Great Balls of Fire! (1989)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Jim McBride

Writers (WGA):

Myra Lewis (book) and
Murray Silver Jr. (book) ...

Release Date:

30 June 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music

Tagline:

Jerry Lee Lewis: He Rocked The Nation... And Shocked The World.

Plot:

The story of Jerry Lee Lewis, arguably the greatest and certainly one of the wildest musicians of the 1950s...

Plot Keywords:

Cousin | Rock Star | 1950s | Jerry Lee Lewis | Pianist

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Dennis Quaid	...	Jerry Lee Lewis
Winona Ryder	...	Myra Gale Brown
John Doe	...	J.W. Brown
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Jud Phillips
Trey Wilson	...	Sam Phillips
Alec Baldwin	...	Jimmy Swaggart
Steve Allen	...	Himself
Lisa Blount	...	Lois Brown
Joshua Sheffield	...	Rusty Brown
Mojo Nixon	...	James Van Eaton
Jimmie Vaughan	...	Roland Janes
David Ferguson	...	Jack Clement
Robert Lesser	...	Alan Freed
Lisa Jane Persky	...	Babe
Paula Person	...	Sam's Secratary

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | USA:R (original rating) | USA:PG-13 (re rating) | UK:15 | Canada:14A | Finland:S | Sweden:11 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Marion, Arkansas, USA

Company:

Orion Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The Sun Records Studio scenes for the film were shot in the legendary studio itself.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jerry is playing at the Cotton Jamboree he pulls his coat off, but in the next two shots he is wearing the jacket again

Quotes:

Myra: Why won't they go away?
Jerry Lee: They just want to see the new king of rock'n'roll.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)

Soundtrack:

I'm Throwing Rice at the Girl That I Love

Great music, good movie

I am usually too lazy to put in my review comments. But when I read some of the negative comments about this movie, I ad to make a stand. I came across this movie accidentally and I'm glad I did. I think it is one of the unsung great films on music and musicians. Based on the true life of Jerry Lee Lewis, the somewhat eccentric rock and roll genius from the 50s this movie has got soul. Most of the movies about artists end up portraying them as somewhat crazy, egomaniacs, always on the edge of a break down. But this movie has a very warm and light hearted take on Jerry's life. Throughout his ups and down his character comes out as a likable one whom you want to fall in love with. There's not a moment in the film where you would feel sad or annoyed by Jerry. And for this the kudos go to both Dennis Quaid and the director. For the reviewers who have labeled Dennis's portrayal as over the top, you guys don't have a clue who and what Jerry was. Dennis has nailed the spirited and buoyant soul that Jerry Lee Lewis was. I think the people who didn't like this film wanted to see a more serious and toned down film. But this is a film about rock and roll, and there's no better way to make it then it has been donw here. I give it a 9 out of 10. Go watch this immensely entertaining film!