Original title Jailhouse Rock
Country of production United States
1957
Duration 96 min
Technical data B / N
Dramatic, musical genre
Directed by Richard Thorpe
Subject Nedrick Young
Screenplay Guy Trosper
Music by Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore, Dudley Brooks, Mike Stoller, Bill Black, D.J. Fontana, The Jordanaires

Interpreters and characters

Elvis Presley: Vince Everett
Judy Tyler: Peggy Van Alden
Mickey Shaughnessy: Hunk Houghton
Vaughn Taylor: Mr. Shores (narrator)
Jennifer Holden: Sherry Wilson
Dean Jones: Teddy Talbot
Anne Neyland: Laury Jackson
Bill Hickman: Guard that whips Vince











Vince Everett, convicted of killing a man with punches, even in self-defense, has for cellmate Dick, an old variety singer. The latter, hearing him sing in a television show broadcast by the prison, realizes his uncommon singing skills, and causes him to sign a contract as his partner for when they will be free. Vince comes out of prison first (his partner has to serve a year) and is animated by the firm purpose of making money at any cost. The beginnings are very hard: Vince suffers disappointment and harassment, but has the good fortune to arouse the interest of Peggy, a girl who works in the field of recording, and with her help gets her first success. The two found a record company and the first song opens the way to fame and fortune to Vince. His ascent is rapid, but wealth makes him even more cynical and hard, closed to any kind of feeling, devoured by the thirst for profit. Peggy persuades him to love him sincerely, and when Dick, out of prison, goes to see him to assert the contract signed in prison, he shows reluctance: he is happy when Dick, who has tried to resume his artistic activity, makes fiasco, and reduces it to the rank of his personal waiter. One day Dick, outraged by the cynical attitude taken by Vince in front of Peggy, storms the ancient cellmate's fist, who does not defend himself. A fist hits the singer in the throat with such violence that he threatens his voice. In those dramatic moments Peggy and Dick, forget the harassment suffered, they are close to him, they take care of him and they comfort him. When Vince tries to sing and feels his voice is back, he is another man: the lesson was healthy. He learned that in the world there are treasures more precious than money: love, friendship, love.



















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