Ritmo Alucinante

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!

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 ****

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.

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.

If you love rock and roll music then give this one a break. Most of the songs are totally out of sync which is fairly amusing and the story is boy loves girl then blah but what do you expect. There is wonderful music and a lot of the film is devoted to it. Some great dresses too. Tuesday Weld is cute and radiant and innocent and smacks of those childhood dreams that were killed by cynicism and growing old. Its a true fantasy trip that you can let yourself go with a bottle of something tasty. Beautiful scripts that make you feel warm inside. If you want an intellectual film them forget it but if you wan a laugh and a dance then this is your girlie wine drinking evening. It got me dancing in the living room. Love it.