ELVIS: JAILHOUSE ROCK!(1957):
I've always known that I didn't especially care for
this movie, but never really could put my finger
on why! Well, I finally figured it out after watching
it for the umpteenth time! Elvis is not a very convincing
bad ass! Which makes this a pretty boring movie!
A couple of decent songs including the title song
and Treat Me Nice, but just not one of Elvis' best!! C+
From another reviewer at Amazon:
Elvis Presley's third and best film is this musical
romp released in 1957, just as the Big "E" was
reaching the peak of his hip-swiveling pre-army
success. Filmed in ultra-cool black and white,
the movie stars Elvis as a good ol' boy who saves
a woman from an assault but kills her attacker,
so he's convicted of manslaughter and sent to
jail. While doing time he takes up the guitar
and becomes a singing sensation, ready for
the big time when he's finally released. He
becomes a big star but his inflated ego gets
him into trouble with his former cellmate
and his new girlfriend. Short on plot but
heavy on rock & roll, this EP classic features
such hit songs as "Treat Me Nice," "Baby, I Don't
Care," "Don't Leave Me Now," and, of course,
the classic title song, performed in an
elaborate jailhouse number that Elvis
choreographed himself. This is Elvis in
all his big-screen glory, and the movie's
upbeat ending made it a huge success during
its original release. --Jeff Shannon