7/10
Shake, Rattle & Rock! is quite an enjoyable Rock 'n' Roll programmer
22 March 2017
The premise of this film seems to have been inspired by the trials of real-life DJ Alan Freed and his attempts to bring Rock 'n' Roll to the mainstream despite protests by many of the older generation. Mike "Touch" Connors plays the role based on him and the opposition consists of Douglass Dumbrille and Margaret Dumont-both veterans of Marx Brothers movies. They, along with Sterling Holloway and other familiar character actors, provide some comic counterpoint in the proceedings. Fine musical performances by Fats Domino, Big Joe Turner, Tommy Charles, and Annitta Ray. Director Edward L. Cahn helms a zippy 75-mimute B-feature to its natural end, which wasn't surprising to me since I knew he made some good-and not so good-Our Gang shorts at M-G-M during its latter stage in the '40s. Oh, and the leading lady is Lisa Gaye who I remember being in Rock Around the Clock from a few years previous. So on that note, Shake, Rattle, and Rock! is worth a look for anyone interested in both the vintage musical performances and the amusing character turns throughout. P.S. Since I always like to cite players from my home state of Louisiana, here it's Fate Domino from New Orleans.
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