Chuck Berry Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll (1987)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Taylor Hackford

Release Date:

9 October 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Biography | Music

Tagline:

The Whole World Knows the Music. Nobody Knows the Man.

Plot:

This documentary covers the concert at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri, to celebrate Chuck Berry's sixtieth birthday...

Plot Keywords:

John Lennon | Concert Film | Character Name In Title

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Chuck Berry	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ingrid Berry	...	Herself
Eric Clapton	...	Himself
Robert Cray	...	Himself
Bo Diddley	...	Himself
Ahmet Ertegun	...	Himself - DVD only
Don Everly	...	Himself
Phil Everly	...	Himself
Etta James	...	Herself
Johnnie Johnson	...	Himself
Steve Jordan	...	Himself
Bobby Keys	...	Himself
Chuck Leavell	...	Himself
John Lennon	...	Himself
Julian Lennon	...	Himself
Jerry Lee Lewis	...	Himself - DVD only
Little Richard	...	Himself
Roy Orbison	...	Himself - DVD only
Keith Richards	...	Himself
Robbie Robertson	...	Himself - DVD only
Linda Ronstadt	...	Herself
Joey Spampinato	...	Himself - Bass Player (Bass Player)
Bruce Springsteen	...	Himself

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Australia:PG | Finland:S | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

East St. Louis, Illinois, USA

Company:

Delilah Films

Trivia:

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce voted to give Chuck Berry a star on the Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame a couple of years before this film was made. The star was never dedicated because nobody was willing to step forward to pay for it. In order to help promote the film, Universal Pictures paid for the star and it was dedicated the same week the film was released.

Quotes:

Keith Richards: He gave me more headaches than Mick Jagger, but I still can't dislike him.

Great Rockumentary

If you notice, Keith Richards is drinking during rehearsals and who can blame him?? Chuck Berry must have been a nightmare to deal with, but the concert and film are excellent! Chuck does sound a bit out of tune, but makes up for it with his showmanship. The guest stars are well placed EXCEPT for Julian Lennon. And if I am not mistaken he duets to Jonny B. Goode -- an all time classic. Okay, the guy is the son of a rock legend and had a hit or two, but did he really have a reason to be on stage with Chuck and the band?? Also, why did Chuck cut short the interview with his wife??? Still, a great film that offers insight into a pioneer.