MEMORABLE MOVIE LINE "It ain't tactics, honey, it's just the beast in me." CLICK HERE FOR MOVIE SCENE JAILHOUSE ROCK JAILHOUSE ROCK CLICK HERE FOR TRAILER DANCE SCENE NEXT DANCE SCENE Click Here to Watch "Jailhouse Rock" Dance Scene New Layer ELVIS STOLE IT PLOT JAILHOUSE ROCK JAILHOUSE ROCK SOUNDTRACK "JAILHOUSE ROCK" includes the powerfully choreographed dance sequence created by Charles O'Curran. The original dance arrangement was shaped for professional dancers and didn't fit Elvis's style. O'Curran decided to watch footage of Elvis on stage and changed the choreography to fit Elvis's natural stage movements. This resulted in being one of the film industry's most memorable dance scenes. Rumor has it that Gene Kelly was actually on the set watching Elvis perform the "JAILHOUSE ROCK" number as it was being filmed. CLASSIC LINE CAST "ELVIS STOLE IT" ANOTHER RIDICULOUSLY CREATED CULTURAL LIE JAILHOUSE ROCK JAILHOUSE ROCK Click Here HISTORY OF THE DANCE WORKING TITLES It is thoroughly understandable that Black American entertainers have historically and presently (Hip Hop being claimed by others) experienced their music stolen and not given credit for it . That is how these feelings about Elvis came about. However, all of Elvis's covers were credited with the original songwriters. Attempts to prove accusations that Elvis stole moves from Nina Mae McKinney can be seen here. This isn't the first time Elvis has been accused of appropriating choreography from Black entertainers. However, this theory raises a difficult question, "If Elvis, who grew up immersed in Black communities (Mississippi and Tennessee), is considered to have "stolen" these moves, does that same logic apply to the Black performers in those communities who influenced one another? WORKING TITLES JAILHOUSE ROCK JAILHOUSE ROCK The original title was "THE HARD WAY" before it was changed to "JAILHOUSE KID." Before filming, the studio made a final decision on "JAILHOUSE ROCK." CREDITING BLACK AMERICAN ENTERTAINERS LOCATION In a scene with William Forrest and Jennifer Holden. LOCATION Hospital scene with Judy Tyler. JAILHOUSE ROCK JAILHOUSE ROCK "JAILHOUSE ROCK" was filmed at the MGM studios in Culver City, California. WORKING TITLES BOX OFFICE BOX OFFICE Distributed by MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer), Elvis's third movie, "JAILHOUSE ROCK," grossed $4,275,000 in 1957. It premiered on Thursday, October 17, 1957, in Memphis, Tennessee, and was released nationwide on Friday, November 8, 1957. Elvis seen here with Judy Tyler in a deleted scene from the movie. JAILHOUSE ROCK JAILHOUSE ROCK Elvis was paid $250,000 (equivalent to $2,359,366 in 2021). He also received 50% of the royalties from the distribution of the movie. "JAILHOUSE ROCK" peaked at number 3 on the Variety Box Office Chart and reached number 14 in the year's box office totals. LOCATION RELEASE DATES In 2004, "JAILHOUSE ROCK" was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. INTERNATIONAL RELEASE DATES Publicity Still For Jailhouse Rock JAILHOUSE ROCK JAILHOUSE ROCK Jailhouse Rock BOX OFFICE RELEASE DATES CONTINUED Sweden Australia United Kingdom United Kingdom Ireland Argentina West Germany Norway Finland Italy Austria Denmark London Premier January 17, 1958 January 18, 1958 March 1958 March 7, 1958 March 10, 1958 March 25, 1958 April 5, 1958 April 21, 1958 May 23, 1958 July 19, 1958 August 1958 November 2, 1959 INTERNATIONAL RELEASE DATES (CONTINUED) JAILHOUSE ROCK JAILHOUSE ROCK RELEASE DATES JUDY TYLER Colombia Japan France September 28 1960 1961 November 23, 1962 Elvis shoveling coal in one of the movie scenes. When prisoners were shoveling coal in prison, they were primarily engaged in forced, industrial-scale manual labor as part of the "convict leasing" system in the United States or in wartime penal labor camps. This work was often characterized as "slavery by another name," where prisoners were forced to dig and move up to 12,000 pounds of coal and rock per day under dangerous, often deadly, conditions. A SAD ENDING FOR JUDY TYLER JAILHOUSE ROCK JAILHOUSE ROCK Judy Tyler and her new husband came to an early death. After post-production, they were involved in an automobile accident on U.S. Route 287 near Rock River, Wyoming. They were headed home to New York on July 3, 1957, when they collided with another automobile that was towing a trailer. Police stated that Judy Tyler’s husband, Gregory Lafayette, 19, swerved to avoid hitting the other car. Judy Tyler, aged 24, was killed instantly, while her husband died the following day. A passenger in the other car was also killed. RELEASE DATE CAST CAST JAILHOUSE ROCK Judy Tyler as Peggy Van Alden Mickey Shaughnessy as Hunk Houghton Elvis Presley as Vince Everett Discovering the song theft with Judy Tyler as Peggy Van Alden. JUDY TYLER'S ENDING CAST CONTINUED Vaughn Taylor as Attorney Shores Jennifer Holden as Sherry Wilson Peter Adams as Jack Lease Dean Jones as Teddy Talbot Anne Neyland as Laury Jackson Scotty Moore as Lead Guitar Player (uncredited) JAILHOUSE ROCK GO STRAIGHT TO THE PLOT CAST (CONTINUED) JAILHOUSE ROCK Bill Black as the Bass Player CAST BEGINS UNCREDITED CAST (CONTINUES) JAILHOUSE ROCK D.J. Fontana as the Drummer Robert Bice as Bardean - TV Studio Manager Bobby Barber as one of the Film Crew Members Don Burnett as Mickey Alba George Cisar as Jake - Bartender Fred Coby as Jerry - Bartender John Dennis as Convct Mail Clerk #1 Tom Mayton as Convict Mail Clerk #2 Don Anderson as a Convict Phil Bloom as a Convict Gene Coogan as a Convict John Indrisano as a Convict Noble "Kid" Chissell as a Convict Allen Jaffe as a Convict Ted Smile as a Convict Glenn Strange as Matt - Convict Mike Stoller as Piano Player CAST (UNCREDITED) GO TO PLOT UNCREDITED CAST (CONTINUED) JAILHOUSE ROCK UNCREDITED CAST BEGINS UNCREDITED CAST (CONTINUES) JAILHOUSE ROCK Jack Chefe as the Waiter in the Club La Florita François André as the Waiter in restaurant Albert Cavens as a Nightclub Patron John Daheim as Tough Man in Bar Francis De Sales as the Surgeon Dan Dowling as Nightclub Patron Joan Dupuis as the Record Shop Girl Cliff Gleaves as a party guest Arthur Hooten as a party guest Frank Kreig as a Drunk Joe Gilbert as the Nightclub Patron William Forrest as Head of the Climax Movie Studio James Gonzalez as Courtroom Spectator Sol Gorss as the Bar Brawler Lamar Fike as the Dancer at the Party GO TO PLOT MOVIE POSTER UNCREDITED CAST (CONTINUED) JAILHOUSE ROCK UNCREDITED CAST UNCREDITED CAST (CONTINUES) JAILHOUSE ROCK Bill Hale as a Prison Guard Percy Helton as Sam Brewster Bill Hickman as the Guard Who Whips Vince Harry Hines as the Hotel Clerk Bob Hopkins as Announcer Shep Houghton as Nightclub Patron Catherine Howard as the Nurse Donald Kerr as Climax Studio Photographer Joe McGuinn as Climax Studio Gateman S. John Launer as the Judge Russell Meeker as a Film Crew Member Tom McKee as the TV Director Carl Milletaire as Mr. Drummond Frank Mills as the Shooting Gallery Proprietor Walter Johnson as Shorty - Bartender Tracey Morgan as Girl in Booth Gloria Pall as Striptease Woman Grandon Rhodes as Prof. August Van Alden Katherine Warren as Mrs. Van Alden Bess Flowers as Van Alden Party Guest Joe Ploski as Convict in Dance Number Frank Radcliffe as Dancer Murray Pollack as Court Clerk John Roy as Bailiff Hugh Sanders as Prison Warden Dick Rich as Prison Guard Cosmo Sardo as Prison Barber Ford Raymond as Prospector Elizabeth Slifer as Cleaning Woman Jeffrey Sayre as Van Alden Party Guest GO TO PLOT UNCREDITED CAST (CONTINUED) JAILHOUSE ROCK UNCREDITED CAST CAST: THE BLUE MOON BOYS DURING FILMING JAILHOUSE ROCK Gene Smith as Party Guest Opening the Door Bob Stratton as Orderly William Tannen as Record Distributor Arthur Tovey as Record Shop Owner in Montage Steve Warren as Assistant Director Linda Williams as Girl in Bathing Suit Wilson Wood as the Recording Engineer GO TO PLOT JAILHOUSE ROCK UNCREDITED CAST CASTING THE PIANO PLAYER (NEXT) The Blue Moon Boys were included in several scenes throughout the film as musicians. However, Scotty Moore pointed out how he along with Bill and D.J. were not provided costumes and had to come out of pocket for their movie wardrobe. You may have caught it, but during the song "YOU'RE SO SQUARE, BABY I DON'T CARE," they filmed Scotty Moore wearing shades during an earlier take in the day, but mixed it with a shooting later in the day when he wasn't wearing them. CAST (CONTINUED) JAILHOUSE ROCK "SCOTTY AND ELVIS: ABOARD THE MYSTERY TRAIN" (Page 128) "YOU SO SQUARE, BABY I DON'T CARE" (Movie Scene Click Here) GO TO PLOT JAILHOUSE ROCK CAST: BLUE MOON BOYS PLOT NEXT "HOUND DOG: THE LEIBER AND STOLLER AUTOBIOGRAPHY" (Pages 115 - 116) JAILHOUSE ROCK Mike Stoller was the piano player and wrote the music in the Leiber and Stoller team. Leiber wrote the lyrics. Even though Elvis blatantly told casting director, Benny Thau, who the piano player was, Thau chose to use Leiber as the piano player in the movie, claiming Leiber looked like a piano player (if there is such a look). CASTING THE PIANO PLAYER "YOU'RE SO YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL" (Movie Scene - Click Here) JAILHOUSE ROCK PLOT: SPOILER ALERT CAST PLOT (CONTINUES) In a barroom brawl with John Daheim. Vince Everett (played by Elvis Presley) is a young construction worker who accidentally kills a man (played by Sol Gorss) in a barroom fight. Sentenced to two years in prison for manslaughter, he strikes up a friendship with his cellmate, Hank Houghton (played by Mickey Shaughnessy), who was imprisoned for a bank robbery. Hank teaches Vince the ropes of prison life and offers him the opportunity to join his prison gang. Vince turns down Hank's offer to become one of his prison minions, and chooses to work in the coal yard, declining the cushy post office job run by Hank. Hank, who is also the penitentiary entertainer, discovers Vince has musical talent and mentors Vince by giving him guitar lessons. When Hank is put in charge of a prison telecast to cover up the Warden's cruel prison abuses and violations, he convinces Vince to perform in the televised production. Vince becomes the hit of the show and fan mail pours into the prison for Vince, not Hank. An envious Hank who is in charge of prison mail pays off his flunkies to keep quiet about Vince's mail and assures them the warden won't tell Vince about his fan mail either. Following this devious act, Hank practices more trickery by conning young Vince into signing an entertainment contract for an equal partnership when they are both released from prison. Upon Vince's release, Hunk puts him in contact with a buddy of his, Sam Brewster (played by Percy Helton), who owns the Club La Florita nightclub. Hunk assures Vince that Sam will give him a job. Upon Vince's release, Hunk puts him in contact with a buddy of his, Sam Brewster (played by Percy Helton), who owns the Club La Florita nightclub. Hunk assures Vince that Sam will give him a job. BUY OR RENT MOVIE JAILHOUSE ROCK JAILHOUSE ROCK PLOT: SPOILER ALERT (CONTINUED) PLOT PLOT (CONTINUES) PHOTOGRAPH: Argument prior to barroom fight. Finally free from prison, Vince rents a room, finds a pawn shop to acquire a guitar, and finds his way to Club La Florita. There he meets and lightly argues with Peggy Van Alden (played by Judy Tyler), a song promoter for a pop singer named Mickey Alba (played by Don Burnett). When Vince approaches club owner Sam Brewster for a singing job, Sam informs him the gig is not for an entertainer; it's for a bar boy. Not to be denied the opportunity to show Sam that he has talent, Vince jumps on the stage and performs "YOU'RE SO YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL." Peggy immediately notices something special about Vince's singing. When one of the male customers in the club continues to be disruptive during Vince's performance, Vince flies into a rage and smashes his guitar on the table where the rude customer is seated. Leaving the club with no job and no guitar, Peggy chases after Vince coaxing, flirting, and offering him a ride. He accepts. While sitting in her parked car, Peggy convinces Vince to make a recording in the studio so he can assess his sound. Later while Vince waits in the studio, Peggy shows up with a backup band (the Blue Moon Boys and Jerry Leiber on piano). Vince records "DON'T LEAVE ME NOW." Vince expresses how dissatisfied he is with the first recording, so he ditches the borrowed guitar he used in the first recording and re-records the song with a lot more sex appeal and gusto. Peggy takes Vince to Geneva Records to pitch the song to Jack Lease (played by Peter Adams). Lease tells them he's not interested because they are only going with established artists. Upon hearing Peggy say she will pitch the song to MGM Records, Lease tells them he will play the song for D.L. in New York (I'm guessing D.L. is the prominent recording executive of Geneva Records?). The fact that he bought drinks for the whole bar at the beginning of the movie, tells us his character is not a leech.) Irritated now over his lack of concern or care about being late, Peggy informs the unenthused Vince that she sold his record to a new label called Deltona, and how excited they were about the song. She attempts to lighten the mood by saying why don't the two of them just enjoy a nice meal and go to her parent's house afterward. JAILHOUSE ROCK In the next scene, while Vince sits in his room reading more of his prison fan mail, Peggy calls and informs Vince that New York didn't like the tape, but she would pitch the song to another record label. They make plans to meet for dinner. Vince shows up late for dinner, asking Peggy if she's eaten yet when she complains about his tardiness. (Side Note: The movie line says Vince was sleeping but doesn't make it clear if Vince showed up late due to embarrassment over not being able to pay for the meal. JAILHOUSE ROCK PLOT: SPOILER ALERT (CONTINUED) PLOT PLOT (CONTINUES) PHOTOGRAPH: Vince hosting a party with girlfriend, Sherry Wilson and personal assistant, Hunk Houghton. away telling him his cheap tactics won't work with her. So he grabs her and kisses her again. When he lets her go, Vince lays on a classic film response, "It ain't tactics, honey; it's just the beast in me." Vince walks away, leaving Peggy stunned on the sidewalk. Later when Peggy visits Vince at his hotel room, he tells her how he slapped Lease a few times and that he wanted to make another record. This time they would start their own record company, where Vince would get 51% and Peggy 49% because he was the artist as well. Peggy agrees to his terms. She begins flirting heavily with him by lying next to him on his bed asking him if he could dance. However, the only thing Vince is thinking about is getting a lawyer and building his new record company; leaving Peggy in need of a cold shower. In the next scene, they approach Attorney Shores (played by Vaughn Taylor), who informs them that he won't manage their business until he is certain of their earning potential. JAILHOUSE ROCK Peggy and Vince arrive at her parent's during a party they're giving (it appears to be a party guest of professors like her father). The party's conversation turns to their objection to some of the modern jazz artists. One of the party guests asks Vince his opinion on the subject. Vince rudely tells her he doesn't know what the hell she was talking about, and storms out of the house. Peggy chases after him, angrily scolds him about his crude behavior, and says she's going to hate him. Vince tells her he "ain't gonna" let her hate him, grabs Peggy in his arms, and kisses her. She pulls Peggy and Vince visit the record shop on the release date for Vince's record, "DON'T LEAVE ME NOW," when Vince apologizes for his behavior at her parent's house. When they see and hear the record, they are outraged that Jack Lease of Geneva Records stole the song and the arrangement, and gave it to Mickey Alba to record. Vince handles the situation by giving Lease a surprise visit. While he's there, he slaps Lease around, calls him a snake, and leaves Lease sitting in his office looking shocked and frightened. So they set out to build Laurel Records. Vince records his first single on their new label, "TREAT ME NICE." They pound the pavement nationwide plugging the song to record stores and radio stations. Finally, Peggy gets the attention of Deejay Teddy Talbot (played by Dean Jones), who not only airs the song for her but gets a date with her as well. Unfortunately, Talbot plays the song in the background of a dog food commercial. When he receives numerous calls complaining about how the song couldn't be heard over the dog food advertisement, he apologizes to his listeners and plays the record without interruption. The song becomes an immediate hit. When record sales rise, Atty. Shores accepts legal management of Laurel Records. JAILHOUSE ROCK PLOT: SPOILER ALERT (CONTINUED) PLOT PLOT (CONTINUES) PHOTOGRAPH: Vince and Peggy meeting with Attorney Shores. Celebrating success, Vince finally decides to take a romantic interest in Peggy but learns the hard way that she didn't wait around for him to notice her. As a result of stubborn behavior on both their parts, they build a thick barrier between each other, never admitting the strong feelings they have for one another. After the hit record, better contracts came through the door building an even larger fan base. When a television show is planned, Vince throws a party (Lamar Fike shows his smooth moves, LOL). When Peggy unexpectedly shows up and sees Vince gnawing on the neck of a new singer, Laury Jackson (played by Anne Neyland), she becomes jealous, cold, and angry. Vince responds sarcastically but softens his demeanor when Peggy turns to leave. As she's walking out the door, Hunk Houghton, freed from prison is in the doorway. Hunk uses guilt to persuade Vince into giving him a spot on the upcoming television show even though Vince warns him that music has changed in the twenty years he's been out of the entertainment field; Hunk doesn't listen. As Vince's star rises, he is approached by Climax Studios in Hollywood to film a movie. Upon meeting his co-star Sherry Wilson (played by Jennifer Holden), they are asked by the studio to drum up publicity for the film by being seen in public together. Vince courts her cheaply by taking her to Knott's Berry Farm, a racetrack, and out to dine on hamburgers at the zoo; not exactly what she expected because all of her reactions are filled with disgust. Later, her attitude changes when Vince lays a long and passionate kiss on her during movie rehearsals, resulting in the two of them seeing each other romantically outside of the studio. JAILHOUSE ROCK During the show's production, Vince performs "JAILHOUSE ROCK" and the famous dance scene. Following Vince's outstanding performance, Hunk sings an outdated country tune which the producers immediately drop from the program. Back home after the show, Vince is upset that he has not received any news from Peggy regarding the success of his television special. Hunk, on the other hand, sits dejected because his act was cut. Hunk tries to con Vince into sticking to their prison contract. Wisely, Vince had already spoken to his lawyer, Mr. Shores, who informed him that the contract was not binding. In a moment of pity and poor judgment, Vince offers Hunk a job as his assistant for ten percent, not the original 50% they had agreed on in prison. Hunk considers Vince's high-earning potential and accepts the offer. JAILHOUSE ROCK PLOT: SPOILER ALERT (CONTINUED) PLOT BACK TO MOVIE DIRECTORY SOUNDTRACK PHOTOGRAPH: First day of prison life. THE END Vince throws a party and performs an upbeat tune "YOU'RE SO SQUARE, BABY I DON'T CARE," to party guests who stand as stiff as statues; not a finger-snapping or a hand-clapping, except for one woman in black pants. After the performance, Hunk shows his envious colors again with a snide comment, which Vince blows off. While Sherry is vying for Vince's attention, he becomes shocked but happy when Peggy makes an appearance. Quickly he becomes irritated when she tells him she showed up seeking another song to record. Later when Vince gives Hunk a request to order drinks for the staff, Hunk becomes angry and shows it with a snide "your majesty" remark. So Vince gives Hunk orders to walk his dogs. Hunk warns Vince that there is only so much a man will take. Again, Vince naively shrugs off Hunk's remarks. Later that evening, Vince informs Peggy how he has decided to sell Laurel Records to Geneva. Peggy doesn't want to sell and is extremely upset over the news. She runs out crying. When Hunk sees how upset she is, he starts a fight with Vince who refuses to hit him back. In a final blow, Hunk socks Vince in the throat leaving Vince on the floor unable to breathe. Hunk realizes what he's done, calls for help, and Vince is rushed to the hospital. Hunk and Peggy are informed by the operating surgeon (played by Francis De Sales) that Vince may not recover his singing voice. Hunk apologizes to Vince for what he's done and seems honestly remorseful. When Peggy visits Vince, they finally acknowledge their love for each other. JAILHOUSE ROCK Attorney Shores shows up to the party as well with news about an offer. Geneva Records wants to purchase Laurel Records with Vince being under an exclusive contract for recordings. The deal in their eyes is too good to pass up, but Vince insists on being the one to tell Peggy about the sale of their label. When Vince is released from the hospital and comfortably back at home, he's hesitant about trying out his voice even though the doctor has assured him that he has fully recovered. With a solo piano accompaniment, Vince puts his voice to the test and burst into "YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL" with Peggy at his side. Before pre-production began, songwriters Mike Stoller and Jerry Leiber were commissioned to integrate the film's soundtrack. In April, Leiber and Stoller were called for a meeting in New York City to show the progress of the repertoire. The writers, who had not produced any material, toured the city and were confronted in a hotel room by Jean Aberbach, who locked them into their hotel room by blocking the hotel room door with a sofa until they wrote the material. Presley recorded the soundtrack at Radio Recorders in Hollywood on April 30 and May 3, with an additional session at the MGM Soundstage on May 9. During post-production, the songs were dubbed into the films' scenes, in which Presley mimed the lyrics. SOUNDTRACK JAILHOUSE ROCK BACK TO MOVIE DIRECTORY JAILHOUSE ROCK PREVIOUS