Today in Film History (October 17th, 1957): Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock" Premieres!
Jay B
On October 17th, 1957, the Elvis Presley film, "Jailhouse Rock" premiered in Memphis, Tennessee. The film starred Elvis Presley as a convict, and is titled after Presley's hit single of the same name. The movie was ultimately released nationally on November 8th, 1957. It peaked at #3 on Variety's box office chart, and finished #14 for the year, grossing $4 million on a $1 million budget. The film initially received mixed reviews from critics, with most of the negative aimed at Presley's performance. Presley's dance sequence to the title song is often cited as his "greatest moment on screen". In 2004, the film was selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.