Go, Johnny, Go! (1959)

Rock-n-roll promoter Alan Freed holds a talent search to develop a new rock star, then must find the elusive, mystery contestant (Jimmy Clanton) who doesn't know he has won.

Director:

Paul Landres

Writer:

Gary Alexander

Stars:

Alan Freed, Jimmy Clanton, Sandy Stewart

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alan Freed	...	Himself
Jimmy Clanton	...	Johnny Melody
Sandy Stewart	...	Julie Arnold
Chuck Berry	...	Himself
Jackie Wilson	...	Himself
Ritchie Valens	...	Himself
The Cadillacs	...	Themselves
Jo Ann Campbell	...	Herself
The Flamingos	...	Themselves
Harvey Fuqua	...	Himself (as Harvey)
Eddie Cochran	...	Himself
Jimmy Cavallo	...	Himself (as Jimmy Cavalio and the House Rockers)
Herb Vigran	...	Bill Barnett
Frank Wilcox	...	Harold Arnold
Barbara Woodell	...	Mrs. Harold Arnold

Storyline

Rock-n-roll promoter Alan Freed holds a talent search to develop a new rock star, then must find the elusive, mystery contestant (Jimmy Clanton) who doesn't know he has won.

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Plot Keywords:

rock music | disc jockey | character name in title

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Taglines:

You know- like I mean- it's way out!

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Genres:

Musical

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

June 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dai Johnny dai!

Filming Locations:

Hal Roach Studios - 8822 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hal Roach Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Buddy Holly and the Crickets were reportedly offered guest spots in this picture, but their producer/manager Norman Petty turned the offer down, over the objections of the group, because they would not be paid.

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Connections

Featured in Super Night of Rock 'n' Roll (1984)

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Soundtracks

"ANGEL FACE
Performed by Jimmy Clanton
Courtesy of Ace Records

User Reviews

Richie Valens only on screen performance.

Go, Johnny, Go! Was the only film in which Richie Valens (Richard Steven Valenzuela) appears on screen. This is significant. 17 year old Valens was killed only a few months after filming, in the plane crash with The Big Bopper (Jiles Perry Richardson) and Buddy Holly, on February 3, 1959.

Go, Johnny, Go! wasn't released until the spring of 1959.

The crash itself, also has some unusual circumstances attached to it. The plane had been chartered by Buddy Holly so that he could join his band at the next stop, Fargo, North Dakota. Valens, Holly, "Jape" as the Big Bopper preferred to be called, and Dion and the Belmonts had been traveling on a bus throughout the Midwest on the "Winter Dance Party, 1959" tour. The bus had been having engine problems and the interior heating system was not working. As a result, "Jape" was coming down with the flu and asked Buddy Holly if he could have Holly's bass player's seat on the plane. The bass player for Holly at that time, was Waylon Jennings. Jennings gave up his seat and the Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens, and Buddy Holly took off at 1:00 AM in the morning from Clear Lake, Iowa and entered rock and roll history only eight miles from the airport.

At the time of the crash, Ritchie Valans's singles, "La Bomba" and "Donna" made him the most popular artist on the bill.