Great Balls of Fire! (1989)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Jim McBride

Writers (WGA):

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

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
Valerie Wellington	...	Big Maybelle
Booker T. Laury	...	Piano Slim
Michael St. Gerard	...	Elvis
Carol Russell	...	Mamie Lewis
Crystal Robbins	...	Frankie Jean
Tav Falco	...	New Bass Player
Ryan Rushton	...	Young Jimmy
Bert Dedman	...	Young Jerry
David A. Penhale	...	Reporter #1 (as David Penhale)
Carl Bogan	...	Reporter #2
Richard Crowe	...	Reporter #3
Melisa J. Levine	...	Kreme Cup Girl
Cassie Pollard	...	Kreme Cup Girl
Mary Yeargin	...	Kreme Cup Girl
Bruce Stuart	...	Bank Teller
W.W. Painter	...	Onlooker
Mark W. Johnson	...	Sheriff (as Mark Johnson)
Jody Lynne	...	Party Doll
Joseph Woodward Jr.	...	Wedding Preacher
Linn Sitler	...	Realty Agent
Ashley Paige Cook	...	Mons
Sara Van Horn	...	Minnie Belle
Juliette Claire Spirson	...	Lewis Infant
John Mulrooney	...	Talk Show Host
Peter Cook	...	First English Reporter
Kim Smith	...	Second English Reporter
David Sibley	...	Third English Reporter
Jamila Massey	...	Bystander
Ryan Ward	...	Heckler #1
Steven O'Donnell	...	Heckler #2 (as Stephen O'Donnell)
Bejay Baddin	...	Teenage Girl #1
Kelly Marcel	...	Teenage Girl #2
Julie Balloo	...	Female Fan
Ruth Kettlewell	...	Dowager
John Tordoff	...	Cockney Porter
Keith McDaniel	...	Haney's Big House Dancer
Stephanie Pope	...	Haney's Big House Dancer
Lorraine Fields	...	Haney's Big House Dancer
Rufus Thomas	...	Haney's Big House Dancer
Maurice Miller	...	Haney's Big House Dancer
Susan Lonergan	...	Rebel Room Dancer
Bonnie Beutler	...	Rebel Room Dancer
Chris Solari	...	Rebel Room Dancer
Snowy Winters	...	Rebel Room Dancer
Priscilla Harris	...	Honky-Tonk Angel
John Bloom	...	Dewey 'Daddy-O' Phillips (as Joe Bob Briggs)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kelli Clevenger	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Tike Kerby	...	Rebel Room Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by
Jim McBride

Writing credits (WGA)
Myra Lewis		(book) and
Murray Silver Jr.		(book) (as Murray Silver)
Jack Baran		(screenplay) &
Jim McBride		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jack Baran	....	associate producer
Adam Fields	....	producer
Michael Grais	....	executive producer
Art Levinson	....	co-executive producer
Karen Penhale	....	associate producer
Mark Victor	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Affonso Beato		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Lisa Day
Pembroke J. Herring		(as Pembroke Herring)
Bert Lovitt

Casting by
Judith Holstra

Production Design by
David Nichols

Art Direction by
Jon Spirson

Set Decoration by
Lisa Fischer

Costume Design by
Tracy Tynan

Makeup Department
Jan Archibald	....	hairdresser: UK
Enid Arias	....	hair stylist
Richard Arrington	....	key makeup artist
Gloria Belz	....	extras makeup
Tricia Cameron	....	hairdresser: UK
Joan Carpenter	....	hairdresser: UK
H. Wayne Coker	....	hair stylist (as Wayne Coker)
Bonita DeHaven	....	makeup artist (as Bonita De Haven)
Naomi Donne	....	makeup artist: U.K.
Dinah Holt	....	makeup artist: U.K.
Kaye Pownall	....	hair stylist
Michelle Vittone	....	makeup artist
Lun Yé Hodges	....	additional hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Art Levinson	....	unit production manager
Karen Penhale	....	post-production supervisor
Kathy Sykes	....	production manager: UK

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jack Baran	....	first assistant director
John Bernard	....	first assistant director: UK
Lee Cleary	....	key second assistant director: UK d assistant director: UK)
Michelle Solotar	....	second assistant director
Daniel R. Suhart	....	second assistant director (as Dan Suhart)
Adam Somner	....	third assistant director: UK (uncredited)

Art Department
Barry Altenhoff	....	carpenter
James Barth	....	construction foreman (as Jim Barth)
John Beauvais	....	head painter
Chuck Bianchi	....	swing gang
Marguerite P. Condon	....	art department coordinator (as Margueriet Condon)
John Exum	....	carpenter
David Fingerhut	....	swing gang
Jerry Hamilton	....	carpenter
Peter Hancock	....	property master: UK
Kevin Hughes	....	property master
Tim Hutchinson	....	art director: UK
Robert Labarreare II	....	carpenter
Lynn Maffessoli	....	painter
Benjamin Matlock	....	carpenter
Kathleen M. McKernin	....	set designer (as Kathleen McKernin)
C. Robert Miller	....	carpenter
Antonio Ortiz	....	carpenter
Tyler Patton	....	assistant property master
Lauren E. Polizzi	....	set designer (as Lauren Polizzi)
Joel Prihoda	....	leadman
Chip Radaelli	....	construction coordinator
Mark Raggett	....	set decorator: UK
Edmond Scott Ratliff	....	second assistant props (as Scott Ratliff)
Myles Reed	....	painter
Joseph Salazar	....	carpenter
William R. Scott	....	carpenter
Laura Settlemier	....	second leadman
Dawn Snyder	....	assistant art director
J.D. Sprayberry	....	carpenter
Jonathan Holbrook	....	set painter (uncredited)
Ken Masi	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)
Ken Masi	....	lead carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Kevin Bartnof	....	foley artist
Gerry Bates	....	boom swinger: U.K.
Julia Evershade	....	supervising sound editor
John P. Fasal	....	additional recordist (as John Fasal)
Mike Haney	....	sound recordist
Kimberly Harris	....	sound editor
Ellen Heuer	....	foley artist
Petur Hliddal	....	sound mixer
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Rick Klein)
Chet Leonard	....	cable person
Steve Maslow	....	sound re-recording mixer
James Matheny	....	sound editor (as James Methany)
Mark Pappas	....	foley editor
Rick Pekkonen	....	sound recording engineer (as Rik Pekkonen)
Gary Ritchie	....	sound recordist
Earl Sampson	....	boom operator
David Stephenson	....	sound mixer: U.K.
David E. Stone	....	sound editor (as David Stone)
Elliot Tyson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lisa M. Varney	....	assistant sound editor
Paul C. Warschilka	....	assistant sound editor (as Paul Warschilka)
Thomas Whiting	....	adr editor
Butch Wolf	....	foley editor
Gary Wright	....	sound editor
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer (uncredited)
David Williams	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Phil Cory	....	special effects (as Phil Corey)

Stunts
Janet Brady	....	stunts
William H. Burton	....	stunts
Steven Chambers	....	stunts (as Steve Chambers)
Steve M. Davison	....	stunt coordinator (as Steve Davison)
Tim A. Davison	....	stunts (as Tim Davison)
Marguerite Happy	....	stunts
Buddy Joe Hooker	....	stunts
Scott Wilder	....	stunts
Jason D. Williams	....	hand stunts
Dick Ziker	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Kenneth Atherfold	....	grip: UK (as Kenny Atherfold)
James Babineaux	....	best boy
Peter Bloor	....	gaffer: UK
Robert Bruce	....	electrician
Tom Clark	....	electrician
Kifer Donahoo	....	additional playback
Jack English	....	gaffer
Howard Fox	....	grip
Lorraine Gray	....	video assist operator
Graham Hall	....	clapper loader: UK
Keith Hamshere	....	still photographer: UK
Ted H. Hauser	....	first assistant camera (as Ted Hauser)
Paul Iski	....	best boy
Martin Kenzie	....	focus puller: UK
Michael Levine	....	camera operator
Christopher Lyons	....	electrician
Bob Marshak	....	still photographer
Tracy Neftzger	....	key grip
David W. Nims	....	dolly grip (as David Nims)
Robert O'Bleness	....	electrician
Kevin E. Patterson	....	playback operator (as Kevin Patterson)
Jan Sears	....	camera loader
Ademir Silva	....	second assistant camera
Don Simandl	....	grip (as Donald Simandl)
Gregory Wardell	....	electrician
Chris Warren	....	video coordinator: UK
Paul Wilkowsky	....	grip
Ray Meehan	....	best boy (uncredited)
Mark Pickens	....	dolly grip: second unit (uncredited)

Animation Department
Lorraine Bubar	....	animation effects

Casting Department
Cynthia Phillips Armstrong	....	extras casting assistant (as Cynthia Armstrong)
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Susan Peck	....	casting assistant: Los Angeles
Jeffrey Posson	....	casting assistant: Memphis
Stacy Robison	....	extras casting assistant
Laurie Upchurch	....	extras casting assistant
Ivy Weiss	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rosemary Burrows	....	costume supervisor: UK
John Davis	....	wardrobe assistant
Deborah Hall	....	costume assistant (as Debbie Hall)
James Lapidus	....	costume supervisor (as Jim Lapidus)
Rosemary Lis	....	wardrobe mistress: UK (as Rosemary Worth)
Lisa Lovaas	....	costumer: women
Lauren Roman	....	wardrobe assistant
Deanne Sellner	....	seamstress (as Deedee Sellner)
Mary Kay Stolz	....	tailor: Dennis Quaid
Bernie White	....	costumer: men
Colin Wilson	....	wardrobe master: UK
Jim Alan Cook	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Tim Board	....	assistant editor
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Russell Eaton	....	apprentice editor
Frederick Peterson	....	first assistant editor (as Fred Peterson)
Florent Retz	....	assistant editor (as Danny Retz)
Diane Witter	....	apprentice editor
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer (uncredited)
Simon Harris	....	assistant editor london (uncredited)

Music Department
Jack Baran	....	composer: source music
Sally Boldt	....	music editor
Dave 'Baby' Cortez	....	musician: "The Happy Organ"
Brad Dechter	....	additional orchestrator
Jim Ehinger	....	music coach: piano
Greg Fulginiti	....	music engineer
Scott Grusin	....	supervising music editor
Tony Kadell	....	assistant music editor
Jerry Lee Lewis	....	musician: piano and vocals (as The Killer Himself)
Michael Mason	....	music programmer: synclavier
James McBride	....	composer: source music (as Jim McBride)
Joe Mulherin	....	location music supervisor
Joe Mulherin	....	music supervisor
Robert Schaper	....	supervising music engineer (as Bob Schaper)
Billy Swan	....	music coach

Transportation Department
Merlon Adams	....	driver
Lindsay Alexandre	....	driver
Kip Bartlett	....	driver
Richard Bell	....	additional picture car
Laura Brown	....	driver
Charley Bob Burnham	....	driver (as Charley Burnham)
Michael Cain	....	driver
Wayne Elliott	....	driver
Bob Firneno	....	driver
Frank Firneno	....	driver
Wayne French	....	driver
John Gibson	....	driver
Thomas Gilbert	....	driver
Jimmy Humphreys	....	driver (as James Humphreys)
James E. Johnson	....	driver (as James Johnson)
Benson Jones	....	transportation captain
Dennis Milliken	....	transportation coordinator
Jerry Morrow	....	driver
Nick W. Pastrano	....	driver (as Nick Pastrano)
Mike Patrick	....	driver
Poland Perkins	....	driver
Hall Prewitt	....	picture car coordinator
Scott Reilly	....	driver
Don Schisler	....	driver
Jimmy M. Walker	....	driver (as Jim Walker)

Other crew
Dan Appleby	....	intern: AFI
Jere Barrier	....	craft service
Jamaine Bell	....	office production assistant
Beth Bernstein	....	assistant coordinator
Irene Brafstein	....	tutor
Benita Brazier	....	script supervisor
Chris Bromley	....	set production assistant
Ann Brown	....	set nurse
Jeff Dixon	....	stand-in
Philip Elins	....	set production assistant
Ross Fanger	....	location manager
Fred Gabrielli	....	caterer: Gala Catering, Inc.
Howard Gibbins	....	location manager: U.K.
Lida Burris Gibson	....	assistant location manager (as Lidia Burris)
Tom Gray	....	unit publicist
Jilly Gutteridge	....	location manager: U.K.
Beau Holden	....	assistant: Dennis Quaid (as Greg Holden)
Sally Jones	....	script supervisor: UK
Kathy Katz	....	craft service
John Kivlen	....	office assistant: Los Angeles
Bill Landrum	....	choreographer
Jacqui Landrum	....	choreographer
Jerry Lee Lewis	....	production advisor
Chuck Montgomery	....	office production assistant
Sue Bea Montgomery	....	assistant: Mr. McBride (as Sue Bea Belknap)
David Nall	....	stand-in
Karen Penhale	....	production coordinator
Stuart Posner	....	office assistant: Los Angeles
Margaret Roiphe	....	financial representative (as Maggie Roiphe)
Jerry Schilling	....	technical advisor
Lisa G. Shillingburg	....	assistant: Mr. Fields
Ricki L. Stein	....	auditor
Jeff Sydney	....	executive in charge: Polygram Records, Inc.
Neal Thompson	....	title designer: main title
Richard Turner	....	production accountant: UK
J.W. Whitten	....	technical advisor
Lynn Williams	....	stand-in
Anne Wilson	....	assistant accountant (as Anne Moosman)
Nigel Wooll	....	production consultant: London
Gary Hardy	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Arthur J. Miller Jr.	....	railroad consultant (uncredited)

Thanks
David A. Braun	....	special thanks (as David Braun)
Robert Hilburn	....	special thanks
Jerry Lee Lewis	....	special thanks
Kerri Lewis	....	special thanks (as Kerrie Lewis)
Knox Phillips	....	special thanks
Samantha Phillips	....	special thanks (as Sam Phillips)
Linn Sitler	....	special thanks: The Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission
Gordon Stulberg	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Orion Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Orion Pictures Corporation (1989) (USA) (theatrical)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment

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:

Jerry Lee Lewis hated both this film and his ex-wife Myra Lewis' autobiographical book which was a source. Linda Gail Lewis, Jerry Lee Lewis' sister, also thought this film was a poor and unjustified version of the real Jerry. The book's co-author Murray Silver Jr. was outraged by the film which he thought departed from the book or the truth. Silver made several criticisms such as "The movie was phony." Director Jim McBride admitted that it was never his intention to tie his film to the facts, and stated "This movie does not represent itself in any way to be a historical documentary. We use the book as a jumping-off point."

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:

Crazy Arms

Dennis Quaid Good As Lewis

Jerry Lee Lewis (Quaid) was a wild young man who moved to Memphis in 1956 to start his musical career he moved in with his cousin J.W. Brown (Doe) and his family. It was there that he met 13 year old Myra (Ryder) who back then loved Elvis Presley. After having his first song Crazy Arms played on the radio by Sam Phillips (Wilson) Jerry became a sensation with other hits such as Whole Lotta Shaking Going On, Great Balls Of Fire and High School Confidential. A romance developed between Jerry Lee & Myra they were so much in love that in 1957 they got married in secret, however controversy struck when on a tour in England a reporter found out about the marriage causing fans to accuse him of being a cradle robber, child molester and pervert. His career went downhill after that. In real life Jerry Lee Lewis's career would not start again until six years later in 1970 after thirteen years of marriage Jerry Lee Lewis divorced Myra Gale Brown. Great Balls Of Fire is a good biography that depicts the life of a tortured singer who had numerous loves and losses 8/10 Stars