Jailhouse Rock (1957) - Quotes

Elvis Presley: The Rebel of Song

Taglines: M-G-M Presents Elvis Presley - Rebel of Song

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Elvis Presley Shines in Jailhouse Rock

Taglines: MGM Presents ELVIS PRESLEY at his greatest

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First Dramatic Singing Role in Jailhouse Rock

Taglines: His first big dramatic singing role!

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Elvis Rocks the Screen in Jailhouse Rock

Taglines: Elvis in Action as Never Before!

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Taking a Stand Against Injustice

Hunk: [takes off his jacket] Trampin on me is one thing, sonny. Hurtin a little girl like Peggy is another.

Vince: Now just don't you get no ideas, Hunk.

Hunk: There comes a time when you gotta take a hand in things, and that time is now.

Vince: Don't push me, Hunk.

Hunk: [rolls up his sleeves] I'm gonna beat the hell outta you.

Vince: Don't try it. You're talkin crazy, man.

Hunk: You know you got it comin', son.

Vince: I said don't try...

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Conflict Over Selling Out in Music Deal

Vince: We got an offer for the label, Peg. It's just too good to turn down.

Peggy: An offer? What kind of an offer?

Vince: [raises his hand] To sell out to Geneva Records. Wait a minute. Wait'll you hear the deal. Seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars, a capital gain. That's 225,000 in cold cash for you, after taxes.

Peggy: But, Vince, I don't wanna sell out.

Vince: I'm afraid you got not choice, kid. I own...

Peggy: I know. Sixty percent.

Vince: That's the way the mop flops. You'd think I was tryin to rob you. After all, you're getting practically a quarter of a million dollars.

Peggy: Dollars? Dollars? Is that the beginning and the end of the world for you? Is there no emotion left in you but the lust for money?

Vince: Emotion? What emotion? It's strictly business between you and me. You said that.

Peggy: [goes away crying] I don't care what I said. We started this thing together. We nursed it and brought it up, you and I. It may just be a ledger page to you and Mr. Shores... but to me it's part of my life! Oh, go ahead and sell it! I don't care what you do!

Vince: [shrugging] Nothin but a record company.

Hunk: It's not just the record company that's botherin her.

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Celebrity Modesty and Quick Adaptation

Peggy: He has adapted very quickly.

Hunk: Well, there's not much oxygen up there where he is, and a man gets light-headed.

Peggy: Most actors when they become stars go through a brief period of being modest.

Hunk: Not our boy. He became a heel overnight. What are you doing here today, Peg?

Peggy: I guess I like punishment.

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Struggling with Headaches and Stress

Vince: [long kiss] How's your headache?

Sherry: I'm coming all unglued.

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Facing Challenges and Recognizing Limits

Hunk: Don't worry about me, sonny. I'll get along...One flop ain't a man's whole life. How'd you expect me to follow that three ring circus you put on?

Vince: Ah, you couldn't have followed a juggler.

Hunk: Naturally, I haven't got your talent.

Vince: That's right. You haven't. So what are you gonna do?

Hunk: I don't see where that's any of your business.

Vince: Now look, Hunk. I'm gonna be honest with ya. I'm not gonna put the breaks on my career now. I don't want you as part of my troupe. You're not good enough. It's been a long time, Hunk. Music changes every six months. You gotta change with it.

Hunk: I was in show business when you were runnin around in wet pants and I'll be in it when they can't even remember your name.

Vince: Fine, but not with me.

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Recognition and Talent in Success

Hunk: Well, you made it, huh boy? I've been readin about it and I feel proud of ya.

Vince: Yeah, I've been lucky so far.

Hunk: Lucky? Talent. I knowed you had it the minute you opened up your mouth. Now you're goin on the TV.

Vince: You know everythng, don't ya?

Hunk: I feel good. What's your plans for me, boy?

Vince: Well, I ain't exactly got any, Hunk.

Hunk: You got no plans for Hunk, your old partner?

Vince: Well, what do ya want to do?

Hunk: I want a spot on that TV show.

Vince: Times have changed. Styles have changed. You might fall flat on your face, boy.

Hunk: I might get lucky like you, too.

Vince: I tried your style, just like you taught me. Boy, I laid a bomb.

Hunk: But you ain't me.

Vince: Well, I guess I owe you that much, but I don't know how it's gonna work out, Hunk.

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Keeping Up with Partnerships

Vince: Hey, how'd you know about the record company?

Hunk: Oh, I got to keep up with the activities of a partner.

Peggy: You've got more partners than a square dance.

Hunk: Yeah, I taught the boy plenty.

Peggy: You'll find out just how well you taught him. Good night.

Hunk: [as Peggy left] That's a pretty little thing.

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Unexpected Changes in Plans

Vince: I want to introduce you to a new member of the troupe....Laury's a real cool little singer. I'm takin her to New York with me.

Peggy: Oh! In that case, I don't think I'll go.

Vince: Oh! Were you planning to go? What for?

Peggy: No reason I can think of now.

Vince: Got nothin to do with the record business.

Peggy: Of course not.

Vince: It's just like you said that night in Joplin - You and me, it's strictly business.

Peggy: Let's keep it that way. Let me know when you want to cut another record, Pard.

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Starting a Record Company: A Bold Idea

Vince: On the inside, they're Cub Scouts compared to Jack Lease. If you make something, they might steal it from ya. But they'd be too honorable to go around sayin they made it themselves. So, if they steal from ya, there's only one thing to do. Start your own record company...Certainly, what's the mystery? We can find out the details from a lawyer, or something, and, well, you don't have to own a factory. I found that out. You contract for the pressings.

Peggy: But, you just don't go out and start your own record company just like that!

Vince: Well, why not? It's done every day. We're just as smart as those other birds. Look, I make the decisions now. I can't louse things up any worse than you did!

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Dispute Over Song Ownership and Recording Rights

Jack Lease: Listen, Sonny. You don't own that song. It's a published tune. Anyone can record it.

Vince: You turned it down. You said you didn't like it.

Jack Lease: We simply didn't want to record it with an unknown.

Vince: What about my arrangement?

Jack Lease: So see your lawyer. You can't copyright an arrangement.

Vince: [goes after him] You're a thievin rat!

Jack Lease: Now you listen to me, sonny.

Vince: [grabs him; slaps him a couple times and throws him back in his chair] Don't "sonny" me, you louse! Crawl back under your rock, you snake!

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Confrontation Over Insults and Expectations

Peggy: Well, you finally got your sensation. I hope you're satisfied.

Vince: Get off my back, kid. I ain't in the mood.

Peggy: You insulted my father, my mother and me and that's just unforgivable!

Vince: Well, what do you expect? I come out, have a little beer, the first thing you know some old broad's pushin me in the corner with some stupid question.

Peggy: They were just trying to bring you into the conversation.

Vince: They can shelve their conversation. I'm not even sure they were talkin English.

Peggy: I think I'm gonna just hate you.

Vince: Uh-uh, You ain't gonna hate me. I ain't gonna let you hate me.

Peggy: How dare you think such cheap tactics would work with me!

Vince: That ain't tactics, honey. It's just the beast in me.

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Talent Perception in Performance Evaluation

Peggy: [about his singing] I didn't think you were very good, Vince.

Vince: I'm no worse than a lot of em.

Peggy: And no better.

Vince: OK, you're used to the top talent. What are you wasting your time working me over for?

Peggy: I like the way you swing a guitar.

Vince: Well, I guess I did get a lot of wrist action into it, didn't I? Well, that's all she wrote. My musical career started and ended with one song.

Peggy: I don't know why. Not until you've given yourself every chance.

Vince: But if they won't listen to me, I can't hold a gun on em.

Peggy: Did you ever listen to yourself?

Vince: How can I listen to myself when I'm singing?

Peggy: Make a tape recording. Maybe when you hear yourself, you can discover what's wrong.

Perceptions of Beauty and Professionalism

Peggy: Tell me what you see?

Vince: About five-four, weigh 115, pretty well stacked.

Peggy: Well, I'm glad you find me pleasing.

Vince: I don't find you nothin'. I'm a singer.

Peggy: Well, I'm afraid I misunderstood. If you buy me a fresh drink, I'll tell you about the figures.

Vince: Buy your own drink.

A Request for Directions and a Dream

Vince: Where's the nearest pawnshop?

Cleaning Woman: Oh, down the street to the right, a couple of blocks. What you gonna do? Buy yourself a diamond ring?

Vince: No. I'm gonna buy a guitar and sing love songs to you.

The Value of Sympathy in Prison Life

Hunk: It's a lesson to remember. Without money, you might as well be dead.

Vince: Yeah.

Hunk: That's all the sympathy you'll get from me. Pity's a commodity. In here, you buy it and sell it just like anything else.

Vince: Hey, what are you, man? Some kind of an animal?

Hunk: That's right, buddy. I'm an animal in a jungle, and I got a motto: Do unto others as they would do unto you, only do it first'.

Vince: Yeah. That's right. Do it first.

Hunk: And it's just as bad on the outside. Worse. Remember that.

Vince: I don't aim to forget it.

Ex-Cons Planning a Music Career Together

Hunk: We'd be a natural together, both ex-cons. The publicity would be sensational. Look, you get out in six months. I follow you 12 months later. Whaddya say, boy?

Vince: You mean we sing together?

Hunk: Together or alone, it makes no difference. We hire a couple of other acts - we got our own show. We play the circuit and we roll.

Vince: I don't know anything about how to get any bookings.

Hunk: Let me worry about the business end. Here - I made a contract for us. We split everything right down the middle.

Vince: Hey. How come you're willin to give me 50% of your earnings? I mean, uh, like you said, you're the one who's got the experience and the name.

Hunk: One simple reason: I got faith in your possibilities. Sure, you're never gonna command the dough I can. But, with training, you'll do all right. Besides, I need a young man to appeal to the kids. I'm levelin with ya, boy. Alone, son, you'd be like a lamb in a pack of wolves. Go ahead.

The Value of Experience in Unlikely Places

Hunk: You know, I got a spot for you in the show. I'll teach you a new tune.

Vince: I don't know. What's the percentage in singin for a bunch of cons?

Hunk: Experience, you lunkhead! That's the percentage.

Debating Musical Talent and Experience

Hunk: You will never make a guitar player. You got no rhythm in your bones!

Vince: Well, I never heard of anybody payin money to hear a guitar player.

Hunk: Well, don't pay any attention to me. I was only in the business for 10 years. That's all.

Reflection on Past Experiences and Music

Vince Everett: Ladies and gentlemen, a little while back, I had a kind of a vacation with a bunch of men in a big place way out yonder. And while I was there, well, these uh, these men, kind of guests, you might say, uh, we'd get together and horse around a little bit and sing and - cause we were havin such a good time. And uh, we always had a lot of fun with this one: The Jailhouse Rock'.