Jailhouse Rock is a 1957 American musical movie. It was directed by Richard Thorpe. Jailhouse rock stars Elvis Presley, Judy Tyler, and Mickey Shaughnessy. It was distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and is based on a story written by Nedrick Young. The movie is about a young man sentenced to prison for manslaughter. There he is mentored in music by his prison cellmate who realizes his musical abilities. After his release from jail, while looking for a job as a club singer, the young man meets a musical promoter who helps him start his career. As he develops his musical abilities and becomes a star, his self-centered personality begins to affect his relationships. Jailhouse rock is considered one of Elvis Presley's best movies. When James Dean died in 1955, Hollywood began looking for a new actor to replace him. There were a lot of young actors trying to act tough and be rebellious. Presley was considered a replacement for Dean. He could sing and dance. He was good-looking and was a decent actor.