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It's sad to see the definition of "rock 'n' roll" currently being stretched to the breaking point. In any retailer's electronics section are scores of albums by people who can play instruments but who can hardly be considered musicians. But if rock truly is on its last legs, fans can rest assured that it had a heck of a run, courtesy of a Missouri kid by the name of Chuck Berry. He's the subject of the 1987 documentary Chuck Berry: Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll, a film that, neither modest or self-aggrandizing, serves as an immensely entertaining portrait of a man who helped shape rock 'n' roll, whether he liked it or not. the documentary also inlcudes Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Julian Lennon, Linda Ronstadt, Bruce Springsteen and Etta James.
Taylor Hackford (inset) & Chuck Berry
A long-time fan of the music icon, director Taylor Hackford wanted something special for Berry's 60th birthday. Camera crew in tow, Hackford hung out alongside Berry, chronicling his life as he prepared to perform a star-studded concert to commemorate the occasion. The film tells a story of a humble man, a one-time hairdresser and budding photographer who had the good sense to try and play some music to appeal to all sides in a racially-divided era. The rest is rock 'n' roll history, as hits such as "Johnny B. Goode" and "Roll Over Beethoven" propelled Berry to stardom. Berry doesn't let ego get the best of him. But he does enjoy being recognized as a founding father of rock as well as recruiting pals Keith Richards and Eric Clapton to help put on a show that proves his reputation as a musical dynamo is certainly well-deserved.
Satisfyingly, the documentary doesn't step foot in the predictable rut most musically-inclined pictures fall into - a love letter or a condemnation. Hackford presents Berry as he is, a somewhat neutral standpoint that's even more surprising considering Berry is credited as a producer. In many ways, Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll works as an embodiment of the man himself. Berry's work ethic is a pretty laid-back one (play some tunes and have fun doing it), and the film follows suit serving a steady stream of fun diversions that amount to an overall entertaining experience. The biography aspect is kept to a minimum, consisting mostly of stories shared by Berry and those who knew him.
Fans will enjoy the toe-tapping goodness that appears to constantly burst out from the stage. Even at 60 years of age, Berry is in great shape, jumping from ditties like "Sweet Little Sixteen" and "Almost Grown" with seemingly boundless energy. Especially intriguing is how reticent Berry remains over his status in the music business. He's certainly aware of the influence he holds (which emerges when he bickers with Richards over how to play a song), but he doesn't rub his fame in peoples' faces. He merely does what he's loved doing for over three decades, though there is poignancy in how his birthday concert is held in a theater where Berry was once denied entrance because of his race. The show itself doesn't disappoint either, filled with one rousing performance after another, the most impressionable being Julian Lennon's vivacious rendition of "Johnny B. Goode."
Alongside Stop Making Sense and Neil Young: Heart of Gold, Chuck Berry: Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll is part of a rare breed of concert cinema that provides some insight about the artist(s) depicted therein. Not content to just trot out the man's greatest hits, Hackford makes the effort to emphasize Berry's importance without the slightest hint of vanity involved. Combine this with a soundtrack for the ages, and you've got a stimulating flick that shows you what true rock 'n' roll is all about.
Director: Taylor Hackford
Cast: Chuck Berry, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Julian Lennon, Linda Ronstadt, Bruce Springsteen, Etta James
Rating: PG (nothing offensive)
Classic Movie Guide Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Run Time: 120 minutes
Studio: Universal Pictures
Format: Color, widescreen
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