Rock & Soul in the Movies
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- DirectorA. Edward SutherlandJohn RawlinsStarsGeorge RaftVera ZorinaGrace McDonaldDuring World War II, all the studios put out "all-star" vehicles which featured virtually every star on the lot--often playing themselves--in musical numbers and comedy skits, and were meant as morale-boosters to both the troops overseas and the civilians at home. This was Universal Pictures' effort. It features everyone from Donald O'Connor to the Andrews Sisters to Orson Welles to W.C. Fields to George Raft to Marlene Dietrich, and dozens of other Universal players.Louis Jordan performs "Is You Is or Is You Ain't Ma Baby" and 1 other, Delta Rhythm boys perform 1 song.
- DirectorGlenn TryonStarsBob CrosbyLynn MerrickLouise EricksonAfter receiving his military discharge, singer Don Collins proceeds to the address of the pen pal who corresponded with him while he was overseas. Helen Tyler answers the door and is perplexed by Don's expression of gratitude until she realizes that her teenage sister Susie is the singer's mysterious correspondent. The Tylers invite Don to dinner, and at the table he inadvertently offends schoolteacher Helen by criticizing all teachers. When Don speaks of the difficulty he has experienced finding a singing job, Susie decides to organize a fan club to launch Don's career. Enlisting the help of her neighbor and would-be boyfriend Howard Barnes, Susie writes a stack of fan letters and asks her relatives from around the country to post them. When R. N. Swanson, the owner of the local radio station, receives a deluge of letters in praise of Don, he hires the singer to appear on a radio spot. Susie recruits her friends to attend the broadcast and cheer on Don, making his performance a hit. Susie's decision to devote her life to promoting Don's career upsets her family, and when collect calls and telegrams from Don's fans come pouring into the Tyler house, Helen accuses Don of exploiting her sister. When Helen goes to the radio station to confront Don, Don invites her to dinner and Susie uses the opportunity to snap a publicity photo. The picture of Don and Helen appears in the local paper, and when the school administration worries that popular music may be corrupting the students, Helen suggests establishing a nightclub for the teenagers and Don promises to perform there. When Susie's hard work helps Don win his own radio program, he invites the teenager and her friends to be his guest at his opening at the Tahitian Room nightclub. Mistaking Don's gratitude for love, Susie decides to cause Don to lose interest in her older sister by telling him that Helen is engaged. Thinking that Helen has been leading him on, Don does not invite her to attend his performance. As Susie readies for her big night at the Tahitian Room, Helen wonders while Don excluded her from the party. Unknown to Susie, Swanson, who dislikes "bobby soxers," has arranged for the maitre d' to forget the teenagers' reservations, and when they arrive at the club, they are denied admission. Thinking that Don has forgotten her, Susie despondently returns home and breaks Don's record. When Helen tries to console her sister, Susie lets it slip that she lied to Don about Helen's engagement. Helen then shows Susie a letter from Swanson, notifying her that Don will be unable to perform at the teen club because of contractual obligations. The concept of a club for teenagers intrigues Quinlan, a local businessman, who attends opening night with the thought of starting up clubs all over the country. Susie, ashamed to face her friends with the bad news, decides to stay home until her mother convinces her that it is her duty to go to the club. When Susie announces that Don and the other performers will not appear, the teens stream out of the building. Just then, however, Don, alerted by Howard to Susie's problems, arrives and dedicates his first song to Susie. After Don convinces Susie that he is too old for her, he apologizes to Helen. Susie then turns to Howard, a "man her own age," and all ends happily when Quinlan decides to launch teen clubs throughout America.Louis Jordan performs "Deacon Jones"
- DirectorPhil KarlsonStarsGale StormPhil ReganMoe HowardA struggling young singer falls for a nightclub owner whose father, a millionaire, is trying to shut it down. Featuring The Three Stooges as waiters.Louis Jordan performs "Caldonia" and 1 other.
- DirectorBud PollardStarsLouis JordanFrank H. WilsonEmory RichardsonWare College is a small Black college in Ware, Ohio. Once prominent, it is now low in attendance, low in enrollment and low on money.Louis Jordan: title song and 6 other songs.
- DirectorWilliam Forest CrouchStarsStepin FetchitAlbert AmmonsDelta Rhythm BoysLouis Jordan, Big Joe Turner, Albert Ammons, Delta Rhythm Boys...
- DirectorWilliam Forest CrouchStarsLouis JordanJune RichmondMilton WoodsOld-time musical star Schyler Jarvis, now wealthy, is dying; his last act is a visionary plan for the future happiness of his son, swing bandleader Louis Jarvis, and Honey Carter, daughter of his long-lost love. But crooked lawyer Talbot has a nefarious scheme to get his hands on the Jarvis money...and it doesn't include any happiness for Louis and Honey. Plenty of swing from Louis Jordan's Tympany Five.Louis Jordan: title song, "Let the Good Times Roll", "Ain't That Just Like a Woman" and 10 othr songs.
- DirectorBud PollardStarsLouis JordanSuzette HarbinMonte HawleyA famous bandleader, suffering from overwork and exhaustion, goes to a sanitarium for a rest. While there he dreams of being out west at a dude ranch, where he finds himself involved in the beautiful owner's struggle to keep her ranch from falling into the hands of the villain, who wants either her or her ranch (or, preferably, both).Louis Jordan: "11 Great Song Hits".
- DirectorRichard BrooksStarsGlenn FordAnne FrancisLouis CalhernA new English teacher at a violent, unruly inner-city school is determined to do his job, despite resistance from both students and faculty.Bill Haley & Comets "Rock Around the Clock" record played.
- DirectorNunnally JohnsonStarsBetty GrableSheree NorthRobert CummingsTwo girls on the lam hide out in a college fraternity.Band plays "Shake, Rattle and Roll:, Sheree North dances wildly.
- DirectorJoseph KohnStarsLionel HamptonFaye AdamsBill BaileyExtravaganza with lots of music legends from the 50s.Big Joe Turner performs "Shake Rattle and Roll", Ruth Brown performs 1 song.
- DirectorAbner BibermanStarsWilliam CampbellMamie Van DorenKeenan WynnA young rookie cop goes undercover to bust up an auto theft ring run by juvenile delinquents.Bill Haley & the Comets "Razzle Dazzle" record played.
- DirectorJoseph KohnStarsCholly AtkinsLouie BellsonDelta Rhythm BoysPacked with music by the greats of the time.The Clovers perform "Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash", Big Joe Turner performs "Okeshemokeshepop" / Ruth Brown also credited (does she sing?)
- DirectorRobert WoodburnStarsJerry WallaceNoralee BenedictHobie Shepp and The Cowtown WranglersJerry Wallace, Hobie Shepp & the Cowtown Wranglers perform on fictitious Kansas City TV show, "Pinwhistle Pop Hour".
- DirectorArthur CohenStarsBill RandleFranny BeecherBill BlackElvis Presley's first film is a documentary reportedly highlighting concert footage filmed at Brooklyn High School in Cleveland OH, during Sept. 1955, hosted by disc jockey Bill Randle. Randle, in the 1950s, was as well known as Alan Freed. Due to legal problems over ownership of the film, this movie was only shown in public once, and has yet to be released officially. Universal Studios reportedly still has the negatives in its vaults.Concert, filmed at Brooklyn High School in Cleveland OH, Sept. 1955, hosted by DJ Bill Randle. Elvis Presley performs "That's Alright Mama", "Mystery Train" and "Good Rockin' Tonight" / Bill Haley & the Comets: 3 songs. Possibly lost (?)
- DirectorRobert D. WebbStarsRichard EganDebra PagetElvis PresleyAt the end of the Civil War, a Confederate team is ordered to rob a Union payroll train but the war ends leaving these men with their Union loot, until the Feds come looking for it.Elvis Presley performs title song, "Poor Boy" and 2 other songs.
- DirectorFrank TashlinStarsTom EwellJayne MansfieldEdmond O'BrienA gangster hires a down-and-out press agent to make his airheaded girlfriend a singing star.Little Richard performs title song, "Ready Teddy" and 1 more / Gene Vincent & the Blue Caps "Be Bop A Lula" / Fats Domino "Blue Monday" / The Treniers: 1 song / The Platters: 1 song / Eddie Cochran: 1 song (on TV) / more...
- DirectorFred F. SearsStarsBill Haley and the CometsBill HaleyThe PlattersA frustrated big-band promoter bumps into rock-and-rollers Bill Haley and the Comets.Bill Haley & the Comets: title song and 7 more / The Platters: 2 songs / Tony Martinez: 4 songs / Freddie Bell & the Bellboys: 2 songs / Bobby Charles: 1 song.
- DirectorCharles BartonStarsBud AbbottLou CostelloGigi PerreauTwo goofballs try to run a beaten-down old amusement park.Title song played repeatedly, based on Hank Ballard, Etta James, Johnny Otis compostition, "Roll With Me Henry".
- DirectorWill PriceStarsAlan Freed and his Rock 'n Roll BandFran ManfredTuesday WeldDori is trying to get together enough money to buy a strapless gown; Daddy has cut off Dori's allowance, but gee, she's gotta go to the prom.Chuck Berry performs "You Can't Catch Me" / Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers "I'm Not a Juvenile Delinquent" and 1 more / Moonglows: 2 songs / Connie Francis: 2 songs / LaVern Baker: 1 song / Flamingos: 1 song / Johnny Burnette: 1 song / Jimmy Cavallo & House Rockers: title song and 1 more / more...
- DirectorFred F. SearsStarsBill Haley and the CometsBill HaleyAlan DaleA disc jockey tries to prove to teenagers' parents that rock 'n' roll is harmless and won't turn their kids into juvenile delinquents.Little Richard performs "Tutti Frutti" and "Long Tall Sally" / Bill Haley & the Comets: tilte song and 5 more / The Treniers: 2 songs / Dave Appell & the Applejacks: 2 songs / Allan Dale: 2 songs.
- DirectorEdward L. CahnStarsMike ConnorsLisa GayeSterling HollowayA group of concerned adults try to ban rock and roll music in their town because they think that the music promotes juvenile delinquency. It's now up to a disc jockey and a hipster to defend the music in a televised trial. The movie also features several rock and roll performances, most notably from Fats Domino.Fats Domino performs "Ain't That A Shame", "I'm in Love Again" and 1 other song / Big Joe Turner: 4 songs / Tommy Charles: 1 song.
- DirectorRichard BartlettStarsSal MineoJohn SaxonLuana PattenJimmy Daley and Angelo Barrato are teenage members of a band who learn of a contest that they believe will bring them fame. Jimmy must fight the opposition of his father and his feelings for the lovely Joan."Rock to 12 Wonderful Tunes!". "Rock" band includes John Saxon, Sal Mineo & Rod McKuen...
- DirectorJoseph KohnLeonard ReedStarsWillie BryantSarah VaughanLionel HamptonMusical variety filmed at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York City.Concert review filmed at the Apollo featuring The Clovers: "Lovey Dovey" / Amos Milburn: "Bewildered" / also Lionel Hampton, Nat King Cole, Count Basie
- DirectorArthur RosenblumStarsHal JacksonMantan MorelandConnie CarrollAll star concert of prominent african american rock 'n' roll artists of the '50s with sketches featuring comedy legend Mantan Moreland.Concert review featuring Andy Kirk, Linda Hopkins and The Harptones.
- DirectorRichard ThorpeStarsElvis PresleyJudy TylerMickey ShaughnessyAfter serving time for manslaughter, young Vince Everett becomes a teenage rock star.Elvis Presley performs title song, "Baby I Don't Care", "Treat Me Nice" and 3 other songs.