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

This documentary movie covers two concerts at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri, to celebrate Chuck Berry's 60th birthday, and also discusses his life and career.

Director:

Taylor Hackford

Stars:

Chuck Berry, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton

1 win.

Cast

Credited 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 (archive footage)
Julian Lennon	...	Himself

Storyline

St. Louis, Missouri. For Chuck Berry's 60th birthday, Keith Richards assembles a pickup band of Robert Cray, Joey Spampinato, Eric Clapton, himself, and longtime pianist Johnnie Johnson. Joined on stage by Etta James, Linda Ronstadt and Julian Lennon, Berry performs his classic rock songs. His abilities as a composer, lyricist, singer, musician and entertainer are on display and, in behind-the-scenes interviews, are discussed by Bo Diddley, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, the Everly Brothers, Bruce Springsteen and others. There's even a rarity for Berry, a rehearsal. Archival footage from the early 1950s and a duet with John Lennon round out this portrait of a master.

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Plot Keywords:

lip synching | repetition in title | concert film | concert footage | character name in title | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | Music

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 October 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll

Filming Locations:

East St. Louis, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$719,323

Company Credits

Production Co:

Delilah Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shot in 1986, not released until 1987.

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Quotes

Jerry Lee Lewis: [explaining payola] See, everybody wants to get paid. Everybody wants the money.

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Connections

Featured in Kings of Rock 'n' Roll (2008)

User Reviews

Just my two cents worth

Saw this film when it first came out and have loved it ever since. Chuck Berry obviously has a huge chip on his shoulder and takes it out on K.Richards before and during the big sixtieth birthday bash/show in St.Louis, and at times one has to feel a little badly for the guy? All he's trying to do is get Chuck more recognition for his lifes work, but this doesn't seem worthwhile to egomaniac Chuck. He go's so far as to change the arrangements of the tunes rehearsed for the show, right on stage that night, and makes Richards sweat the whole night through! Gaps in solos can be heard clearly on the soundtrack, and these weren't recording flubs but rather Chuck Berry made screwups, designed to discredit Mr.Richards and the show. Still the music thrill's and even Berrys antics couldn't derail the band Richards put together for this one. For anyone that loves real rocknroll the way it was meant to play, go out and pick yourself up a copy. You'll love the allstar cast rockin band that plays away the night in St.Louis celebrating Berry's 60'th at the end of the film and all the interviews and stuff along the way. Etta James's performance of rocknroll music a Berry classic, is as electrifying as anything ever performed on stage as is Linda Ronstadt's back in the Usa. Man I wish I could have been there?