Very disappointing...

Powerful

One of my all time favorites.

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

With the passing of Chuck Berry this past week it was an amazing coincidence that Kit Parker Films had recently released a feature starring Berry in a supporting role, GO JOHNNY GO. The film is also one of the first offerings under the new banner the company is using, The Sprocket Vault.I was familiar with the name Kit Parker from my college days, a time when his company was just starting out. At that time his company handled a number of 16mm films for rental, most of them classics from the golden days of Hollywood. By classics I'm not talking huge budgeted studio features, the studios had the rights to those. But Parker made a name for himself and his company by offering great old films at decent rental prices. When video and then DVD rolled around he transferred those films and continues to market them.GO JOHNNY GO tells the story of young Johnny Melody (Jimmy Clanton) (with a name like that he's destined for showbiz), an orphan who's out on his own now and looking to make his mark as a professional singer. He knows he has talent, now all he needs is a break. Fortune smiles on him when he runs into Julie Arnold (Sandy Stewart), a young girl he knew in the orphanage who was adopted. They share dreams, both wanting to become singers and plan to meet up again sometime.Both of them get the chance when radio personality Allan Freed and his PR man decide to have a contest giving some young singer the chance to become the next big star with a spot on his rock and roll road show. This is where Berry steps in as a musician who works for Freed as well as being a star himself. Julie is recording her record to submit when she runs into Johnny again, spending his last money of his recording.The submissions roll in and Freed hears Johnny's song. The PR man and Berry insists that the kid has potential. But he doesn't have a phone. His plan to call run astray when Freed and his group step out to visit a club. Fortunately Julie and Johnny are at the same club! And yet they miss their chance to talk to Freed! Good heaven's what will happen next? Watch and see to find out.Throughout the film there are performances by some of the top solo artists and groups of the day. That is one of the things that makes this movie so special and one to add to the collection of every classic rock and roll fan. Those performers include Richie Valens, Jackie Wilson, The Flamingos, Eddie Cochran, Harvey Fuqua, Jo-Ann Campbell and the Cadillacs. All are tremendous fun to watch, listen to and enjoy. Even Berry gets the chance to perform his classic "Memphis" and do his signature duck walk.In the fifties and sixties movies like this were being made to meet the demand of fans who wanted to see their favorite music stars. It wasn't like today when everyone can click on YouTube on their cell phone and watch a performer. These moves were made on the cheap but they still offered a combination of story, musical performances and entertainment as well as a huge heap of charm that drew fans in. Now you can enjoy it as well with this release.In addition to getting the best quality print that can be found of this film it also offers a commentary track featuring Richard M. Roberts, Randy Skeetvedt and Brent Walker. There is also a copy of the original trailer as well. If you grew up listening to this music you'll want to add this one to your collection.

Having previously appeared in Rock Rock Rock! and Mister Rock and Roll, this was the third-and final-appearance of rocker Chuck Berry in a movie that also starred DJ Alan Freed. He and Freed actually act together in this one as they try to get singer Johnny Melody (Jimmy Clanton) on his way to stardom. Now that I just got much of the plot out of the way, I'll just say that it was quite a pleasure seeing Berry performing his hits "Memphis, Tennessee" and "Little Queenie" here. Also loved Jackie Wilson being showcased among the other performances. The movie itself was quite compelling dramatically but I'm glad things get resolved quickly so it doesn't drag. Unfortunately, after this both Freed and Berry would be involved in scandals-Freed in payola and Berry in a sex charge involving a minor with the result of Freed drinking himself to death and Berry serving a few years in jail before making a comeback several years later. This would also become the only appearance of Ritchie Valens before his untimely passing in a plane crash that also took the lives of The Big Bopper and Buddy Holly. He was good, too! On a lighter note, since I always like to cite when players from my favorite movie-It's a Wonderful Life-are in something else, here, it's Dick Elliot-who was that man who told Jimmy Stewart to kiss Donna Reed instead of talking to her to death-who's impatient about going into the phone booth after Clanton and his girlfriend keep hogging the phone! It was hilarious! It was also his last film appearance though he continued to appear on TV before his death in 1961. Anyway, I highly recommend Go, Johnny, Go! to any Chuck Berry fans out there. P.S. Jimmy Clanton is a native of my current hometown of Baton Rouge, LA.

On top of the world of Rock & Roll teenage heart throb Johnny Melody is without a doubt the hottest thing that ever hit the music charts since "The King" Elvis Aaron Presley himself hit the charts back in 1954.Johnny almost didn't make it and it was his own arrogance and out and out stupidity that would have landed him in the can, jail, if it wasn't for his mentor and supporter manager and music promoter Alan Freed.Freed took the rap for him, by playing drunk, when Johnny tried to rob a jewelry store on Christmas Eve some two years ago. On that cold and dark evening the love sick kook slammed a brick into the storefront window of a jewelry store and just stood there like he forgot what he was supposed to be doing, robbing a $45.00 gold heart pin for his girlfriend, and waited like a brainless moron for the cops to come and arrest him.We go into a long flashback as Freed, after Johnny finishes his act, reminds Johnny how fate is really strange and how if it wasn't for him going out of his way to save Johnny's sorry a** he would have ended up a hardened criminal instead of the new American Idol. A singer that wild and hysterical teenage girls, as well as women in their twenties and thirties and even forties, by the tens of thousands would like to go out on a date with; and even more fantastic pick up the tab.Being orphaned, he was left at the steps of the orphanage, at an early age Johnny was into music but the music, Rock & Roll, he was into wasn't exactly what the head, Mr. Martin, of the church quire that Johnny was trying out for cared for. Hurt and humiliated at being kicked off the quire Johnny ran away from home, or the orphanage, determined to strike out for himself as a Rock & Roll singer. With no job, he was fired as an usher in a theater, or money he didn't even have enough cash to make a demo recording to sent the Rock & Roll promoter Alan Freed to hear his great and untapped talents.Freed interested in Johnny's singing ability is more then willing to give him a chance but has other things on his mind like the big Rock & Roll show he has planned at the Brooklyn Paramount. That causes Johnny to feel that he was given the cold shoulder and brush off by the legendary Rock & Roll promoter and acts accordingly, like the big jerk that he is. Sulking in his beer and not wanting to have anything to do with improving himself Johnny doesn't take the time to notice that people, Alan Freed included, have their own problems and commitment to attend to and take care of like he should do for his own.Freed does with the encouraging of his top honcho Bill and assistant, as well as member of his troupe, Rock & Roll singer Chuck Berry play Johnnys, he somehow got the cash to make one, demo record "My Love is Strong" on his radio show. After he heard it Freed was so impressed by it that he decided to get whoever this Johnny is to hear it on the radio and call in to identify himself. This so he can give him the opportunity to strut his stuff on the stage in front of a live and cheering crowd of Rock & Roll music fans.Johnny as you would expect seems to be the only person in NYC to not listen to the show as he's in the car with his girlfriend Sandy and turns off the radio, broadcasting The Alan Freed Rock & Roll Radio Show. Johnny is still ticked off at Freed for not letting him do his thing, which Freed was just about to do, in showing what a Rock & Roll sensation he's capable of being. Feeling like a sack of horse manure in not being able to get Sandy the Christmas present that he promised her, the golden heart pin, Johnny plans to rob the jewelry store where the pin is on the display in the window. In the end Johnny gets his butt saved from being thrown into prison by Alan Freed and Sandy who got to the scene, the jewelry store, before the cops did. That saved the bumbling klutz from blowing the big chance, becoming a Rock & Roll teenage Idol, that he always dreamed off but was just too dim-witted to see it even when it was right in front of him!

This is one of several Hollywood movies made in the 1950's attempting to be cool by featuring the new "fad"(to them) called rock 'n' roll. The only time Hollywood ever featured real rock 'n' roll from the early days of the new teen music was when rock artists with hit records were allowed to perform on the big screen. The Hollywood concocted rock 'n' roll was unbearable then and even more so today. The best of the rock 'n' roll films by far was "The Girl Can't Help It," which was clever and humorous, plus featuring many of the big rock artists of the day including an outstanding scene showing Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps. Of all the others this one "Go, Johnny, Go" succeeds the best and as has been noted by others is the only place you can see the multi-talented seventeen year old superstar Richie Valens strutting his stuff on the big screen just before his tragic death.Since there was no such animal as a music video, most teens heard their favorite rock stars on vinyl or on the radio. From time to time rock phenomena would appear on television on such shows as Ed Sullivan and Steve Allen. Dick Clark's "American Bandstand" seldom let the rock performers do their own thing. Most of the time the artists were asked to lip-synch their recordings. A major exception to this rule was Jerry Lee Lewis who insisted that he be allowed to do his hits live with his band. Therefore, it was truly a treat to get to see rockers on the big screen.This movie has one of the best lists of great rock performers of the decade. There were many so-called asphalt Elvises around by 1959, especially the notorious Fabian, but lumping Jimmy Clanton with them is a mistake. Like Ricky Nelson, Clanton had a feel for the music he made. His looks left much to be desired but his songs were not half bad, particularly his one big hit "Just a Dream," one of my favorite teen ballads from the period.Fans of early rock 'n' roll will get a kick out of watching the antics of such wonderful do wop groups as the Flamingos and the The Cadillacs. What an entertaining stage show these groups must have delivered. The only other do wop group to surpass these two were the outrageous Coasters. The legendary Jackie Wilson, who even impressed the King himself, Elvis, when he saw him in Las Vagas, shows why he was one of the seminal entertainers of the decade. Chuck Berry not only performs some of his best songs--possibly Johnny B. Goode is his best--but does a decent job acting as well. Too bad he was set up by the government and had to spend time in prison not long after this movie was produced. Then the viewer gets to see the talented Eddie Cochran, one of the best songwriters/musicians of the era. Harvey Fuqua helped make the Moonglows a hit but the rest of the do wop group added that little extra oomp needed to have it all jell. Still Harvey is fine as a solo act.Allen Freed, who not long after this picture was produced was crucified by the press and made the fall guy for the payola scandal, adds a touch of authenticity to the movie, though he leaves a little to be desired in the acting department. Many in the US government--somewhat of a holdover from the McCarthy period-viewed rock 'n' roll as subversive, never mind that the Communists felt the same way but for a different ideological reason. By promoting the asphalt Elvises such as Fabian, Frankie Avalon, and Paul Anka the politicians hoped to stifle the real rock stars. The government put Chuck Berry in jail, drafted Elvis, wrecked Allen Freed's career prodding him to succumb to alcoholism, and encouraged Little Richard to pursue a calling to be a preacher. Indirectly the government aided the free press in publicizing Jerry Lee Lewis' third marriage to his thirteen year old cousin. All this and more...but the beat goes on.The story told in "Go, Johnny, Go" is a juvenile one about Freed, a rock promoter, making Jimmy Clanton a star through a talent search. This time it's innocuous enough and doesn't get in the way of some of the best music this side of heaven. Rock on, cool cats, rock on!