Jailhouse Rock (Blu-ray)

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I want more Elvis Presley on Blu-ray. In one night, I sat down and enjoyed "Viva Las Vegas" and "Jailhouse Rock." Both films looked absolutely amazing and sounded brilliant. They showcased Elvis´ ability to entertain and provided for a very nice evening with my older sister, who is a tremendous Elvis fan. "Viva Las Vegas" was a fun romantic comedy musical, while "Jailhouse Rock" is a far superior film, but lacks the humor and good nature of the later film. Where "Viva Las Vegas" was the beginning of the end of Elvis´ hold on the entertainment industry, "Jailhouse Rock" was released at a time when the King´s stature was growing taller all of the time and there was no hotter star in the world. When Elvis´ third film, "Jailhouse Rock" was released, there was nobody bigger and "Jailhouse Rock" stands as a testament to Elvis Presley´s ability to act and sing. This film showed he was a complete entertainer.

Elvis had struck gold with his first two films, "Love Me Tender" and "Loving You." "Jailhouse Rock" was the third film released in short order for the singer. It was released at a time when Rock and Roll music was still not fully accepted by the American public and Pelvis Elvis was looked at as being too racy for many viewers. Regardless of some of the public´s hesitation to accept Elvis as a megastar with limitless talent, he was seen as a rebel. "Jailhouse Rock" downplays the rock and roll aspect of Elvis career and paints a picture that the star is a cocksure and arrogant rebel. This is in strong contrast to how the singer truly was and his character Vince Everett provides a vehicle for Elvis to show his talents as an actor, but does not paint a picture of the man himself. This film showed a harder and stronger persona of Elvis than the more tender first films.

In the film, Vince Everett is placed in prison after killing a man in a barroom fistfight. The prison´s warden (Hugh Sanders) wants to make an example of the man convicted of manslaughter and he is placed in a jail cell with a former country star, Hunk Houghton (Mickey Shaughnessy), who is behind bars for a bank robbery when his musical career floundered. Hunk educates the young Vince on the merits of keeping his nose clean in prison and the value of a carton of cigarettes. Hunk quickly realizes that Vince has a great singing voice, but is not very strong with a guitar. Hunk lands Vince a spot on a televised musical special from the prison and Vince quickly becomes a heartthrob with the American audience and the prison is inundated with fan mail addressed to the prisoner. Hunk wants to capitalize on Vince´s future success and the Warden does not want the letters to be given to Vince, so they are kept hidden until Vince is set free.

During their time together in the same cell, Vince and Hunk create a strong friendship. Vince takes a beating after he strikes a prison guard and Hunk tells Vince that he offered all of the cigarettes he had to prevent the whipping from happening, but that he did not have the three hundred packs required. Vince signs a paper contract with Hunk in prison that gives Hunk fifty percent of any future earnings by Vince. Hunk knows the music business and feels that fifty percent is a fair number as a managing partner.

When Vince is released, he gets his fan letters and quickly sets out to find a guitar and begin his musical career. Vince travels to a pawn shop and puts everything he has into purchasing a guitar. He is cocky and feels that success is guaranteed and quickly takes a job working as a bus boy for a restaurant with a live band and a stage. He storms the stage at the restaurant and sings a song against his manager´s wishes. Unfortunately, his performance bombs, but he catches the eye of Peggy Van Alden (Judy Tyler, who was sadly killed in a car accident after the film), a woman who works for the musical industry and checks numbers of juke boxes for information on the biggest hits and helps move record singles. Vince is eager to work with Peggy and find out how he can succeed. He had destroyed his guitar when a patron refused to stop laughing.

Vince and Peggy being a strong friendship and after some missteps and troubles breaking into the musical business, they succeed and Vince Everett becomes a huge star. His unchecked ego gets in the way and his desire to have more and more money pushes Peggy away. The two have found a bond, but Vince continually ignores his feelings for her for fame and fortune. He ends up with a leggy and gorgeous blonde and nearly loses Peggy as a friend and partner. Eventually, Hunk leaves prison and hunts down Vince. He mentions his contract and asks Vince for a chance to have another go in the musical business. Hunk bombs in his performance, but Vince tells Hunk he will continue to give him ten percent for trying to buy the Warden out of beating Vince too badly. Hunk sees how much Vince has changed and tries to save him from self destructing.

In the end, a fight between Hunk and Vince finds Vince refusing to strike back at his friend. Hunk is tired of Vince walking all over his friends and use everybody as a stepping stone for more success in the film and musical industries. Hunk sees how much Peggy cares for him and despises the way Hunk mistreats the pretty girl. In the fight, Vince´s vocal chords are damaged and his ability to every sing again comes into question. Vince discovers the wrongs in his ways and begins to change for his friends. He gets the girl, but gets to keep his fame and success.