Jailhouse Rock (1957)

Elvis Presley: Vince Everett

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Quotes 

• Peggy Van Alden : [Vince aggressively kisses Peggy]  How dare you think such cheap tactics would work with me!

  [Vince again aggressively kisses Peggy] 

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

• Prof van Alden's Male Party Guest #1 : I think Stubby's gone overboard with those altered chords, don't you?

  Prof van Alden's Female Party Guest #1 : I agree. I think Brubeck and Desmond have gone just as far with dissidents as I care to go.

  Prof van Alden's Male Party Guest #2 : Oh, nonsense! Have you heard Lennie Tristano's latest recording? He reached outer space!

  Prof van Alden's Female Party Guest #2 : Someday they make the cycle and get back to pure old Dixieland.

  Prof van Alden's Female Party Guest #3 : I say atonality is just a passing phase in jazz music. What do you think Mr. Everett?

  Vince Everett : Lady, I don't know what the hell you're talkin' about.

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

  Hunk Houghton : 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 Everett : Yeah. That's right. Do it first.

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

  Vince Everett : I don't aim to forget it.

• Sherry Wilson : I asked for nothing, I expected nothing and I got nothing.

  Vince Everett : What'd you expect for nothing?

• Vince Everett : [their first meeting, after she has criticized his dull singing style]  Okay, you're used to the top talent. What are you wasting your time working *me* over for?

  Peggy Van Alden : [softly]  I like the way you swing a guitar.

  [they look at each other and start laughing] 

  Vince Everett : Yeah, I guess I *did* get a lot of wrist action into it, didn't I?

• Hunk Houghton : Trampin' on me is one thing, sonny.

  [takes off his jacket] 

  Hunk Houghton : Hurtin' a little girl like Peggy is another.

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

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

  Vince Everett : Don't push me, Hunk.

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

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

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

  Vince Everett : I said don't try...

  [Hunk hits him] 

• Paymaster : What are you gonna do with all that money?

  Vince Everett : I'm gonna buy me a herd of chorus girls and make 'em dance on my bed.

• Tough Man in Bar : Look, buster, if you want some teeth knocked out, just keep it up.

  Vince Everett : [sarcastically]  You scare me. Women beaters always scare me.

  Tough Man in Bar : Why don't you run along sonny, before I muss up your hair.

  [pours a drink on Vince, Vince lands a right hook on his jaw] 

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

  Sherry Wilson : I'm coming all unglued.

  [they continue to kiss] 

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

  Vince Everett : 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 Everett : What about my arrangement?

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

  Vince Everett : You're a thievin' rat!

  [goes after him] 

  Jack Lease : Now you listen to me, sonny.

  Vince Everett : [grabs him]  Don't "sonny" me, you louse!

  [slaps him a couple times and throws him back in his chair] 

  Vince Everett : Crawl back under your rock, you snake!

• Peggy Van Alden : Vince, what about Laurel Records? What is it?

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

  Peggy Van Alden : An offer? What kind of an offer?

  Vince Everett : To sell out to Geneva Records.

  [raises his hand] 

  Vince Everett : 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 Van Alden : But, Vince, I don't wanna sell out.

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

  Peggy Van Alden : I know. Sixty percent.

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

  Peggy Van Alden : 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!

  [goes away crying] 

• Vince Everett : I didn't see you applauding. You didn't like me?

  Hunk Houghton : You've come a long way since cellblock 21.

  Vince Everett : Yeah, and it's been a tough road to hoe.

  Hunk Houghton : Oh, I don't know. You haven't hardly touched the ground at all.

  Vince Everett : What do you mean by that crack?

  Hunk Houghton : You walked most of the way on other people.

  Vince Everett : Ah, you're just gettin' bitter, old buddy.

• Hotel Clerk : I'll send a woman up to make the bed directly.

  Vince Everett : Okay.

  Vince Everett : [sees him still standing there]  What do you want?

  Hotel Clerk : It's custom to tip a man he brings you to your room.

  Vince Everett : Well, I'm startin' a new custom: no tip.

• Vince Everett : Where's the nearest pawnshop?

  Cleaning Woman : Oh, down the street to the right, a couple of blocks.

  Cleaning Woman : What you gonna do? Buy yourself a diamond ring?

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

• Vince Everett : Laury is a real cool little singer. I'm takin' her to New York with me.

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

  Vince Everett : Were you planning to go? What for?

  Peggy Van Alden : No reason I can think of now.

  Vince Everett : Got nothin' to do with the record business.

  Peggy Van Alden : Of course not.

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

  Peggy Van Alden : Let's keep it that way.

• Sherry Wilson : Who's gonna see us here?

  Vince Everett : I got my eye on you every minute.

• Vince Everett : You know how to float?

  Sherry Wilson : No.

  Vince Everett : C'mon, I'll teach you.

• Female Barfly : I saw you here last week when you were cashin' your check.

  Vince Everett : Yes, ma'am.

  Female Barfly : Hey, you got nice hair.

• Prison Warden : We don't use hands here, we use guns. Oh, and I'll tell you another thing we use for - cons who don't toe the mark. The whip! Understand?

  Vince Everett : Yes.

  Prison Warden : Sir?

  Vince Everett : Yes, sir.

• Vince Everett : I'm broke. I'll never accumulate any cigarettes.

  Hunk Houghton : The State pays you 18 cents a day and that's a start.

• Hunk Houghton : You just do what I say when I say it. That's the basis of my organization.

  Vince Everett : No, thanks.

  Hunk Houghton : Huh?

  Vince Everett : I'll take my chances.

  Hunk Houghton : Suit yourself.

  Vince Everett : Thanks anyway, though.

  Hunk Houghton : It's no skin off my behind.

• Hunk Houghton : I was singin' country music before the words were invented. And I was on stage with the best of 'em. Eddy Arnold. Roy Acuff.

  Vince Everett : Did you make good money?

  Hunk Houghton : I made two bills a week. I was swimmin' in gravy in those days.

  Vince Everett : Okay, get on to the sad part.

  Hunk Houghton : A woman and a bank did it. She got used to bonded bourbon. I robbed a bank.

• Vince Everett : [picks up a guitar]  I used to have an Uncle that had one of these things. I fooled around with it some. Here's one of his songs.

  [sings] 

  Vince Everett : You're so young and beautiful, And I love you so, You're lips so red, You're eyes that shine, Shame the stars that glow. So fill these lonely arms of mine, And kiss me tenderly, Then you'll be forever young, And beautiful to me.

  [talks] 

  Vince Everett : Like my singing?

• Hunk Houghton : You will never make a guitar player. You got not rhythm in your bones!

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

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

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

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

• Vince Everett : [singing]  There's no joy in my heart, only sorrow, And I'm sad as a man can be. I sit alone in the darkness, Of my lonely room, And this room Is a prison to me. I look out at window, And what to I see, I see a bird, Way up in the tree, I want to be free free, Free, I want to be free, Like the bird in the tree.

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

  Hunk Houghton : 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 you, boy. Alone, son, you'd be like a lamb in a pack of wolves.

• Peggy Van Alden : Tell me what you see?

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

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

• Peggy Van Alden : Hey! You forgot something!

  Vince Everett : What?

  Peggy Van Alden : Me!

• Peggy Van Alden : Let's celebrate. Huh, Vince? We'll have a bottle of wine and a nice meal and after dinner we'll drive out and see my father and mother.

  Vince Everett : I didn't know you had a father and mother.

  Peggy Van Alden : Well, they didn't win me on a quiz show!

• Peggy Van Alden : You like Burgundy? It goes great with steak.

  Vince Everett : I like anything that goes with steak. I'm broke.

  Peggy Van Alden : Well, if it's all right with you, I'll pay for the meal.

  Vince Everett : You will if we eat.

• Vince Everett : It's a real crazy pad.

• Prof. August van Alden : How long have you been in the music business, Mr. Everett?

  Vince Everett : About a week.

• Peggy Van Alden : [in anger]  Well, you finally got your sensation! I hope you're satisfied.

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

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

  Vince Everett : 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 Van Alden : They were just trying to bring you into the conversation.

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

• Vince Everett : Old Hunk Houghton told me once, back in the pen, he said, "Watch out for the teeth, sonny. It's a jungle."

• Vince Everett : 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 saying they made it themselves.

• Vince Everett : I want to make another record.

  Peggy Van Alden : The same thing might happen all over again.

  Vince Everett : You got no guts, Peggy. So, if they steal from ya, there's only one thing to do. Start your own record company.

  Peggy Van Alden : Your own company?

  Vince Everett : 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 Van Alden : But, you just don't go out and start your own record company just like that!

  Vince Everett : Well, why not? It's done every day. We're just as smart as those other birds.

• Vince Everett : Look, I make the decisions now. I can't louse things up any worst than you did!

• Vince Everett : We'll be partners. We'll split things up 60-40.

  Peggy Van Alden : 60-40?

  Vince Everett : Well, I am the artist, don't forget. Are you with me?

  Peggy Van Alden : Yeah. Yeah, I guess I am.

• Peggy Van Alden : Well, this really calls for a celebration. Doesn't it, Vince?

  Vince Everett : Do you know a lawyer?

  Peggy Van Alden : Do you know how to dance?

• Vince Everett : You know something, I'm gonna make you rich.

  Mr. Shores : I'm already rich.

  Vince Everett : You'll be richer.

• Vince Everett : [singing]  If you don't want me to be cold as ice, Treat me nice, Make me feel at home, If you really care, Scratch my back and run your pretty, Fingers through my hair, You know I'll be your slave, If you ask me to, But if you don't behave, I'll walk right out on you...

• Vince Everett : We've got a hit. You stick with me and, like they say, "I'll put diamonds in your teeth."

  Peggy Van Alden : Oh, that's nice!

• Vince Everett : You look sexy tonight.

  [embraces Peggy from behind] 

  Vince Everett : You start the hammers pounding in my skull.

  [Peggy turns around and gives Vince a long kiss] 

  Vince Everett : You must have read my mind when you wear this dress.

  Peggy Van Alden : What's on your little mind?

  Vince Everett : A celebration. Tonight's the night for a real celebration.

  Peggy Van Alden : I like the idea.

  Vince Everett : We'll send up rockets!

• Peggy Van Alden : I have a date with Teddy Talbot.

  Vince Everett : That record spinner? You're kiddin'?

  Peggy Van Alden : No, I'm not kidding. That record spinner that made a hit for you.

• Vince Everett : [to Peggy]  I want to introduce you to a new member of the troop. Laura Jackson, this is Peggy Van Alden.

  Laury Jackson : Pleased to make your acquaintance, ma'am.

  Peggy Van Alden : How do you do?

  Vince Everett : Laury's a real cool little singer. I'm taking her to New York with me.

• Vince Everett : Gonna wish me luck?

  Peggy Van Alden : [pause]  Luck.

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

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

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

• Vince Everett : You old stud, how 'bout a drink?

  Hunk Houghton : Sing it to me in the key of G.

• Vince Everett : How 'bout that drink now?

  Hunk Houghton : You can pour me a gourd full!

  Vince Everett : "Uncle Mathew Abundant Bourbon." You know how old this bourbon is?

  Hunk Houghton : How old?

  Vince Everett : Twelve - years old.

  Hunk Houghton : Heaven's above!

  [takes a sip] 

  Hunk Houghton : Ahh. Oh, that's like an angel dancing over the tip of your tongue. It seems a shame to even digest this bourbon.

• Vince Everett : The times have changed and styles have changed. You might fall flat on your face, boy.

  Hunk Houghton : I might get lucky like you, too.

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

  Hunk Houghton : But you ain't me. Look, boy, all's I need is one good break and you can get it for me.

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

  Jailhouse Rock Chorus : [singing]  One-two, one-two-two, one-two, one-two-two, one-two, one-two, one-two-two

  Vince Everett : The warden threw a party in the county jail, The prison band was there and they began to wail, The band was jumpin' and the joint began to swing, You should've heard them knocked-out jailbirds sing, Let's rock, everybody let's rock, Everybody in the whole cell block, Was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock...

• Vince Everett : [singing]  Number forty-seven said to number three, "You're the cutest jailbird I ever did see, I sure would be delighted with your company, Come on and do the Jailhouse Rock with me." Let's rock!

  Jailhouse Rock Chorus : Go! Go! Go!

  Vince Everett : Everybody let's rock.

  Jailhouse Rock Chorus : Lay it on me, Daddy-O!

  Vince Everett : Everybody in the whole cell block, Was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock...

• Hunk Houghton : How'd you expect me to follow that three ring circus you put on?

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

• Vince Everett : It's been a long time, Hunk. Music changes every six months. You gotta change with it.

  Hunk Houghton : 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.

• Hunk Houghton : You know, a punk like you is liable to get lucky enough to make a million dollars a year.

  Vince Everett : That's just what I intend to do.

• Vince Everett : [singing]  You don't like crazy music, you don't like rockin' bands, You just want to go to a movie show, and sit their holdin' hands, You're so square, baby I don't care...

• Sherry Wilson : Doll, where have you been?

  Vince Everett : Right in your little heart, Doll.

• Sherry Wilson : You didn't say a thing about my outfit.

  Vince Everett : Flippy. Real flippy.

• Mr. Shores : Mr. Everett, may I speak to you a moment. I have startling news.

  Vince Everett : What's up? Did you hit uranium?

• Vince Everett : You know, I ain't askin' you to shine my shoes or nothin'.

• Vince Everett : [Vince has just been placed in his cell, and sees his cellmate Hunk sitting facing away at a small desk attached to the wall, making notes. Vince sits on the jailhouse floor, back against the bars, looking toward Hunk]  My name's Vince Everett.

  Hunk Houghton : [still facing away]  You know my name.

  Vince Everett : Glad to know you.

  Hunk Houghton : Yeah...

  [turns around to face Vince] 

  Hunk Houghton : ... you're not through processing.

  Vince Everett : Not yet.

  Hunk Houghton : What about your haircut?

  Vince Everett : What about it?

  Hunk Houghton : Do you want a good one, or a fresh fish special?

  Vince Everett : Fresh fish...

  Hunk Houghton : [testily]  Fresh fish special... they hack it up. A good one will cost you three packs of cigarettes.

  Vince Everett : I haven't got three packs.

  Hunk Houghton : You got any money?

  Vince Everett : Nope. Spent it all on my lawyer.

• Peggy Van Alden : I think I'm going to just hate you!

  Vince Everett : No, you ain't gonna hate me. I ain't gonna let you hate me.