Another Sam Katzman quickie production with a rock 'n' roll pretense. Arthur Dreifuss directs JUKE BOX RHYTHM, a quaint little story about a European princess coming to America to select a wardrobe for her coronation. Princess Ann(Jo Morrow)slips away from her controlling Aunt Margaret(Freida Inescort)and is photographed dancing with a young singer Riff Manton(Jack Jones). Riff is trying to find money to help his father George(Brian Donlevy) support a show he is wanting to produce. It is hoped to be a comeback after a six year drought of flops.The scheme will be to get the Princess to have a wardrobe made by former junk-man turned fashion designer Balenko(Hans Conried). Balenko will give Riff the money to in turn provide the backing for his dad's production. Entertainers for this show called Juke Box Jamboree is to include the Earl Grant Trio, Johnny Otis, Georgie Jessel, The Treniers and Riff fancying himself as a rock and roll singer.(Joke).Singer Jones is making his movie debut with other players: Karin Booth, Marjorie Reynolds, Fritz Feld and Edgar Barrier. Some of the tunes of the soundtrack: "Let's Fall In Love", "Spring Is The Season To Fall In Love", "The Freeze", "Juke Box Jamboree", "Get Out of the Car" and the closest thing to rock 'n' roll, "Willie and the Hand Jive" by Clyde Otis.

Is this the worst of the first wave of rock n roll exploitation flicks? I say yes. Jack Jones stars as the son of theatrical impresario Brian Donlevy, a producer desperately in need of a hit. He comes up with a show called Juke Box Jamboree, which everyone agrees is a terrific title. The truth, of course, is that it's an awful title, and one suspects everyone actually knows it, but are too afraid to burst Donlevy's bubble. Son Jones also makes the acquaintance of all-American 'foreign princess' Jo Morrow, as well as fashion designer Hans Conried, here sporting an outrrrrageous accent. Salted throughout these extremely uninteresting plot points are performances by Earl Grant (not terrible, but not great, either), The Treniers (worthwhile, but not at their best), Johnny Otis (Willie and the Hand Jive being the film's highlight), The Nitwits (an indigestible cross-pollination of P.D.Q. Bach and Spike Jones), and young Jack himself, the least likely rocker this side of Pat Boone. The climax of all this is, of course, the premiere of Juke Box Jamboree, a threadbare variety hour that, we are told, duly impresses the critics, who perhaps were overwhelmed by the dazzling presence of Toastmaster General George Jessel. For some reason, director Arthur Dreifuss kept being assigned similar films such as the legendary Riot On Sunset Strip (1967) and the worst film of the SECOND wave of rock n roll exploitation films, The Young Runaways (1968).

The movie also features several Hollywood veterans - Brian Donlevy, George Jessel, Hans Conried, Marjorie Reynolds and Fritz Feld. But this 1960s rocker is more worth seeing for the performances of the Earl Grant Trio ("12th Street Rag" and "Last Night"), Johnnie Otis ("Willie and the Hand Jive") and, of course, the fabulous Treniers ("Get Out of the Car"). For years the Treniers thrilled crowds with their energetic song and dance act on the Las Vegas strip - the only rocking act to do so until Elvis conquered Vegas. Three other movies - Don't Knock the Rock, The Girl Can't Help It and Calypso Heat Wave - showcase their act much better though. This also was The Nitwits Act only film appearance. They were a Spike Jones-type novelty act led by Sid Millward.

Lighthearted musical about a beautiful princess who arrives in New York City to pick her coronation wardrobe under the thumb and serious guidance of her aunt, the Countess, who doesn't approve of NYC or that "immoral music" the princess seems to like. Well, first night in town our princess sneaks out of her room and into the "Spring Hop" fraternity dance being held in her hotel where she meets handsome, singing Riff Manton (Jack Jones), a real ringer for a young Ricky Nelson. Soon it's agreed that Riff can take her to a classical concert - instead he sneaks her to the "Bop Inn" where the kids are swinging and George Jessel appears in person to sing and do comedy patter with the audience. And meanwhile - Riff is busy with a plan to try and get the princess to buy her wardrobe from a struggling fashion designer who has offered Riff the money in exchange for the recognition - which Riff plans to invest in his theatrical producer dad's upcoming new show "Juke Box Jamboree".This is a fun, lightly entertaining film full of well-done dance numbers and musical performances like the Johnny Otis Band performing "Willie and the Hand Jive". The acting is acceptable, though nothing to write home about, the princess is revealed to have a great singing voice but that plot device is then just thrown away - and then there's the mystery of where in the world the princess and her aunt are actually from, considering they speak with perfect American accents. But none of that really matters - the story is interesting and the dancing and the music all good, and there's even a few fun-to-watch (though brief) fashion segments - all in all, a film worth seeing.