Rock You Sinners is a 1957 British second feature[1] black and white musical film directed by Denis Kavanagh and featuring early British rock and roll artistes, including Art Baxter and His Rock 'n' Roll Sinners, known for their song "Rock You Sinners".[2][3]
Rock You Sinners | |
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![]() Opening titles | |
Directed by | Denis Kavanagh |
Story by | Beatrice Scott |
Produced by | B.C. Fancey |
Starring | Philip Gilbert Adrienne Scott Colin Croft Jackie Collins |
Production companies | E.J. Fancey Productions Small Film Distributors |
Distributed by | Small Film Distributors |
Release date |
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Running time | 59 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
The British Film Institute has called it the "first British rock 'n' roll film".[4]
Plot
editThe success of his rock and roll television show brings fame for DJ Johnny Laurence but trouble for his relationship with steady girlfriend Carol.
Cast
edit- Philip Gilbert as Johnny Laurence
- Adrienne Scott as Carol Carter
- Colin Croft as Pete
- Jackie Collins as Jackie
- Michael Duffield as Paul Selway
- Beckett Bould as McIver
- Tony Hall as himself (compère)
- Tony Crombie as himself: leader, Tony Crombie and His Rockers
- Art Baxter as himself: leader, Art Baxter and His Rockin' Sinners
- Joan Small as herself
- Dickie Bennett as himself
- Don Sollash as himself: leader, Don Sollash and His Rockin' Horses
- Rory Blackwell as himself: leader, Rory Blackwell and the Blackjacks
- George "Calypso" Browne as himself (as George Browne)
- Curly Pat Barry as himself
- Angus the dog as himself
Production
editThe film is set in London and is mainly set in clubs, cafes and small recording studios.
Critical reception
editThe Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The plot of this film is negligible, most of the footage being occupied with rock 'n' roll numbers which, however lively, can hardly satisfy the more exacting initiates of the style."[5]
Kine Weekly wrote: "Good British title programmer for the masses and teenagers. ... Unpretentious as it is the film clearly proves that the Americans have no monopoly of rock 'n' roll fare."[6]
Picture Show wrote: "One of the few British rock 'n' roll musicals to be made ... well-acted by Philip Gilbert as the disc jockey and Adrienne Scott as his girl-friend."[7]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "poor", writing: "Monumentally inept British rock 'n' roll offering. Said one critic: the acting is so wooden you could light a fire with it."[8]
References
edit- ^ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 59. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
- ^ "Rock You Sinners". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ "BFI Screenonline: Rock You Sinners (1957)". www.screenonline.org.uk.
- ^ "Rock You Sinners (1957)". Archived from the original on 21 July 2018.
- ^ "Rock You Sinners". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 24 (276): 89. 1 January 1957. ProQuest 1305817256 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Rock You Sinners". Kine Weekly. 481 (2597): 17. 23 May 1957. ProQuest 2826279213 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Rock You Sinners". Picture Show. 69 (1796): 10. ProQuest 1879624805 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 366. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.
External links
edit- Rock You Sinners at BFI Screenonline
- Rock You Sinners at IMDb
- Rock You Sinners then-and-now location photographs at ReelStreets