Chuck Berry: Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll

Is it just me or is Chuckie's ax always slightly out of tune? I really enjoyed this film and learned a lot about Berry, his past, the career, and a sometimes tyrannical attitude. Not to much on his arrest or marital life; Chuck nipped that in the bud before it got off the ground. A lot of good footage is offered of the band rehearsing and then giving a sensational concert featuring several other artists. Also the viewer is treated to several interviews by various recording artists. Clearly, Berry is an out of the ordinary man, likeable in many ways, but a bit hard to swallow at times. I felt his attempt to change keys in the middle of a song during the performance was an amateur stunt at best. He is anything but a great guitarist, but none the less a complete showman.

Forget Frank Sinatra…Keith Richard's amazing ‘Hail Hail Rock and Roll' leaves no doubt about who is the most important influence on contemporary music. Taylor Hackford, who did the wonderful music narrative ‘The Idolmaker' directs this documentary, which includes a great live concert accompanying. The glue that holds the deal together, though, is the presence of Richards, as producer and musical director. His exchanges with Berry, filmed as is, concerning the film's content are classic. A Bruce Springsteen recount of his early days opening for Berry at a concert in New Jersey is worth the price of admission alone. Great interviews with Roy Orbison, John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the comedy team of Little Richard and Bo Diddley. Wonderful film, beautiful honest portrait of a very complicated musical genius.

Incredible to only seeing it now! VHS from the library. Can watch the "confrontation" scene between Chuck and Keith over and over! It's like minutes 33-37 with Chuck serious mind-fudging' with Keith over this cool riff in "Carol" Just over and over and over. That guitar should have gone directly over Chuck Berry's head with a bigger bang! Though maybe there is a subtle different from the first try to the final approval. Beats me, but teaching Keith? Never thought I'd see that! What a fun movie and SO well done! Chuck Berry is just a genius, but a total lunatic and not what you'd call a people person! Just wildly good history. Glad it will be there as documentation.

Should be required viewing for all rock fans, aspiring guitarists, songwriters and pop culture historians. Three points: 1.) Berry is truly shown as the multiple demonsional individual he is: smart and articulate, funny, often bitter, and at times a REAL ASS! 2.) Johnny Johnson rocks! Strange how Berry decries the industry for ripping him off but seems obtuse to how much he owes this rock piano genius. 3.) The story told by Bruce Springsteen is priceless.

Taylor Hackford's documentary chronicling rock music pioneer Chuck Berry and his return to Missouri hometown with a star-laden concert both he and Keith Richards (from the Rolling Stones) put together in St. Louis. The film doesn't probe too deeply into Berry's troubled life (including two trips to jail), but his surly, chipped-shoulder bravado and mercurial personality make for some fascinating sequences. Richards, who organized the event--a 60th birthday celebration for Berry--and plays guitar alongside Chuck, has some tense confrontations with his star and tells of several amusing moments where he nearly gave up on him. Of the concert guests, Eric Clapton, Julian Lennon, and especially Linda Ronstadt are the highlights, but Robert Cray and Etta James are disappointing. **1/2 from ****

This is an excellent music documentary about Chuck Berry and people who is inspired by him and his way to play the guitar. Its mix of live conserts, interviews and the scene when Chuck is teaching Keith Richard the riff for "Oh Carol" is probably the best i have seen. This is a "must see" film for anyone who likes music.

I didn't see this movie until 2012, but I must admit the distance of seeing a 1987 movie about Chuck Berry that shows many of the music stars at that time probably made me appreciate it more. The film is a bit uneven at times. Eric Clapton's, "Wee Wee Hours" ballad slowed the whole movie down. And having Julian Lennon sing the lead, on "Johnny B. Goode" - arguably the greatest rock'n roll song ever made - may have made sense in 1987, but looks silly now. However, there are some really great, worthwhile scenes in the movie. Linda Ronstadt absolutely KILLS her version of "Back in the U.S.A." which made me remember why everyone used to like her so much. It was certainly poignant to see the recently deceased Etta James belt out her version of "Rock'n Roll Music," another highlight. And while I'm not at all a fan of Bruce Springsteen, his reminisces of Chuck Berry were both funny and insightful. If you're a fan of rock'n roll, you really have to see this film.