Jailhouse Rock

The ONLY edition to own....plain and simple. It HAS to be seen in widescreen. In regards to the film itself: Elvis got mucho-kudos from everywhere for his performance in "King Creole." The New York Times exclaimed at the time "Elvis Can Act." Well, they must have missed "Jailhouse Rock," for his performance here is far more natural and gutsy than in the latter. Yes, he was SUPER...truly... in "King Creole" but "Jailhouse Rock" caught him at a time where his confidence in himself as a singer and performer spilled over into his acting. He was loose and cocky and his character in the film was the same. It was like watching the real man( though he wasn't as callous as his character, Vince Everitt(sp)). He fills his performance with humor as well, showing his character as one who views society's boundaries of order and etiquette as ridiculous. To him , it's all about the passion of being true to what you feel and, in his character's case,what you want. He plays the coming to seeing by Vince of his flaws on a gut-level way that lacks in "King Creole." In "Jailhouse Rock," he feels more one with the role than an acting of something. Plus, in "King Creole," he seems to old for the role, a high school student. A high school student wouldn't say what his character does while hanging on the side of Carolyn Jone's car in the street scene, to name one instance. There's a specialness to "Jailhouse Rock," a uniqueness that had it ahead of its time. It was punk rock before there was punk rock. But there was a difference in Elvis' character from Sid Vicious'........he stood up for the weak. Witness the scene at the start of the film when he steps between the bar girl who tries to pick him up and the guy who's with her who starts to abuse her. There's no way he's going to let him do that. Unfortunately, he can't control his passion and, in that, we see the flaw in his character. What's great about this film is that we see a character who can overcome his flaws and become the better man that has always been inside himself. If you want to see Elvis as Elvis, this is the only film for that. "King Creole" was an almost-great film ( too much music, some just suddenly appearing as in "sloppy-direction"...yeah, I know, Michael Curtiz directed "Casablanca," blah,blah,blah), "Loving You" an obvious "let's-take-the-superstar-film-him-in-color-in-a film-like-his life, "Love me Tender" a great plot ruined by the insertion of three songs NOT AT ALL connected to the love triangle central to the plot). If I want to see "real -Elvis" in another film, it's "Flaming Star." There's not a false note from him.He inhabits the role as he does in "Jailhouse Rock." The plot, though, doesn't have room for much humor, a central part of Elvis' personality. And the film came after he grew into mature manhood where he had determined more of what he wanted from life, reflected in his performance, brought out by the brilliant director Don Siegal ("Invasion of the Body Snatchers," "Dirty Harry."). There is and always will be only one Elvis Presley. As Leonard Bernstein said: He was the most influential individual of the 20th century." He broke down segregation....according to Dr. Martin Luther King...tore apart racial barriers from the shear passion and integrity of his music more than he did. James Brown said he was his true brother, as did Muhammad Ali. If you want to VIEW what he was, then "Jailhouse Rock" is the film for that. If you want to see what got that film to be made,.....then there's the music before. Start with "Long Tall Sally," move to "Rip It Up" and "Readdy Teddy." For me it was "I Got A Woman. " We should count our blessings.

JAILHOUSE ROCK (1957): This routine black-and-white fictional biopic, filmed on a tight budget and schedule at then-declining MGM, nonetheless became an epochal picture because it gave Elvis Presley his first opportunity to successfully rock out, in widescreen, on film. Ironically, the famous title song in the movie was presented as a television filming for Elvis' sullen alter ego, ex-con Vince Everett, but the sheer joy and fun Elvis is having cannot be denied the camera. Along with this gem are several more routine numbers by Leiber and Stoller and a couple by other talents as well. Judy Tyler (Princess Summerfallwinterspring on "Howdy Doody") plays "Vince's" on-again, off-again belle. Mickey Shaughnessy plays Vince's old buddy from the pen who tries to exploit him but winds up possibly being exploited himself. Look quick for Percy Helton in thick glasses as a complacent bar-lounge owner. Almost by accident, this film became the most influential black-and-white rock musical until the Beatles' A HARD DAY'S NIGHT in 1964. The Commentary for this movie is very good, as is its current DVD price, and the CinemaScope plays without distortion.Trivia Note: Sadly, actress Judy Tyler and her husband were killed enroute from California to New York after she finished work on JAILHOUSE ROCK -- a car crash in Wyoming.

This was Elvis' 3rd movie and on the threshold of Rock & Roll. Jailhouse rock proved that Elvis was a talent and Rock and Roll was a true threat to Pop Music!Now for the 1st time on Blu-ray 1080p widescreen "Jailhouse Rock" even in black & white was one of Elvis' greatest movies giving us his triple allstar threat performance!!! (singing, dancing and acting) You can see his serious commitment to the acting art.This Blu-ray / 5.1 True Dolby HD recording is absolutely wonderful. A MUST HAVE have Elvis milestone movie/ semi musical. (before they became sappy and Elvis was sterotyped) The HD is fantastic, clear and the 5.1 music is priceless.Believe me this, this is Elvis early wonderfully enchanting and at his best!!Extras include; featurette, commentary (great background info on Elvis), dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack (original mono sound track too) and theatrical trailer.This is the one for Elvis fans and music lovers!! Enjoy!!

This is by far the best film starring Elvis and this blu-ray release is a real treat for fans coming in excellent picture quality and even better Dolby True HD 5.1 sound quality which really make the Lieber/Stoller songs come alive. I've seen too many Elvis films and they range from puke-worthy bad to barely tolerable but "Jailhouse Rock" is the exception with a pretty well-written script and Elvis actually acts well like he gave a hoot. In his other films I get the feeling that he was just going through the motions and that his heart was elsewhere probably in the recording studio or planning the next concert tour. While you couldn't pay me to watch his other films more than twice with "Jailhouse Rock" I feel that I could be rewarded by repeated viewing. The down side of this release is the sparse special features but there is no faulting the main course.Excellent picture quality, even better sound quality and a good script for a change makes this clearly Elvis Presley's best ever film and an easy review.Highly recommended!

Before he got manipulated in later years by his manager, it was in the beginning in the late 50's, with films like this, that he showed he was not only a great singer and dancer... but also a very sensitive actor. Brilliant and beautifully filmed in monochrome. Plus his pool side rendition of " Baby I don't care" is excitingly intense in mind, body.. and spirit! Seminal stuff and strongly recommended for young and old! best wishes....Clive.

This was advertised by Zoverstocks as: Used - Very Good. Unfortunately, the cardboard case (snapper case) is badly marked and I would class it as between acceptable to good,The disc is double sided and had lots of marks on both. Had to give both sides a very good clean before my player would play all the way through without pausing or trying to read disc.Admittedly I didn't pay much for this but it was way below the standard I was expecting.

Had the shock of my life when I saw the cover was in French but, upon playing the DVD, I was happy and relieved to find the film to be in English.Great film, not his best but certainly not his worst.

Perfect gift for Mum.

Good Elvis film purchased for my wife who is a die hard fan. For her Elvis is still the King.