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Revision as of 19:54, 20 March 2007 by Rjwilmsi (talk | contribs) (Typo fixing, Typos fixed: orginal → original, the the → the, using AWB)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) 1989 film| Great Balls of Fire! | |
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 Theatrical Poster | |
| Directed by | Jim McBride |
| Written by | Screenplay: Jack Baran Jim McBride Story: Myra Lewis Murray Silver Jr. |
| Produced by | Executive Producers: Michael Grais Mark Victor Art Levinson Producer: Adam Fields |
| Starring | Dennis Quaid Winona Ryder |
| Cinematography | Affonso Beato |
| Edited by | Lisa Day Pembroke J. Herring Bert Lovitt |
| Music by | Jerry Lee Lewis |
| Distributed by | Orion Pictures |
| Release dates | June 30, 1989 |
| Running time | 108 minutes |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
Great Balls of Fire! is an American 1989 film, directed by Jim McBride, and written by McBride and Jack Baran, based on a story by Myra Lewis and Murray Silver Jr.
The picture was executive produced by Michael Grais, Mark Victor, and Art Levinson, and produced by Adam Fields.
The early life of Jerry Lee Lewis when he became a teen idol is depicted in this film. Many thought he would supplant Elvis Presley as the "king of rock and roll."
Plot
Template:Spoilers The film tells the story of Jerry Lee Lewis (Dennis Quaid), nicknamed "the killer", during the early years of rock and roll: 1956-1958. Lewis is shown as a mixed-up person: a skilled performer with little discipline, an alcoholic, and a caring husband who sometimes beats his wife.
As Lewis rises to the top of the charts with such hits as "Crazy Arms," "A Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," and "Great Balls of Fire!" he falls in love with his second cousin Myra (Winona Ryder), and eventually marries her.
There is a sub-plot of Lewis' relationship with his cousin, the preacher Jimmy Swaggart (Alec Baldwin). Jimmie's career keeps him in constant conflict with his counsin wild life of rock and roll, and brings out some funny exchanges. Lewis once responds to Swaggart:
- Don't thank God, just thank old Jerry Lee Lewis!
When a British reporter (Peter Cook) discovers he is married to his teen-aged cousin, Lewis is condemned as a molester and a pervert by the public.
The movie ends after Lewis learns he is about to become a father, as his wife and cousin tells him she has become pregnant.
The closing title card reads: "Jerry Lee Lewis is playing his heart out somewhere in America tonight." Template:Endspoiler
Background
The story was co-written by Myra Lewis (her autobiography), the former wife of Jerry Lee Lewis.
Filming locations
The film was film on location, including: Marion, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee, and West Memphis, Arkansas.
Critical reception
The film was received the film critics with mixed reviews. Yet, many hailed the performance of Dennis Quiad.
Roger Ebert, writing for the Chicago Sun Times, believes the film has a weak screenplay. He said, "This is a simpleminded rock 'n' roll history in which the pleasures are many and the troubles are few. Lewis, played by Dennis Quaid as a grinning simpleton with a crazy streak and a manic piano style, climbs the same career ladder as many of the stars of musical biographies, but he does it with lightning speed." Ebert also believes Quaid did a nice job of reproducing the Jerry Lee Lewis stage persona.
Critic Caryn James thinks the film tells the fun side of rock and roll. She said, "Jim McBride's film is a compressed, cleaned-up version of the Jerry Lee Lewis story, but it re-creates the soul-shaking, brain-rattling fun of rock-and-roll. It also captures, perhaps for the first time on film, something of the sexual aura of rock-and-roll at its birth." Yet, she add that anyone looking for a true sense of music history will be let down by the film.
Cast and ratings
Template:Infobox movie certificates
- Dennis Quaid as Jerry Lee Lewis
- Winona Ryder as Myra Gale Brown
- John Doe as J.W. Brown
- Stephen Tobolowsky as Jud Phillips
- Trey Wilson as Sam Phillips
- Alec Baldwin as Jimmy Swaggart
- Steve Allen as Himself
- Lisa Blount as Lois Brown
- Joshua Sheffield as Rusty Brown
- Mojo Nixon as James Van Eaton
- Jimmie Vaughan as Roland Janes
- David Ferguson as Jack Clement
- Robert Lesser as Alan Freed
- Lisa Jane Persky as Babe
- Peter Cook as British reporter
Soundtrack
An original motion picture soundtrack was released by the producers on the Polydor Records label on June 8, 1989 and feautures the music popularized by Jerry Lee Lewis on the 1950s. The soundtrack contained 12 tracks.
Tracks on CD
- Great Balls Of Fire
- High School Confidential
- Big Legged Woman - Booker T. Laury
- I'm On Fire
- Rocket 88 - Jackie Brenston And The Delta Cats
- Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
- Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On - Valerie Wellington
- Breathless
- Crazy Arms - Jerry Lee Lewis/Dennis Quaid
- Wild One
- That Lucky Old Sun
- Great Balls Of Fire (Original Version)
Awards
- Young Artist Awards: Young Artist Award; Best Young Actress Starring in a Motion Picture, Winona Ryder; 1980.
Footnotes
- Great Balls of Fire! at the Internet Movie Database.
- Ebert, Roger. The Chicago Sun Times, film review, June 30, 1989.
- James, Caryn. The New York Times, film review, "'Goodness Gracious!' Jerry Lee Lewis." June 30, 1989.
- Amazon.com