Good start, but then it gets ruined

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

What you have here is about sixty minutes of song numbers wrapped around about twenty five minutes of story. For music fans, I don't know where else you'd go to see some of the acts on display here, and quite honestly, as a kid growing up in the Fifties, I had never heard even a single song before that was featured in this film. Not many of the acts made it apparently, the ones that did you'll know right off - Chuck Berry and La Vern Baker are the best examples, with The Moonglows, The Flamingoes and Frankie Lymon all making their mark in the picture. A surprise for me was seeing Alan Freed actually singing a tune called 'Rock n Roll Boogie' with his band, that's an item I'll have to add to my trivia list.What there is of a story has to do with teenage Dori (a thirteen year old Tuesday Weld) attempting to get her Dad (Jack Collins) to spring for a strapless gown for the high school prom! Apparently this was pretty bold stuff for the Fifties, and I couldn't help but think that the dress shop scene could have used Abbott and Costello to provide some energy on that thirty dollar/forty five dollar routine. I tried to follow it for a while but decided it was pointless enough to just let it go.I also had to wonder why the story didn't follow up on an early premise when Tommy (Teddy Randazzo) suggested a big surprise for anyone watching the Alan Freed TV show. After most of the acts got through their numbers, Tommy was introduced as a local talent show winner, and there was no reaction shot from Dori and her friend Arabella (Fran Manfred) watching at home. It wasn't until his song was almost done that the camera picked the girls up and their response was like watching just another act.Well take it for what it's worth. This one belongs in one of those times capsules they dig up centuries from now to figure out what life was like eons ago. Won't they be surprised?

Some of the Things that Killed the First Wave of Rock 'n" Roll...Elvis went into the Army…...Chuck Berry got Arrested…...Buddy Holly Died…...The DJ Payola ScandalAfter that, the Second Wave was a Pre-Fabricated Bunch of "White Breads" like Frankie Avalon, Fabian and the Like. There were a Few Things that Highlighted that Musical "Dark Age" like Dion and Phil Spector Records, but when Chubby Checker released "The Twist" and "Mom and Dad" were cutting the Rug, that was just Too Much. Rock 'n' Roll would emerge from the Slumber in 1964 with The Beatles and a New Generation of Kids could, without cringing, "Rock Rock Rock" again.In 1956, the Year that Elvis Presley was at His Most Creative with the Raw Talent Unimpeded and Still His Untamed Self, this Movie hit the Big Screen.Cleveland, Ohio DJ Alan Freed broke "Color" Barriers "On the Air" daring to Play "Race Records", and what was Termed 'Rock 'n' Roll became a "Crossover" Sensation. The Kids Loved it and Their Parents, not to mention, Everyone Over 30 Hated it with a Passion and Despised what it was Saying and who was Saying It.This Movie, and Alan Freed, did what They could to keep with what was Essential to the Music, "Negro" Talent, but were Required to Dilute the Presentation with as Many White Faces as Possible to Lessen the "Shock" of the "Rock" to all its Enemies. So, along with Bona Fide "Rockers", Doo Wop Groups, and Rhythm and Blues, there were No Talent Groups, some with, get this, Bow Ties, that Appeared right Alongside Chuck Berry, The Moonglows, Frankie Lymon, The Flamingos, La Verne Baker, and Johnny Burnette.There are Other Absolutely Atrocious Things in the Film as well that can be Overlooked. So let's Overlook them here.13 Year Old Tuesday Weld, who has a Large Cult Following, is the Star in Her Film Debut, Tuesday's Songs were Dubbed by Connie Francis. She does just Fine.Note...Rest in Peace, Alan Freed

It's no secret that singer Connie Francis provided the singing voice for Tuesday Weld in the movie, Rock Rock Rock. The songs she sang, "I Never Had A Sweetheart" and "Little Blue Wren", were released by Connie shortly before she finally made a name for herself in 1957 with "Who's Sorry Now". Also prior to that success, Connie's voice could be heard providing the singing voice for Freda Holloway in the 1957 movie, Jamboree. Her co-star, Paul Carr, did his own singing, and even went so far as to have two of the songs released on the Chancellor label (#1007). The song, "If Not For You" was a solo by Paul, while "Who Are We To Say" was a duet with Connie's vocal in the movie. However, on the record, the vocal was done by another singer, Fran Lori.Back to Tuesday... It wasn't until the Fall of 1962 that Tuesday finally proved that she could sing on her own. Or at least she tried. The newly turned 19 year old recorded two sides for the Plaza label (#508) out of Hollywood, California. One side, "Are You The Boy", was a nice mildly uptempo number common to the girl sounds of the day. The flip side, "All Through Spring And Summer" was a mellow, almost Country-fied tune, offering listeners a more true account of just how well Tuesday could sing.Fred Clemens

This essential time capsule musical from the very dawn of Rock and Roll is really beyond criticism. Many other comments bleat about the quality and the story, but really, would you prefer it did not exist? Is "EIGHT MILE" or (groan) "COOL AS ICE"or (double groan) "GET RICH OR DIE Trying'' a better reminder of their music and time in history? Alan Freed should be almost revered for the work he did in promoting rock and roll in the mid 50s and it is because of him this astonishing record of fascinating music acts of 1955/56 exists. Reacting to it as if it was made today is ridiculous. ROCK ROCK ROCK is a complete world unto itself and made with a keen-ness to entertain and elate through some of the essential music stars of the day. It is also charming. Something none of the other three films mentioned above are or could be in the slightest., given their retarded aggression. ROCK ROCK ROCK is fun and a real surprise. A good complimentary film is the 1976 drama "AMERICAN HOT WAX" which is a bio of Alan Freed with spectacular recreations of the 50s and the Brooklyn Paramount days with Freed causing dancing strife with uptight authorities. Believe it or like it or not.