Movie review – “Shake, Rattle and Rock” (1956) *1/2

One of the those juke box rock and roll musicals which flourished in the late 50s, which featured a loose plot, usually about establishment figures worried about the corrupting influence of rock music being defeated by a hero who shows that the kids are alright, that served to enable a bunch of guest artists to sing. This was an AIP entry into the series, from one of their most prolific and boring directors, Edward Cahn. Mike Connors plays a DJ determined to hold a concert that the kids are alright and rock music is okay; Margaret Dumont is one of the fuddy duddies who wants to stop it. Among the guests are Fats Domino who sings ‘Aint that a Shame’. There’s an irritating beatnik comic relief who I kept thinking was Harpo Marx. It’s fairly tired with really dull handling, despite the talent of the acts. By the end, when Connors takes place in a trial to try and get the concert to go ahead, it’s just irritating, with a particularly drawn out scene where Connors cross examines himself.