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American Hot Wax

  • 19781978
  • PGPG
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
American Hot Wax (1978)
The story of Alan Freed, the pioneering disc jockey who was instrumental in introducing and popularizing rock 'n' roll in the 1950s.
Play trailer0:26
1 Video
12 Photos
DramaHistoryMusic
The story of Alan Freed, the pioneering disc jockey who was instrumental in introducing and popularizing rock 'n' roll in the 1950s.The story of Alan Freed, the pioneering disc jockey who was instrumental in introducing and popularizing rock 'n' roll in the 1950s.The story of Alan Freed, the pioneering disc jockey who was instrumental in introducing and popularizing rock 'n' roll in the 1950s.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
    • Floyd Mutrux
    • John Kaye(screenplay)
    • Art Linson(story)
  • Stars
    • Tim McIntire
    • Fran Drescher
    • Jay Leno
    • Floyd Mutrux
    • John Kaye(screenplay)
    • Art Linson(story)
  • Stars
    • Tim McIntire
    • Fran Drescher
    • Jay Leno
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 45User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 0:26
    Watch Trailer

    Photos12

    American Hot Wax (1978)
    American Hot Wax (1978)
    Jay Leno in American Hot Wax (1978)
    American Hot Wax (1978)
    American Hot Wax (1978)
    Tim McIntire in American Hot Wax (1978)
    Tim McIntire in American Hot Wax (1978)
    Chuck Berry in American Hot Wax (1978)
    Jerry Lee Lewis and Tim McIntire in American Hot Wax (1978)
    American Hot Wax (1978)
    American Hot Wax (1978)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tim McIntire
    Tim McIntire
    • Alan Freed
    Fran Drescher
    Fran Drescher
    • Sheryl
    Jay Leno
    Jay Leno
    • Mookie
    Laraine Newman
    Laraine Newman
    • Teenage Louise
    Carl Weaver
    • Member of The Chesterfields
    • (as Carl Earl Weaver)
    Al Chalk
    Al Chalk
    • Member of The Chesterfields
    Sam Harkness
    • Member of The Chesterfields
    Arnold McCuller
    • Member of The Chesterfields
    Jeff Altman
    Jeff Altman
    • Lennie Richfield
    Moosie Drier
    Moosie Drier
    • Artie Moress
    John Lehne
    John Lehne
    • D.A. Coleman
    Stewart Steinberg
    Stewart Steinberg
    • Stone
    Jack Edward Ellis
    • Phillips
    Richard Forbes
    • Donahue
    Stephen Pearlman
    Stephen Pearlman
    • Peter Overmyer
    Keene Curtis
    Keene Curtis
    • Mr. Leonard
    Pat McNamara
    Pat McNamara
    • Gordie
    Will Thornbury
    • Sid
      • Floyd Mutrux
      • John Kaye(screenplay) (story)
      • Art Linson(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      During a TV interview at the time just after this movie was released, Chuck Berry said he handled his own wardrobe, and it was all authentic. He still had an entire closet full of the suits he wore while touring during the time frame portrayed in the movie, so what he wears in the movie is what he actually wore on stage during the 1950s.
    • Goofs
      Buddy Holly's birthday (7 September) fell on Labor Day in 1959, so Artie would have had the day off from school anyway.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Alan Freed: You can stop me, but you're never gonna stop rock and roll!

    • Connections
      Featured in Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s (2002)

    User reviews45

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Rock's History in a real story set to music.
    This film was the great story of Alan Freed, his struggle to bring black Rythym and Blues to the forefront, and the events of one such Rock and Roll show set in the mid 1950's. Alan Freed has been said to have coined the term 'Rock and Roll', but long before he used this word it was used in old blues songs for many of the same reasons: To describe a feeling.

    My interest in this film had to do with one performer who wasn't mentioned in the credits here at IMDB and that was Jerry Lee Lewis. He chose to play himself in an earlier setting and his performance was a wee-bit more electrifying than those charming Chesterfields: Who were they anyway and why were they in this movie? I know, they used them to illustrate the struggling groups at that time... The movie was only successful as far as I was concerned by the appearances of Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry and Screamin' Jay Hawkins. Where was Fats Domino and where was Little Richard? Well, we got a glimpse of what was supposed to be Little Richard, out in the alley playing drums on the garbage cans. I think that the message there was that black performers of the day just didn't get a fair shake...We all know that this really isn't true, but we also know that many of them were exploited merely because they didn't know business too well, and for one bottle of whiskey a good blues recording could be made, a contract signed and the pockets of the smarter, more knowledgeable white businessmen in the record industry lined as the royalties rolled in, signed back to the studio instead of the artist. Alan Freed did a lot for black rythym and blues. He took the heat in the payola scandal when others like him, who by then, had branched out into television went away free as a bird. Alan Freed made no apologies: The black Rythym and Blues would have a place in history---- even at the expense of shows being closed down because of that so-called 'negro music'. The IRS thing was just the excuse-- Alan Freed was a hero and in my book, he still is. The appearance of Fran Drescher and Jay Leno is amusing to look back on today, but in no way do they help to accurately portray the story of Alan Freed, the big Rock and Roll shows, and the success of the Rock and Roll that we have come to know and love today. If you see this movie, get a good book on Alan Freed and read it. It will help. The movie really doesn't convey the story with as much passion as the real bio of the man Alan Freed does. Still a great soundtrack to have in your LP collection. Jerry Lee's segment will rock away all of your blues....
    helpful•11
    2
    • 16mmshow
    • Oct 13, 1999

    Details

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    • Release date
      • March 17, 1978 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 31 minutes
      • Stereo

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