Woodyanders Review of Don't Knock the Rock

Don't Knock the Rock (1956)

A very entertaining 50's rock'n'roll romp

[8/10 · 28 April 2009]

Humble, yet charismatic rock singer Arnie Haines (an engaging performance by the smooth-voiced Alan Dale) and his band return to his small country hometown only to discover that crusty killjoy mayor George Bagley (an amusingly cranky Pierre Watkin) has banned rock'n'roll music because it's sinful. So Arnie gets a bunch of fellow rock bands together to stage a concert in order to prove that rock'n'roll is okay and acceptable. Granted, the plot is pretty corny (and was later rip offed almost thirty years later in "Footloose"!), but director Fred E. Sears effectively maintains a brisk pace and upbeat tone throughout. Better still, the rock acts featured herein are uniformly excellent and enjoyable: Bill Haley and His Comets totally smoke on the jaunty instrumental "Goofing Around," the Treniers have a ball with the infectiously cheery "One of These Days," and legendary rock'n'roll wildman Little Richard almost steals the whole show with rousing and spirited renditions of his classic big hits "Tutti Fruitti" and "Long Tall Sally." The lively dancing is likewise quite stirring and impressive, with a thrilling and dynamic stage production of the Charleston rating as the definite highlight. Moreover, both the rock acts and the kids alike are extremely nice, clean-cut, wholesome and even inoffensive, thereby giving this picture a certain quaint charm that's impossible to either resist or dislike. Popular rock disc jockey Alan Freed acquits himself well as Arnie's crafty opportunistic manager. Patricia Hardy contributes a winningly spunky turn as smart and sweet teenager Francine MacLaine. An immensely fun flick.