Jailhouse Rock (film) - Production

Production

Jailhouse Rock was Presley's third film and his first for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). It was filmed on the MGM studios in Culver City, California. Shot in black-and-white, the film was the first production that the studio filmed on the recently developed 35mm anamorphic lens by Panavision. The film was originally entitled The Hard Way, and was changed to Jailhouse Kid, before MGM finally settled on Jailhouse Rock. The film was not listed with the planned releases for the year that the studio published on Variety, due that it was based on an original story by Ned Young, a blacklisted writer. In addition, the studio traditionally did not produce any original scripts that were not adaptations from other already successful works such as books or theater plays. During the production of the movie, Pandro Berman's attention was centered on another of his productions The Brothers Karamazov. He let the casting be decided by the head of the studio, Benny Thau, and Abe Lastfogel, president of the William Morris Agency. Richard Thorpe, who had the reputation of finishing his projects fast, was selected as the director.

The title dance sequence to the song "Jailhouse Rock" was the first scene to be shot. Brett Farmer places the "orgasmic gyrations" of the dance sequence within a lineage of cinematic musical numbers that offer a "spectacular eroticization, if not homoeroticization, of the male image"; it has often been cited as Presley's greatest moment on screen. It was choreographed by Alex Romero, who initially created moves inspired by Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. Presley was not convinced, however, so Romero put on some music and asked Presley to dance. The shooting of the film began next week with the newly created choreography, on May 13, 1957. Presley's characteristic hair look and sideburns were covered with a wig and makeup for the scenes in musical number, as well as in the prison. During the performance, one of Presley's dental caps fell out and became lodged in his lung. He was taken to the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, where he spent the night after the cap was removed Shooting was resumed the next day. Along the film Presley mimed the songs, that were previously recorded on the studio, and then added to the finished takes. The dance sequence was the scene filmed with the most dedication. Thorpe, who usually did not do retakes, finished the rest of the movie by June 17, 1957. Jailhouse Rock was the last film to star Judy Tyler, who died in an automobile accident two weeks after shooting was completed. Presley, moved by the death of his co-star, did not attend the film premiere.