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

Country: USA
Director: Taylor Hackford
Production Co: Universal
Genre: Documentary
Rating: 7.8/10
Length: 120 mins

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.—

Plot Keywords

rock star, celebrity, musician, guitarist, spirited, rousing, st. louis, missouri, concert stage, house, chuck berry, rock 'n' roll, concert, rise, 1980s

Short Review

Chuck Berry Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll is as long and unwieldy as its title, but it's probably the most revealing look we'll ever get of its subject, and the most loving evocation of his music.