ROCK & ROLL films 7/29 & 7/30 on TCM

[jeffbert]

6 films on night 1, all are stories, some are weak, but the performances of the bands are great. I know nothing about bye-bye birdie, though.

8:00 PM Rock, Rock, Rock (1956)
A teenager will stop at nothing to get the perfect dress for her school's big dance. Cast: Tuesday Weld, Alan Freed, Chuck Berry. Dir: Will Price. BW-86 mins, TV-G

9:30 PM Rock Around the Clock (1956)
A music promoter decides to get into the new world of rock music. Cast: Johnny Johnston, Bill Haley, Lisa Gaye. Dir: Fred F. Sears. BW-77 mins, TV-G, CC, Letterbox Format

11:00 PM Bye Bye Birdie (1963)
A rock star's personal appearance turns a small town into a disaster area. Cast: Janet Leigh, Dick Van Dyke, Ann-Margret. Dir: George Sidney. C-112 mins, TV-G, CC, Letterbox Format

1:00 AM Jailhouse Rock (1957)
After learning to play the guitar in prison, a young man becomes a rock 'n roll sensation. Cast: Elvis Presley, Judy Tyler, Mickey Shaughnessy. Dir: Richard Thorpe. BW-96 mins, TV-G, CC, Letterbox Format, DVS

2:45 AM Go, Johnny, Go! (1959)
Rock-n-roll promoter Alan Freed searches for a talent contest's mysterious winner. Cast: Alan Freed, Jimmy Clanton, Chuck Berry. Dir: Paul Landres. BW-74 mins, TV-G

4:15 AM Don't Knock the Twist (1962)
A TV executive tries to create a musical special to save his network. Cast: Chubby Checker, Lang Jeffries, Mari Blanchard. Dir: Oscar Rudolph. BW-86 mins, TV-G, Letterbox Format

And another block on Friday:

8:00 PM Let the Good Times Roll (1973)
Fifties rock stars reunite 20 years later for a concert. Cast: Bill Haley and the Comets, Chuck Berry, Little Richard. Dir: Robert Abel, Sidney Levin. BW-99 mins, TV-PG, CC, Letterbox Format

This is a wonderful performance by many groups, coupled with documentary clips about the squares attempt to squash the genre. Two more are concerts:

10:00 PM Elvis on Tour (1972)
Extensive concert footage highlights this documentary about the King's touring in the early '70s. Cast: Elvis Presley, James Burton, Glenn D. Hardin. Dir: Robert Abel, Pierre Aldridge. C-93 mins, TV-G, Letterbox Format

12:00 AM Let's Spend the Night Together (1982)
Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones perform 24 songs during two 1980 concerts. Cast: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts. Dir: Hal Ashby. C-90 mins, TV-PG, Letterbox Format

An interesting look at the early days when Rock & Roll was literally an outlaw genre.