Rock! Rock! Rock! (1956)

Retrofit Drive In

Apr 17, 2021

Prom season is just around the corner! The timing couldn’t be better to see the third of the five Alan Freed rocking flicks, Rock! Rock! Rock! (1956). Freed was a hard luck DJ who coined the term “Rock n Roll.” He also produced huge live shows that daringly featured a level of diversity that just didn’t happen in the 50s.

As usual with Freed movies, the plot doesn’t get in the way of the music. Tuesday Weld plays Dori Graham, a young girl who has maxed out her charge accounts and needs $30 to buy a gown for the prom. Little Dori sings great; she’s been dubbed by Connie Francis. Her older guy boyfriend is played by 21-year-old Teddy Randazzo, who smokes and has a job. Tuesday turned 13 during the filming. Teddy breathes life into the role of half crooner half hustler Tommy Rogers. Teddy Tommy has just won a talent contest, grand prize being a slot on Freed’s television show.

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The boyfriend recognizes access when he gets it. Before you can say butch wax, he has convinced the Moondog Matinee host to bring his entire show to the prom. That means live music from no less than Chuck Berry, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, La Vern Baker, The Flamingos, The Moonglows, and the Johnny Burnette Trio. Trivia buffs point out that Johnny Burnette’s bass player is not even coming close to actually playing, and Chuck Berry’s guitar is never plugged in.

A prom night to remember, Top: Berry, Burnette, Baker. Bottom: Moonglows, Flamingos, Lymon

But it’s a small price to pay for 21 movie quality songs, including the incredible Frankie Lymon and his performance of “I’m Not a Juvenile Delinquent.”

Also on the bill, the fifth installment of Gene Autry sci-fi classic The Phantom Empire and an early NASA training film with lots of twists and turns starring Gumby, dammitt!