Today’s movie is
a biographical drama with a scene that happens on December 13. Watch it tonight
and enjoy.
GREAT BALLS OF
FIRE!
In 1944 Louisiana Jerry Lee Lewis
is unsuccessful in persuading his cousin Jimmy Swaggert to join him in
listening to the music at African-American blues clubs. 12 years later he moves
to Memphis to play in a band with his cousin J.W. Brown and he meets J.W.‘s
13-year-old daughter Myra. J.W. and Jerry Lee meet with Sam Phillips at Sun
records. Phillips likes his music and signs him to a contract. A trip back home leads to arguments with
his cousin and now preacher Jimmy and more exposure to the blues. Jerry Lee
records “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”. which is a huge hit and he’s on TV in
New York. He moves in with J.W. and
starts dating Myra. He has another
encounter with his cousin Jimmy. Jerry Lee continues his success by recording
“Great Balls of Fire!” He sets his piano on fire at a concert in protest at
being second-billed behind Chuck Berry.
In a dance number Jerry Lee performs “High School Confidential” when he
picks up Myra at school. They elope. The next day, on December 13, 1957, [56:50
to 1:01:59] her parents find out that Myra and Jerry are married. J.W. is
barely persuaded not to shoot Jerry. They try to make their marriage work. Against advice Jerry takes Myra to England
on a tour. However when their marriage becomes public there is a huge outcry
and the tour is cancelled. He resists an attempt by Sam Phillips to have him
‘apologize’ for his marriage. As his career goes into a decline, Jerry Lee goes
into an alcoholic funk and he even hits Myra. His cousin Jimmy denounces him in
church, but Jerry and Myra stay together.
A hot biopic. Dennis Quaid gives
an almost, but not quite over-the-top portrayal of the Killer. I like it
because they used the real songs in the movie, not covers.
Jerry Lee Lewis: Lost and Found by Joe Bonomo (The
Continuum International Publishing Group, New York, 2009) at page 19 gives
their wedding date
Screenplay - Jack Baran and Jim McBride
Producer - Adam Fields
Director - Jim McBride
Runtime - 1 hour 48
minutes
Released - June 30,
1989
Starring –
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
Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2014.
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