertainingly bad. Highly recommended, but it is NOT a serious look at the 50's. There are some good musical performances which of course were lip sync'd. "Tha-ANKS... to yooo-ooou...." Stop, you're killing me!
comments from someone who saw the movie in 1956 (15 times)
fsapp27 June 2001
A movie that pre-dates music videos by a number of years, "Rock, Rock, Rock" showcased a number of well-known and not so well-known groups in a venue that, admittedly, had very little plot. However, this was 1956, and to have Alan Freed take groups that had, and still were having, so much social impact in "the real world" and put them together on celluloid was a marvellous event. Again, this was 1956, and I don't think I would have seen Cirino and the Bowties, Johnny Burnette, Teddy Randazzo, Jimmy Cavallo and the Houserockers anywhere else during that period. I watched/shouted to/screamed to/danced/to this movie in 1956 (at 10 years of age) and have seen it about 14-15 times since. I'm certain that had I seen it in 1999 for the first time, my point of view would have been much different, but that's only natural. After all, what kind of critical analysis will Pink Floyd's "The Wall" get in the year 2020? If you can look at this movie with "1956 eyes," you get a heck of a lot more than just "weak plot." By the way, Chubby Checker was NOT in this film.
First scene looks like "Pennies From Heaven" for the sock-hop set!
moonspinner5525 May 2001
Jaw-dropping black-and-white cheapie has typical teen scheming to get herself a strapless prom dress for the dance, which is being hosted by none other than Alan Freed (here desperately trying to sing and keep a beat). Tuesday Weld, very young and very green, opens the movie by bursting into song (with Connie Francis' vocals!). Corny, silly, deliriously dated but enjoyable on a garbage-flick level. Camp enthusiasts will be feasting on this trash-relic for years. Look fast for Valerie Harper as a rock-loving teen in the over-appreciative audience. ** from ****
Yoikes, Yoikes, Yoikes
bkoganbing29 July 2010
The generation which made the music featured in Rock Rock Rock is now starting to live on its Social Security and IRAs and a considerable number of them spend a lot of money going to nostalgia concerts where some of the groups you see performing here are still performing for the audience who remembered them when. In fact its the music that makes the film endurable.
It sure isn't the acting, the players perform on a par with some of the junior high school plays I remember. In fact it would have gotten from me a few more stars had the producers just dispensed with imbecilic plot and just presented a rock and roll revue hosted by Alan Freed.
Tuesday Weld made her screen debut in this and it's a miracle that the woman went on to a fine career and some great acting roles after she was through being a teenage sex kitten. The plot such as it is has Weld trying to con her friends and parents out of enough money to get a dress for her prom.
Her leading man in the film is Teddy Randazzo, lead singer with The Chuckles who was a fine singer and an even better songwriter later on. But as an actor he was horrible. He never had the direction that teen idols like Fabian and Frankie Avalon appearing in some major films with some big industry names. Maybe if he had it might have worked better for him for the big screen. But my guess is that he was happy with the direction his career went. Like Tuesday, he must have winced when seeing Rock Rock Rock.
It sure isn't the acting, the players perform on a par with some of the junior high school plays I remember. In fact it would have gotten from me a few more stars had the producers just dispensed with imbecilic plot and just presented a rock and roll revue hosted by Alan Freed.
Tuesday Weld made her screen debut in this and it's a miracle that the woman went on to a fine career and some great acting roles after she was through being a teenage sex kitten. The plot such as it is has Weld trying to con her friends and parents out of enough money to get a dress for her prom.
Her leading man in the film is Teddy Randazzo, lead singer with The Chuckles who was a fine singer and an even better songwriter later on. But as an actor he was horrible. He never had the direction that teen idols like Fabian and Frankie Avalon appearing in some major films with some big industry names. Maybe if he had it might have worked better for him for the big screen. But my guess is that he was happy with the direction his career went. Like Tuesday, he must have winced when seeing Rock Rock Rock.
Rubbernecking at a Musical Car Wreck
futures-18 May 2006
"Rock Rock Rock" (1956): Alan Freed was to Rock and Roll movies what Ed Wood was to sci fi: an idiot. But, I side with Wood - at least he did it for the "love". Freed was creating a market and nothing more. He was the P.T. Barnum of Pop music. Shoving known and unknown singers and other musicians in front of a camera many for the very first time, expecting them to dub a tune many for the first time, and expecting them to have any sort of stage presence, gave everyone the results they deserved. If these films weren't so painfully staged, they could hold up as Rock and Roll documents. As they are, they are laughable, pathetic, embarrassing collections of awkward, amateurish kids who are being scooped up, wagered upon, and thrown away by music industry investors. NONE THE LESS, if you're a fan of movies, this one is so transparent it's entertaining. Watch Alan Freed sell himself with his wide eyed, crap-eating grin as he pretends to be a band leader, or introduce the next act; watch the premier of Tuesday Weld so young she's still a gawky teen - not the beauty of later years - as she dubs songs in the voice of Connie Francis (!); watch countless singers and groups who are getting their one shot and were never heard from again; watch Frankie Lymon lead "his" Teenagers through a couple of their actual hits with slick professional behavior (corny as it was, the entire film is worth their performance of "I'm not a Juvenile Delinquent")
but keep in mind he was 13 years old, in 2 years would be a heroin addict, and 10 years later would be dead of an overdose; watch La Vern Baker do the dumbest song of all time ("Tra La La"); watch Chuck Berry stand on stage like a funky puppet performing "You Can't Catch Me"; watch many others make fools of themselves; and remember that only a year later, Freed would be busted for DJ payola, lose everything, and drink himself to death by the age of 32. There is some good décor detailing, incredibly lame dialog, numb-skulled plot devices, awful acting, and primitive editing
yet, I'm already in the mood to watch it again. I must have a mental problem... like those jerks who tie up traffic by slowing down and rubber-necking a car wreck
Rock before the "black out"
rlcsljo28 January 2001
Alan Freed knew that blacks(Negroes then) were the pioneers of the Rock 'n' Role era, and he was not afraid to showcase them. All of the bands, including the white ones, put on a rocking showcase of a pretty good cross section of rock of the time, including "Rock-a-Billy".
The obvious star of this sitcom like plot, however, is a gorgeous Tuesday Weld at age thirteen (It is hard to believe such a beautiful woman was even more beautiful as a child). Who shows a grace and charm that are far beyond those of the other "teenagers" in the movie.
Definitely a highly entertaining historical document of the times.
The obvious star of this sitcom like plot, however, is a gorgeous Tuesday Weld at age thirteen (It is hard to believe such a beautiful woman was even more beautiful as a child). Who shows a grace and charm that are far beyond those of the other "teenagers" in the movie.
Definitely a highly entertaining historical document of the times.
Fortunately, Rock and Roll survived this. It could have been another dead genre like vaudeville.
mark.waltz27 September 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Really, this is just one wretched teen musical, all about Tuesday Weld's effort to come up with enough money to buy a dress for a school dance. It's a toss up which is worse, her acting or the song that the characters sing in an effort to use music to move the plot. Fortunately there are enough specialties by real rock and roll stars forget the best opportunities to perform. It certainly isn't the little girl who sings about wanting a new dolly or Weld, dubbed by Connie Francis, singing about never having a boyfriend or the over- emoting of Teddy Ranzanno in his big solo.
More successful musically are the Moonglows, Lavern Baker, Chuck Berry, the Flamingos and Frankie Lythe abundance of songs makes this more of an over long music video with brief interruptions for what little plot it had. Some of the musical numbers however feel like they were more meant for a television variety show then the big screen. Alan Freed makes an appearance as himself, but he was better utilized in the first of the rock and roll musicals, "Rock around the Clock". I guess you could call Freed the Dick Clark of his day, although he basically is forgotten.
More successful musically are the Moonglows, Lavern Baker, Chuck Berry, the Flamingos and Frankie Lythe abundance of songs makes this more of an over long music video with brief interruptions for what little plot it had. Some of the musical numbers however feel like they were more meant for a television variety show then the big screen. Alan Freed makes an appearance as himself, but he was better utilized in the first of the rock and roll musicals, "Rock around the Clock". I guess you could call Freed the Dick Clark of his day, although he basically is forgotten.
Wow wow wow
ptb-815 March 2006
This essential time capsule musical from the very dawn of Rock and Roll is really beyond criticism. Many other comments bleat about the quality and the story, but really, would you prefer it did not exist? Is "EIGHT MILE" or (groan) "COOL AS ICE"or (double groan) "GET RICH OR DIE Trying'' a better reminder of their music and time in history? Alan Freed should be almost revered for the work he did in promoting rock and roll in the mid 50s and it is because of him this astonishing record of fascinating music acts of 1955/56 exists. Reacting to it as if it was made today is ridiculous. ROCK ROCK ROCK is a complete world unto itself and made with a keen-ness to entertain and elate through some of the essential music stars of the day. It is also charming. Something none of the other three films mentioned above are or could be in the slightest., given their retarded aggression. ROCK ROCK ROCK is fun and a real surprise. A good complimentary film is the 1976 drama "AMERICAN HOT WAX" which is a bio of Alan Freed with spectacular recreations of the 50s and the Brooklyn Paramount days with Freed causing dancing strife with uptight authorities. Believe it or like it or not.
Wow!
BandSAboutMovies23 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Rock, Rock, Rock! was conceived, co-written and co-produced by Milton Subotsky - he also wrote nine of the songs in the movie - who we all know was half of the team that was known as Amicus (along with Max Rosenberg, who also produced this movie). All hail Amicus! And all hail Sword & Sorcery Productions, Subotsky's 70's production team that tried - and sadly failed - to bring Lin Carter's Thongor in the Valley of Demons and adaptations of Creepy and Eerie to the screen. He'd also co-produce Maximum Overdrive, Sometimes They Come Back and The Lawnmower Man.
This is the first rock 'n roll movie to have its own soundtrack, released on Chess, which features four songs each from three of the label's artists - Chuck Berry, The Moonglows and The Flamingos - as other bands were signed to different labels, which appear on screen in the credits along with each band at the end. Connie Francis' songs were released by MGM, for example, and The Teenagers' songs were on Gee Records.
This film is considered a jukebox musical, where the plot is driven by popular songs. I could give you great stage play versions that everyone in the rest of the world loves, but I'm me, and the examples I give are Nilsson's Son of Dracula and The Village People's Can't Stop the Music.
The story itself is very simple: ori Graham (Tuesday Weld, with Connie Francis' singing voice) get sinto hijinks as she tries to buy a gown for a big dance. Jack Collins - who was Mr. Brady's boss - is her dad, who is driven nearly mad by her ridiculousness.
Alan Freed shows up as, well, Alan Freed. He grew up in Salem, Ohio, miles away from my small hometown and his first jobs were on WKBN in Youngstown and WKST in New Castle. He was a rebel, playing mixed raced music and throwing dances that weren't segregated. He's perhaps best remembered for popularizing the term rock and roll, describing it in this movie as "a river of music which has absorbed many streams: rhythm and blues, jazz, ragtime, cowboy songs, country songs, folk songs. All have contributed greatly to the big beat."
His initial big success came in Cleveland, in case you ever wondered what the hell Huey Lewis was singing about and why the Hall of Fame is on East 9th Street. He also started appearing in other movies like this, such as Rock Around the Clock, Mister Rock and Roll, Don't Knock the Rock and Go, Johnny Go!
Freed's career was destroyed by the payola scandal, which showed that he had accepted money to play certain songs and even songwriting credits on others, ensuring he would get royalties. That said, The Moonglows did confirm that he did co-write the song "Sincerely."
But the damage was done. He'd bounce from station to station, unable to promote the rock and roll shows that he loved so much. He died in 1965, at the young age of 43, from the damage that alcohol does to the liver.
He was played by Tim McIntire in the movie American Hot Wax (he also played George Jones in Stand By Your Man), which features tons of artists playing themselves, like Jerry Lee Lewis, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Chuck Berry and Frankie Ford.
Times were weird in 1956. Tuesday Weld turned 13 while this movie was being made. Her boyfriend in the film, Teddy Randazzo (who wrote "It's Gonna Take a Miracle"), was 21.
This is the first rock 'n roll movie to have its own soundtrack, released on Chess, which features four songs each from three of the label's artists - Chuck Berry, The Moonglows and The Flamingos - as other bands were signed to different labels, which appear on screen in the credits along with each band at the end. Connie Francis' songs were released by MGM, for example, and The Teenagers' songs were on Gee Records.
This film is considered a jukebox musical, where the plot is driven by popular songs. I could give you great stage play versions that everyone in the rest of the world loves, but I'm me, and the examples I give are Nilsson's Son of Dracula and The Village People's Can't Stop the Music.
The story itself is very simple: ori Graham (Tuesday Weld, with Connie Francis' singing voice) get sinto hijinks as she tries to buy a gown for a big dance. Jack Collins - who was Mr. Brady's boss - is her dad, who is driven nearly mad by her ridiculousness.
Alan Freed shows up as, well, Alan Freed. He grew up in Salem, Ohio, miles away from my small hometown and his first jobs were on WKBN in Youngstown and WKST in New Castle. He was a rebel, playing mixed raced music and throwing dances that weren't segregated. He's perhaps best remembered for popularizing the term rock and roll, describing it in this movie as "a river of music which has absorbed many streams: rhythm and blues, jazz, ragtime, cowboy songs, country songs, folk songs. All have contributed greatly to the big beat."
His initial big success came in Cleveland, in case you ever wondered what the hell Huey Lewis was singing about and why the Hall of Fame is on East 9th Street. He also started appearing in other movies like this, such as Rock Around the Clock, Mister Rock and Roll, Don't Knock the Rock and Go, Johnny Go!
Freed's career was destroyed by the payola scandal, which showed that he had accepted money to play certain songs and even songwriting credits on others, ensuring he would get royalties. That said, The Moonglows did confirm that he did co-write the song "Sincerely."
But the damage was done. He'd bounce from station to station, unable to promote the rock and roll shows that he loved so much. He died in 1965, at the young age of 43, from the damage that alcohol does to the liver.
He was played by Tim McIntire in the movie American Hot Wax (he also played George Jones in Stand By Your Man), which features tons of artists playing themselves, like Jerry Lee Lewis, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Chuck Berry and Frankie Ford.
Times were weird in 1956. Tuesday Weld turned 13 while this movie was being made. Her boyfriend in the film, Teddy Randazzo (who wrote "It's Gonna Take a Miracle"), was 21.
Good silly 50's rock'n'roll fun
Woodyanders11 May 2006
Warning: Spoilers
A positively adorable 13-year-old Tuesday Weld makes her simply smashing film debut in this endearingly inane 50's teen-fueled rock'n'roll piffle as Dori, a spunky, willful, calculating lass who can't get her stingy, pipe-smoking, Elvis-hating square dad ("We gotta teach that girl that money doesn't grow on fathers!") to give her thirty bucks for a fancy blue strapless dress that Dori wants to wear to a high school sock hop. So Dori decides to use her considerable wit and charm to plot some sneaky way of producing the cash on her own.
That's it for the admittedly pretty slender and undernourished story, which basically serves as a slight excuse to showcase eleven blisteringly cooking rock performers. Okay, Will Price's pedestrian direction, the mostly cardboard acting (Weld proves to be the film's key source of bubbly vitality, while legendary 50's disc jockey Alan Freed sadly comes across as a totally cornball stiff and the rest of the underage cast are hopelessly wooden), the static cinematography, Milton Subotsky's feeble script (Subotsky, who also co-produced and handled music director chores, later founded the highly successful British horror studio Amicus), and the occasionally draggy, meandering pace leave a lot to be desired. However, "Rock, Rock, Rock" still manages to be tons of dippy, empty-headed fun, thanks to Weld's perfectly perky presence and the largely spot-on performances from a wonderfully diverse bunch of music acts.
Musically, this movie's most definitely the authentic gnarly article. Rock'n'roll king Chuck Berry does the duck walk and almost makes off with the entire movie, grinning his way through the sizzling car number "You Can't Catch Me," a terrific song which includes a lyrical reference to the New Jersey Turnpike. Firebrand torch singer La Vern Baker releases her redoubtable alto on the sunny "Tra La La." Unbelievably obnoxious four-year-old brat Ivy Shulman makes an absolute fool of herself screeching the uproariously awful "Rock, Pretty Baby" in a hideously off-key, braying voice. The Johnny Burnette Trio let 'er rip with the fantastically forlorn rockabilly doozy "Lonesome Train." The amazing Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers hit a beautifully graceful note with the double whammy of the zippy "Baby Baby" and the classic "I'm Not A Juvenile Delinquent." The Flamingos melt hearts croaning the exquisitely lilting tear-jerker "Would I Be Crying." The Moonglows deliver gorgeously soaring falsetto doowop harmonies on both "I Knew from the Start" and "Over and Over Again." Brooklynese dreamboats Cirino and the Bowties zero in for the sentimental kill with the lush romantic swooner "Ever Since I Can Remember." Hardcore greaseball rockabilly lords Jimmy Cavallo and the Houserockers lay down a primordial stomping rumba, blowing saxophones to Mars and back on the righteously roughhouse "Big Beat" and the rousing title track. And, rounding things off with a nice smattering of ultra-kitschy high camp silliness, Weld herself badly lip-syncs a pair of marvelously mawkish'n'moronic Connie Francis love ballads: the impossibly inane "I Never Had A Sweetheart" and the deliciously dreadful "Little Blue Wren." Great goofy stuff!
That's it for the admittedly pretty slender and undernourished story, which basically serves as a slight excuse to showcase eleven blisteringly cooking rock performers. Okay, Will Price's pedestrian direction, the mostly cardboard acting (Weld proves to be the film's key source of bubbly vitality, while legendary 50's disc jockey Alan Freed sadly comes across as a totally cornball stiff and the rest of the underage cast are hopelessly wooden), the static cinematography, Milton Subotsky's feeble script (Subotsky, who also co-produced and handled music director chores, later founded the highly successful British horror studio Amicus), and the occasionally draggy, meandering pace leave a lot to be desired. However, "Rock, Rock, Rock" still manages to be tons of dippy, empty-headed fun, thanks to Weld's perfectly perky presence and the largely spot-on performances from a wonderfully diverse bunch of music acts.
Musically, this movie's most definitely the authentic gnarly article. Rock'n'roll king Chuck Berry does the duck walk and almost makes off with the entire movie, grinning his way through the sizzling car number "You Can't Catch Me," a terrific song which includes a lyrical reference to the New Jersey Turnpike. Firebrand torch singer La Vern Baker releases her redoubtable alto on the sunny "Tra La La." Unbelievably obnoxious four-year-old brat Ivy Shulman makes an absolute fool of herself screeching the uproariously awful "Rock, Pretty Baby" in a hideously off-key, braying voice. The Johnny Burnette Trio let 'er rip with the fantastically forlorn rockabilly doozy "Lonesome Train." The amazing Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers hit a beautifully graceful note with the double whammy of the zippy "Baby Baby" and the classic "I'm Not A Juvenile Delinquent." The Flamingos melt hearts croaning the exquisitely lilting tear-jerker "Would I Be Crying." The Moonglows deliver gorgeously soaring falsetto doowop harmonies on both "I Knew from the Start" and "Over and Over Again." Brooklynese dreamboats Cirino and the Bowties zero in for the sentimental kill with the lush romantic swooner "Ever Since I Can Remember." Hardcore greaseball rockabilly lords Jimmy Cavallo and the Houserockers lay down a primordial stomping rumba, blowing saxophones to Mars and back on the righteously roughhouse "Big Beat" and the rousing title track. And, rounding things off with a nice smattering of ultra-kitschy high camp silliness, Weld herself badly lip-syncs a pair of marvelously mawkish'n'moronic Connie Francis love ballads: the impossibly inane "I Never Had A Sweetheart" and the deliciously dreadful "Little Blue Wren." Great goofy stuff!
The Music & The History Are Worth A Look
DKosty12329 July 2010
Warning: Spoilers
A lot of people made their film debut in this film. Tuesday Weld (Dori Graham)is the obvious one- & only 13 years young here playing an older girl who wants to go to the prom only to have to maneuver her way past Gloria (Jacqueline Kerr) in her only screen performance.
In his premiere screen performance, Chuck Berry @ age 30 performs one number. It is sad that this is his first performance on screen but the color line was still in place in Hollywood. Alan Freed, ahead of his time in putting this film on screen, is very ahead in how he featured many black rock performers in this film. All the performances are good though the dubbing is crude.
You can tell by going through the groups in the cast about the color line as some of these performers do not show another screen credit until the 1960's or 1970's. Some of them have no other screen credits. Teddy Randazzo (Tommy Rogers) is on screen for a rare performance as most of his work is on soundtracks over the years. He is Weld & Kerrs love interest here.
There is little plot here as the film is more of a showcase for the music than anything else. The music is classic rock & roll from the 1950's with Connie Francis providing the voice for Weld.
In the prom scene, a 17 year old Valerie Harper (Rhoda on Mary Tyler Moore) shows up as a dancer. There is plenty of dancing & music at the prom. Wish Chuck Berry would have gotten another number, but the one he does is just fine though Freed mentions one of Berry's hits when introducing him. Freed is a band-leader here though he is also a bit of an emcee like Dick Clark in his role here.
In his premiere screen performance, Chuck Berry @ age 30 performs one number. It is sad that this is his first performance on screen but the color line was still in place in Hollywood. Alan Freed, ahead of his time in putting this film on screen, is very ahead in how he featured many black rock performers in this film. All the performances are good though the dubbing is crude.
You can tell by going through the groups in the cast about the color line as some of these performers do not show another screen credit until the 1960's or 1970's. Some of them have no other screen credits. Teddy Randazzo (Tommy Rogers) is on screen for a rare performance as most of his work is on soundtracks over the years. He is Weld & Kerrs love interest here.
There is little plot here as the film is more of a showcase for the music than anything else. The music is classic rock & roll from the 1950's with Connie Francis providing the voice for Weld.
In the prom scene, a 17 year old Valerie Harper (Rhoda on Mary Tyler Moore) shows up as a dancer. There is plenty of dancing & music at the prom. Wish Chuck Berry would have gotten another number, but the one he does is just fine though Freed mentions one of Berry's hits when introducing him. Freed is a band-leader here though he is also a bit of an emcee like Dick Clark in his role here.
Great look at early Rock and Roll!
unclerussie26 March 2003
If you're a fan of the early days of Rock and Roll, then this is a must see. Rock Rock Rock has one of the best line ups of early rock talent seen in these types of films. Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers do two numbers as do The Moonglows. Also on hand are rare film appearances by The Flamingos and LaVerne Baker. Rock Rock Rock also contains the only film performance by the great rockabilly group, The Johnny Burnette Trio. Singer-songwriter-producer Teddy Randazzo does several songs with The Three Chuckles and is the male lead opposite Tuesday Weld (whose singing voice is over dubbed by a then unknown Connie Francis. The plot however, is unbelievably ridiculous (it centers around a prom dress!) and Tuedsay Weld plays an incredibly DUMB teenager (she thinks 1 percent of a dollar is one dollar). Alan Freed is great though, introducing the acts and you'll hear one of his top tenor sax specialists, Freddie Mitchell. Fast forward through the "story" and head for the musical numbers if you want, but don't miss this one if you love early Rock and Roll!
Yet another mid-'50s exploitation cheapie-quickie ...
Hup234!13 November 2001
... and typically, it looks like it was shot with a home-movie camera. It's the usual 1950s hoo-hah about "misunderstood youths" who only find "acceptance" and "true understanding" under the oh-so-benevolent mid-Fifties rock-and-roll promoters ... three years before their cover was blown in the Payola scandals.
In retrospect, however, with what we now know about the recording industry at that time, this film has historical value. You'll gather some insight into the values of the era, and a form of music - doo-wop - that has completely vanished. (So much for "rock and roll will never die", right?)
One act, though - the quartet Cirino and the Bowties - is terrific, and easily the equivalent of their contemporaries the Preps, Freshmen, Aces, Lettermen and Lads. One wonders why their popularity was so brief. I hope it wasn't because of their exposure in this film, though they do elevate the goings-on during their on-screen moments with their wonderful and memorable "Ever Since I Can Remember".
One star.
In retrospect, however, with what we now know about the recording industry at that time, this film has historical value. You'll gather some insight into the values of the era, and a form of music - doo-wop - that has completely vanished. (So much for "rock and roll will never die", right?)
One act, though - the quartet Cirino and the Bowties - is terrific, and easily the equivalent of their contemporaries the Preps, Freshmen, Aces, Lettermen and Lads. One wonders why their popularity was so brief. I hope it wasn't because of their exposure in this film, though they do elevate the goings-on during their on-screen moments with their wonderful and memorable "Ever Since I Can Remember".
One star.
If it's Tuesday, it must be Connie...
FredPoet22 August 2006
It's no secret that singer Connie Francis provided the singing voice for Tuesday Weld in the movie, Rock Rock Rock. The songs she sang, "I Never Had A Sweetheart" and "Little Blue Wren", were released by Connie shortly before she finally made a name for herself in 1957 with "Who's Sorry Now". Also prior to that success, Connie's voice could be heard providing the singing voice for Freda Holloway in the 1957 movie, Jamboree. Her co-star, Paul Carr, did his own singing, and even went so far as to have two of the songs released on the Chancellor label (#1007). The song, "If Not For You" was a solo by Paul, while "Who Are We To Say" was a duet with Connie's vocal in the movie. However, on the record, the vocal was done by another singer, Fran Lori.
Back to Tuesday... It wasn't until the Fall of 1962 that Tuesday finally proved that she could sing on her own. Or at least she tried. The newly turned 19 year old recorded two sides for the Plaza label (#508) out of Hollywood, California. One side, "Are You The Boy", was a nice mildly uptempo number common to the girl sounds of the day. The flip side, "All Through Spring And Summer" was a mellow, almost Country-fied tune, offering listeners a more true account of just how well Tuesday could sing.
Fred Clemens
Back to Tuesday... It wasn't until the Fall of 1962 that Tuesday finally proved that she could sing on her own. Or at least she tried. The newly turned 19 year old recorded two sides for the Plaza label (#508) out of Hollywood, California. One side, "Are You The Boy", was a nice mildly uptempo number common to the girl sounds of the day. The flip side, "All Through Spring And Summer" was a mellow, almost Country-fied tune, offering listeners a more true account of just how well Tuesday could sing.
Fred Clemens
music video
SnoopyStyle28 June 2020
Dori (Tuesday Weld) wonders when boyfriend Tommy will ask her to the prom. Her singing is dubbed by Connie Francis. Gloria is wearing a strapless dress to the dance and keeps coming between her and Tommy. To keep up with Gloria, she feels the need to buy a new dress for the dance but she needs $30. This rock and roll movie includes performances from Chuck Berry and others.
It's a meaningless little rock and roll movie. The story holds little substance and serves only to wrap around the music performances. It does have a very young Tuesday Weld and some good music. It's a cute little time capsule from that era. Chuck Berry is electric doing his walk and playing "You Can't Catch Me". I've never heard of most of these other music groups. The cinematography can be best described as early TV filming. This is a movie for ears more than the eyes.
It's a meaningless little rock and roll movie. The story holds little substance and serves only to wrap around the music performances. It does have a very young Tuesday Weld and some good music. It's a cute little time capsule from that era. Chuck Berry is electric doing his walk and playing "You Can't Catch Me". I've never heard of most of these other music groups. The cinematography can be best described as early TV filming. This is a movie for ears more than the eyes.
FANTASTIC FILM
david-blatt24 June 2004
This film is absolutely fantastic. The vocal group harmony is terrific and the selection of artists cannot be beat. The haunting most, beautiful "I Knew From the Start" by the Moonglows was sung with clear perfection. Frankie and the Teenagers had our toes tapping to "I'm Not A Juvenile Delinquent". The Flamingoes were hitting those perfect notes with "Would I Be Crying". Vocal group harmony such as this is essential in a great movie. A movie of such greatness is far and few between. The greatest vocal group harmony movie is "Rockin the Blues" from 1955 featuring the Hurricanes, the Harptones, and the Wanderers. Check it out if you get a chance.
Great chance to see some great 50s music surrounded by a lame plot
lepoisson-124 July 2010
This is one of those movies that has an embarrassingly bad plot for no reason (and some really dumb comedy), but who cares? It's a time capsule of music, dance, and corny comedy videos from the 50s, filmed in a kindler, gentler manner where you could actually watch the musicians perform and see the entire dancer's body (I've never understood why dance videos and current dance shows spend so much time showing everything but the dancer. If somebody's doing tap, I really like to see the camera shot include the feet..).
It's low budget. The version I saw (on the local access channel) had serious audio sync problems (when the audio was Frankie Lymon was singing "I'm not a Juvenile Delinquent" I'm wasn't sure if they pasted it over the correct film). None of this mattered: I really enjoyed it, and will continue to enjoy it the way my kids enjoy their music videos.
It's low budget. The version I saw (on the local access channel) had serious audio sync problems (when the audio was Frankie Lymon was singing "I'm not a Juvenile Delinquent" I'm wasn't sure if they pasted it over the correct film). None of this mattered: I really enjoyed it, and will continue to enjoy it the way my kids enjoy their music videos.
See it for the rock 'n' roll
njunkie27 October 1999
The reason to see "Rock, Rock, Rock," like most 50s quickie rock 'n' roll pictures, is, of course, to see great stars like Chuck Berry, Lavern Baker, The Moonglows and The Flamingos. You also get a fair amount of dreck like Cirino and the Bowties and the insufferable Ivy Schulman. Plus, this picture obviously had a budget lower than the cost of a car. (You can tell that some shots look out of sync.) Then, there's Tuesday Weld with her songs dubbed (not too well) by Connie Francis! Still, the picture is fun and early rock 'n' roll DJ impressario Alan Freed looks like he's having a good time. Of course, it wouldn't last.
Fantastic music and lovely Tuesday Weld at the start of her career
kidboots25 November 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Beautiful Tuesday Weld was the original "wild child". She had been a child model and by the time she was eight had branched into television and Broadway. She was the sole support of her family but by nine she suffered a breakdown and quit work for a year. At ten she was seriously drinking and at twelve tried to commit suicide.
Shortly after this, she appeared in "Rock, Rock, Rock", a low budget film shot in Brooklyn, in 9 days. It was an attempt to cash in on the rock and roll craze and featured some of the best groups and singers of the era.
Precocious Tuesday (looking a lot older than 13) plays Dori, who, although she sings the song "It Never Happens to Me" (courtesy of Connie Francis) confesses to her friend that she is in love with Tommy (Teddy Randazzo). Arabella warns her of Gloria, who also loves Tommy. Tommy tells her he is going to enter Alan Freed's talent quest and tries to convince her to enter as well. Dori has other things on her mind. She can't budget her allowance so her harassed dad (Jack Collins) cancels her charge accounts. Her rival, Gloria, has announced that she is buying a blue (Tommy's favourite colour) evening gown - with sparkles!!! so Dori is determined to get one as well.
Dori, Arabella and Dori's hip dad watch Alan Freed's show on television and it has some great acts on it. "Rock, Soul Boogie", "I Knew From the Start" sung by the Moonglows, "You Can't Catch Me" sung by Chuck Berry, who brings out all his trademark moves, "Will I Be Crying" by the Flamingoes, "The Big Beat" by Jimmy Cavallo and the House Rockers. Alan Freed then announces the winner of the talent quest and surprise, surprise it is Tommy - he sings "Thanks to You".
Meanwhile Dori has problems - she has found the dress of her dreams but her father has canceled her account. Her father wants to teach her the value of a dollar - so he says he will give her $15 but she must earn the other $15. Dori is desperate - she goes to the bank to get a loan but when she realises the bank charges 6% interest - she decides to open her own bank!!!!
Tommy has news for the gang - Alan Freed is going to bring his show to the prom. Gloria gives Dori a few lessons in arithmetic (Dori thinks she is charging only 1% interest by charging $1 for every dollar borrowed!!!) and threatens to tell the whole school that Dori is a crook unless Tommy takes her to the prom. Dori tries to sing her troubles away ("Little Blue Wren" - she is very good at miming). Things sort themselves out - Dori gets her sparkly blue dress and Tommy, and the rock show comes to the prom. Watch for a young Valerie Harper, sitting on a settee.
The concert is fantastic - "Rock, Rock, Rock" by Jimmie and the House Rockers, "Lonesome Train" is a fantastic rockabilly song by the Johnny Burnette Trio, "Over and Over Again" by the Moonglows, "Tra La La" by La Vern Baker. The sensation of the evening is Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers - they sing the catchy "Baby, Baby" and "I'm Not a Juvenile Delinquent". Watch the film for the wonderful bands and to see Tuesday Weld at the start of her long career.
Shortly after this, she appeared in "Rock, Rock, Rock", a low budget film shot in Brooklyn, in 9 days. It was an attempt to cash in on the rock and roll craze and featured some of the best groups and singers of the era.
Precocious Tuesday (looking a lot older than 13) plays Dori, who, although she sings the song "It Never Happens to Me" (courtesy of Connie Francis) confesses to her friend that she is in love with Tommy (Teddy Randazzo). Arabella warns her of Gloria, who also loves Tommy. Tommy tells her he is going to enter Alan Freed's talent quest and tries to convince her to enter as well. Dori has other things on her mind. She can't budget her allowance so her harassed dad (Jack Collins) cancels her charge accounts. Her rival, Gloria, has announced that she is buying a blue (Tommy's favourite colour) evening gown - with sparkles!!! so Dori is determined to get one as well.
Dori, Arabella and Dori's hip dad watch Alan Freed's show on television and it has some great acts on it. "Rock, Soul Boogie", "I Knew From the Start" sung by the Moonglows, "You Can't Catch Me" sung by Chuck Berry, who brings out all his trademark moves, "Will I Be Crying" by the Flamingoes, "The Big Beat" by Jimmy Cavallo and the House Rockers. Alan Freed then announces the winner of the talent quest and surprise, surprise it is Tommy - he sings "Thanks to You".
Meanwhile Dori has problems - she has found the dress of her dreams but her father has canceled her account. Her father wants to teach her the value of a dollar - so he says he will give her $15 but she must earn the other $15. Dori is desperate - she goes to the bank to get a loan but when she realises the bank charges 6% interest - she decides to open her own bank!!!!
Tommy has news for the gang - Alan Freed is going to bring his show to the prom. Gloria gives Dori a few lessons in arithmetic (Dori thinks she is charging only 1% interest by charging $1 for every dollar borrowed!!!) and threatens to tell the whole school that Dori is a crook unless Tommy takes her to the prom. Dori tries to sing her troubles away ("Little Blue Wren" - she is very good at miming). Things sort themselves out - Dori gets her sparkly blue dress and Tommy, and the rock show comes to the prom. Watch for a young Valerie Harper, sitting on a settee.
The concert is fantastic - "Rock, Rock, Rock" by Jimmie and the House Rockers, "Lonesome Train" is a fantastic rockabilly song by the Johnny Burnette Trio, "Over and Over Again" by the Moonglows, "Tra La La" by La Vern Baker. The sensation of the evening is Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers - they sing the catchy "Baby, Baby" and "I'm Not a Juvenile Delinquent". Watch the film for the wonderful bands and to see Tuesday Weld at the start of her long career.
Neat music...
sportell28 June 2007
I agree with many comments, the acting can be atrocious at times. But that wasn't the focus of this film. The fact that there's rock songs and artists performing every few minutes is proof of that. So while the acting and plot are weak, it's a great movie to watch for all the different music acts of the 1950s. Pretty cool. Tuesday Weld is cute and her nemesis is enough to hate, even beyond the poor acting skill. She's a conniving little beast and has no qualms about getting the guy she wants, even when it's obvious he doesn't like her. I wasn't impressed with the singing of "Baby" though. I've heard kids sing and do just fine. She was too annoying sounding. Was she actually a big thing at this time? Her voice grated. My three year old doesn't always keep in tune, but he sings better and has a clearer voice. Even taking into consideration the graininess of the soundtrack, she was harsh. Oh well. It's still a film worth watching.
1950s Classic Music Videos.....Sort Of
vandeu0417 May 2010
Warning: Spoilers
The reason I gave it 9 was for the acting but outside of that, this is a great movie of historical rock-n-roll value. Laverne Baker, The Moonglows, Chuck Berry, The Flamingos, and the key double dose scene at the end with Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers performing "Baby Baby" and "I'm Not A Juvenile Delinquent" (Frankie was 13 at the time of filming.) Outside of the great performers, Alan Freed plays himself, Tuesday Weld (Also 13 at time of filming but looks more older)plays Dori who when singing is actually a dub of Connie Francis. The plot revolves around Dori wanting a specific dress and her dad, wanting to show her some responsibility tells her she has to earn a portion of the money to pay for the dress. This causes an issue when her nemesis allows her to loan her money at an illegal rate and refuses to pay it back. "Grab Your Partner, Grab Your Gal, And Rock" From Vanguard Films (1956)
Rock Rock Rock - Some great songs!
mcannady13 March 2017
I just saw this film for the first time last night and was quite impressed by some of the songs. When it comes to 50's and 60's music, I watch for and listen for harmony.
I was about 5 when this movie came out, but my 8 year old sister and I were already listening to rock music on the radio. Later I grew up hearing Dion and the Belmonts, The Fleetwoods, etc. While still in grade school, I heard Connie Francis singing Where the Boys Are. Every song was special.
Today I enjoy collecting late 50's and early 60's music and discovered a great link on You Tube called Echo in the Halls. There is a ten CD set of great rocksongs from late 50's to early 60's.
Returning to the film, I knew it would be good for me when I heard the first number (dubbed by wonderful Connie Francis). I love I Never Had a Sweetheart. The great voice, harmony in the background, and lovely words of the song gave it special meaning.
I am not sure of the name of the wonderful singer or song, but right after that, the boyfriend sings a great song with Tuesday Weld.
Later The Moonglows two numbers were wonderful and it was great to see Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers. I collect all of their music too.
Connie Francis was beautiful as well as Tuesday Weld, so I did wonder why she was dubbed. I collect and treasure Connie's music as well.
I have given the film a 7, as the plot seems to revolve solely around the money for the prom dress and the girl's machinations to get the dress she wanted. However, it is more than made up for in the musical numbers.
I was about 5 when this movie came out, but my 8 year old sister and I were already listening to rock music on the radio. Later I grew up hearing Dion and the Belmonts, The Fleetwoods, etc. While still in grade school, I heard Connie Francis singing Where the Boys Are. Every song was special.
Today I enjoy collecting late 50's and early 60's music and discovered a great link on You Tube called Echo in the Halls. There is a ten CD set of great rocksongs from late 50's to early 60's.
Returning to the film, I knew it would be good for me when I heard the first number (dubbed by wonderful Connie Francis). I love I Never Had a Sweetheart. The great voice, harmony in the background, and lovely words of the song gave it special meaning.
I am not sure of the name of the wonderful singer or song, but right after that, the boyfriend sings a great song with Tuesday Weld.
Later The Moonglows two numbers were wonderful and it was great to see Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers. I collect all of their music too.
Connie Francis was beautiful as well as Tuesday Weld, so I did wonder why she was dubbed. I collect and treasure Connie's music as well.
I have given the film a 7, as the plot seems to revolve solely around the money for the prom dress and the girl's machinations to get the dress she wanted. However, it is more than made up for in the musical numbers.
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