Rock Rock Rock! (1956)

A teenage girl (13 year old Tuesday Weld in her film debut) wants a strapless blue gown for the prom but the exorbitant price of $30 is out of her price range and she's maxed out her allowance. What's a girl to do? Directed by Will Price, the movie plays out like an episode from a sitcom like FATHER KNOWS BEST. What makes the film of archival interest are the rock 'n roll musical acts crammed into the film. Rock 'n roll was the craze among teenagers around the nation and sensing this, its film makers figured why not make a movie with a simplistic storyline and fill it up with rock acts and watch the kids pack the seats. It worked, the movie was a sleeper hit. Among the popular rock 'n roll acts of the day performing in the film: Chuck Berry, Frankie Lymon, Johnny Burnette, Teddy Randazzo, The Flamingos, LaVern Baker and the rock disc jockey, Alan Freed. Tuesday Weld's singing is dubbed by Connie Francis (who would become a major star 2 years later) and gets a screen credit all her own. If you're a fan of 50s rock 'n roll, you may find it tolerable. With Jack Collins, Fran Manfred and Jacqueline Kerr.