Twist Around the Clock ** (1961, Chubby Checker, Dion DiMucci, Vicki Spencer, The Marcels, Clay Cole) – Classic Movie Review 9865

‘It’s twist-errific! – the first full-length movie about the twist!’

Twisting replaces rocking for Oscar Rudolph’s soppy but happy Sixties musical drama Twist Around the Clock (1961) in canny producer Sam Katzman’s riposte to his own 1956 Bill Haley rock ‘n’ roll epic Rock Around the Clock.

This dance craze movie is of frenzied toe-tapping interest for the performances of Chubby Checker (who of course Twists again, like he did last summer), the Marcels and especially the fab Dion [Dion DiMucci], who croons the all-time-great classics ‘Runaround Sue’ and ‘The Wanderer’. Checker’s Christmas treat ‘Merry Twist-mas’ is another kitsch highlight.

Robert E Kent was credited as James B Gordon, who recycles both the plot and dialogue from Rock Around the Clock, so he is to blame for the script and jokes that are pretty darned weedy. But you can’t really blame the pop stars of the day for not being great actors too.

They made it real fast in 28 days to capitalise on the success of Checker’s hit song The Twist.

Also in the cast are The Marcels (selves), Dion DiMucci (self), Vicki Spencer (self), Clay Cole (self), John Cronin, Mary Mitchel [Mary Mitchell], Maura McGiveney, Tol Avery, Alvy Moore, Lenny Kent, Jeff Malloy [Jeff Parker], John Bryant, Ernesto Morelli, Barbara Morrison, Ezelle Poul, Renee Aubry, Barry O’Hara, Dal McKennon, Allen Johnson, Bess Flowers, and Snub Pollard.

Sam Katzman said: ‘Twist Around the Clock only cost $250,000 to make, but in less than six months it grossed six million dollars – so of course I’m gonna make more Twist movies!’ So Chubby Checker duly returns for the sequel: Don’t Knock the Twist (1962).

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9865

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