Interesteg What makes it different from others?

Diagonaldi Very well executed

Blucher One of the worst movies I've ever seen

Grimossfer Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

mark.waltz If it was up to powerful music agent Alix Talton, Bill Haley and the Comets would not have a chance of making it in the business. The big band era has apparently come to an end, even though the Glenn Miller story and the Benny Goodman story had just been huge box office hits at the movies. But according to the screenplay, big bands can't fill up even half a room. On their way home from a gig after disbanding a big band, Alan Freed discovers a small town where Saturday night dance is a big deal, and Bill Haley and the Comets apparently work for vegetables rather than cold hard cash. Introducing them to Talton, Freed wants to make them stars, but the only gig they get is a literal dance for squares at an all girls school where the stuffy faculty wants no part of the boomin rock and roll industry. But going against the school officials demands, the comets become a smash when they begin to swing. Their success doesn't convince Talton to book them in premier clubs, and it seems like their success will not happen. But thanks to Freed and his plan to get them a big gig, Talton's efforts go unsuccessful.While the music here certainly is great, with the Comets performing the title song and other hits and a brief appearance by the Platters, there is something about this it just doesn't swing as far as true history is concerned. Big bands certainly were still around in the mid 1950's, and maybe if not making the top of the charts, they were certainly still successful. Even with the slight story however it is pretty fast moving and entertaining film. There seems to be no motivation on Talton's efforts to put out the Comet's fire before it even lights up. The only thing I can guess is that the writers wanted to show her at the power hungry females who love being able to make or break musicians, and this doesn't really give her character some motivation. So watch this for the music, if not the story or accuracy, and you might just lying there a passable time filler.

redx1708 this movie is really just an excuse for playing some music. The plot is thin bordering on non existent. A music promotor falls in love with one of Haleys dancers, and tries to win her by promoting Rock'n roll. We get Bill Haley, The Bellboys and The Platters to fill in while the plot unfolds. Ahh yes, there's also another promotor (female) who tries to prevent it all from happening. You really have to be a big fan of early Rock to sit through this rubbish. My 2 stars goes to the platters. These folks could really sing!!! But what were they doing in a rock'n roll movie ??? Those 2 songs seem completely out of place. Oh well, I guess something had to be done to save this piece of nonsense !

ken-lynne Although obviously not Academy Award material, this movie definitely reflects the beginnings of Rock and Roll in the mid 50's. I was in high school when this movie was first released and, naturally, as a teen, I thought it was totally "Cool". I never thought Alan Freed had much talent, on screen, and of course, he is remembered as having been a key figure in the "Payola" scandal of the late 50's. It was fun to see this movie again after so many years and it's a great addition to my collection. I was really enamored with Lisa Gaye, as a teenage boy and I had no idea she was the sister of Debra Paget until many years later but there is a definite resemblance. As for the dancing, it's fun and completely realistic of the time. My wife and I still jitterbug much the same way they did back then, even at our ages.

westfall-d What fun to come upon this 1950s gem on cable TV today! At first I thought I was seeing Debra Paget, but it turned out to be her sister, Lisa Gaye, who played a prominent role in this film and demonstrated real dancing skill. This movie is so special, not only because it showcases rock & roll's important early performers, but also its place in musical time -- right at the pop music transition from the big bands to the much smaller combos. In fact, the term "combo" was apparently not in popular use yet. In the film, these small rock & roll bands are referred to as "combinations" of musicians. And the dancing was a joy to watch! Influences from the Big Band era were still strong as couples did variations of swing and jitterbug with the brand new additions of non-touch formula steps that later led to the Twist, the Mashed Potato and all the rest, right up to the present time when almost no one knows how to dance together as a couple. This film should be required viewing for anyone following the history of post-World War II popular music and the end of the big bands.