Don't Knock the Rock is a 1956 American musical film directed by Fred F. Sears and starring Alan Dale and Alan Freed. It was written by Robert. E. Kent and James B. Gordon. The film features performances by Bill Haley & His Comets (who were top-billed), Little Richard, The Treniers, and Dave Appell and the Applejacks.

Reception

Variety wrote: "Script by Robert E. Kent and James B. Gordon doesn't stand too close inspection but it has been wisely written so as not to get in the way of the music. ... Production by Katzman is on the skimpy side, but it's a deficiency that won't be minded by teen-age audiences since the producer wisely spent his money for such talent as Bill Haley and his Comets ... Fred F. Sears' direction keeps the plot boiling effectively between musical numbers which boast some effective teenage dancing routines staged and created by Earl Barton."

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Made by the same production team as the controversial Rock Around the Clock, the present film emulates its predecessor in every respect. The story-line is virtually non-existent, serving only to link up musical numbers. These are performed by a succession of the leading exponents of rock'n'roll, some of whom border on the surrealistic in their antics, dress and appearance."

Kine Weekly wrote: "The picture, a light-hearted defence of hot rhythm uses a neat story to put over it propaganda. Alan Dale acts adequately and croons vigorously as Arnie, Patricia Hardy pleases as Francine, Jana Lund is a thorough minx as Sunny and Fay Baker and Pierre Watkin do their stuff as Arlene and Mayor Bagley. Bill Haley and His Comets, Little Richard, the crazy coloured singer, and Dave Appell and His Applejacks fill in the gaps. In all, a spirited rock n' roll festival."

Songs performed in the movie

  1. "Don't Knock the Rock" – Bill Haley and His Comets (audio only over opening credits)
  2. "I Cry More" – Alan Dale
  3. "You're Just Right" – Alan Dale
  4. "Hot Dog Buddy Buddy" – Bill Haley and His Comets
  5. "Goofin' Around" – Bill Haley and His Comets
  6. "Hook, Line And Sinker" – Bill Haley and His Comets (audio only)
  7. "Applejack" – Dave Appell and the Applejacks
  8. "Your Love Is My Love" – Alan Dale
  9. "Calling All Comets" – Bill Haley and His Comets
  10. "Out Of The Bushes" – The Treniers
  11. "Rip It Up" – Bill Haley and His Comets
  12. "Rocking On Saturday Night" – The Treniers
  13. "Gonna Run" – Alan Dale
  14. "Long Tall Sally" – Little Richard
  15. "Tutti-Frutti" – Little Richard
  16. "Country Dance" – Dave Appell and the Applejacks
  17. "Don't Knock the Rock" – Alan Dale

The version of the guitar instrumental "Goofin' Around" performed in this film differs from the version released on Decca Records; it has yet to be officially issued although a film audio recording of the scene in which it was played (as opposed to the original studio recording) was released in the late 1990s by the German label Hydra Records. Due to sheet music for the songs "Applejack" and "Country Dance" being released as a tie-in with this movie but with Bill Haley's, not Dave Appell's, photo on the cover, these songs, although Haley-sounding, are often erroneously cited as Bill Haley recordings.

The version of the guitar instrumental "Goofin' Around" performed in this film differs from the version released on Decca Records; it has yet to be officially issued although a film audio recording of the scene in which it was played (as opposed to the original studio recording) was released in the late 1990s by the German label Hydra Records. Due to sheet music for the songs "Applejack" and "Country Dance" being released as a tie-in with this movie but with Bill Haley's, not Dave Appell's, photo on the cover, these songs, although Haley-sounding, are often erroneously cited as Bill Haley recordings.

Three Little Richard songs are featured: two performed by Richard himself, and the third is a cover version of his "Rip it Up" performed by Haley.

Alan Dale's song "I Cry More" was one of the first songs published by the team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. The two were largely unknown at the time of the film, and did not have a hit together until 1958, when their song "The Story of My Life" went to number one on the Billboard country chart.

As with Rock Around the Clock, no official soundtrack album was released, though some non-American issues of Haley compilations tied in to the film. Haley's 1956 album, Rock 'n Roll Stage Show, includes four of the songs featured in the movie: "Hot Dog Buddy Buddy", "Goofin' Around", "Hook, Line and Sinker", and "Calling All Comets".

Home media

Don't Knock the Rock was never released officially on VHS or laserdisc in North America. In 2006, the film was released on Region 1 DVD by Sony Pictures (current owners of the Columbia catalog) in a two-disc set with Rock Around the Clock.

See also

  • List of American films of 1956

References