Usually, movies play hit songs on their soundtracks, so it is nice to hear songs that are authentically rock and roll, but weren't quite good enough to become hits. I suspect these songs are more representative of the period, the 99% of songs that were good, but quickly forgotten when rock and roll moved on in the 1960's. Franky Lyman is the only performer of the dozen or so acts who really delivers a terrific performance. Even Chuck Berry is just good, but not at his best. One reviewer suggested skipping the storyline for the music. However, I think the plot is hilarious. It could be renamed "Mean Girls, 1956" or perhaps "Not so Mean Girls, 1956") The performance of Tuesday Weld stands out. She looks closer to 18 then 13, and she acts more adult, with a combination of controlled coolness and warmth, than most adult actresses. She did become a minor star, but she could have been up there with Betty Davis, Katherine Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Joan Crawford, and Greta Garbo if she had gotten the right roles.

I agree with many comments, the acting can be atrocious at times. But that wasn't the focus of this film. The fact that there's rock songs and artists performing every few minutes is proof of that. So while the acting and plot are weak, it's a great movie to watch for all the different music acts of the 1950s. Pretty cool. Tuesday Weld is cute and her nemesis is enough to hate, even beyond the poor acting skill. She's a conniving little beast and has no qualms about getting the guy she wants, even when it's obvious he doesn't like her. I wasn't impressed with the singing of "Baby" though. I've heard kids sing and do just fine. She was too annoying sounding. Was she actually a big thing at this time? Her voice grated. My three year old doesn't always keep in tune, but he sings better and has a clearer voice. Even taking into consideration the graininess of the soundtrack, she was harsh. Oh well. It's still a film worth watching.

I love this film! The plot is weak, but this film isn't about the plot. It's about music! The music in this film is brilliant! The plot is virtually non-existent, and what plot that exists is wonderfully sitcom-like. Face-it, this movie was made solely for the purpose of show-casing music, But it does very well at it's job. I really don't know what more to say, but let me say this. If you like 50's music, you may like this film. It's a popcorn flick, but a good one. The plot is simple, A girl wants to take a boy to the dance, but cant afford a dress. She comes up with the idea of lending money like a bank, but trouble ensues when the nasty girl she lends the money to, wont give it back. Overall it's a fun popcorn flick!

"Rock Rock Rock" (1956): Alan Freed was to Rock and Roll movies what Ed Wood was to sci fi: an idiot. But, I side with Wood - at least he did it for the "love". Freed was creating a market and nothing more. He was the P.T. Barnum of Pop music. Shoving known and unknown singers and other musicians in front of a camera – many for the very first time, expecting them to dub a tune – many for the first time, and expecting them to have any sort of stage presence, gave everyone the results they deserved. If these films weren't so painfully staged, they could hold up as Rock and Roll documents. As they are, they are laughable, pathetic, embarrassing collections of awkward, amateurish kids who are being scooped up, wagered upon, and thrown away by music industry investors. NONE THE LESS, if you're a fan of movies, this one is so transparent it's entertaining. Watch Alan Freed sell himself with his wide eyed, crap-eating grin as he pretends to be a band leader, or introduce the next act; watch the premier of Tuesday Weld – so young she's still a gawky teen - not the beauty of later years - as she dubs songs in the voice of Connie Francis (!); watch countless singers and groups who are getting their one shot – and were never heard from again; watch Frankie Lymon lead "his" Teenagers through a couple of their actual hits with slick professional behavior (corny as it was, the entire film is worth their performance of "I'm not a Juvenile Delinquent")… but keep in mind he was 13 years old, in 2 years would be a heroin addict, and 10 years later would be dead of an overdose; watch La Vern Baker do the dumbest song of all time ("Tra La La"); watch Chuck Berry stand on stage like a funky puppet performing "You Can't Catch Me"; watch many others make fools of themselves; and remember that only a year later, Freed would be busted for DJ payola, lose everything, and drink himself to death by the age of 32. There is some good décor detailing, incredibly lame dialog, numb-skulled plot devices, awful acting, and primitive editing… yet, I'm already in the mood to watch it again. I must have a mental problem... like those jerks who tie up traffic by slowing down and rubber-necking a car wreck