Chuck Berry Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Chuck Berry Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 26, 2019

Chuck Berry is often referred to as the “Godfather of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” enjoying a major career as singer and guitar player, with his influence reaching across the industry, with The Beatles personally citing Berry as inspiration during their early years. The Chuck Berry on display in 1987’s “Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll” isn’t quite as god-like as some respected musicians suggest, with director Taylor Hackford not exactly filming the legend as he prepares for his 60th birthday concert at the Fox Theater in St. Louis. The helmer is mostly chasing the subject, seemingly one step behind as the man who gave the world songs like “Nadine,” “Johnny B. Goode,” “Rock and Roll Music,” and “Roll Over Beethoven.” Berry is a complicated man, as strange as can be, and Hackford uses this bizarre energy for the concert picture, which attempts to blend sections of personal history with rehearsal time, working toward the big Fox Theater show, where Berry is joined by a list of all-stars to help him bang out the hits.

“Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll” hopes to explore Berry and his position as a 60-year-old music icon who remains on the road, playing dates all over America. However, the real subject of the documentary is money, which is all Berry talks about, from his early days at the Cosmopolitan Club making pennies to dazzle a handful of people to his transformation into a national act, with Hackford following his subject to one outdoor gig, detailing how Berry only travels with a briefcase and his guitar (checking his instrument, noting that he writes off his purchases), meets his backing back mere minutes before the concert begins, and takes off in the moment the last song ends. He’s a machine, but one who’s obsessed with collecting cash wherever he goes. And when he’s not making money, he’s talking about it in “Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll,” always quick to bring up what he’s making or how he was screwed over by the business. It’s amazing to see Berry in this light, though he’s never had Disney reputation, and bits of pieces of his disturbing behavior are captured by the crew, including focus issues with other musicians, going combative possibly for the thrill of it, and he makes sure to kiss each flight attendant after boarding a plane. Of course, we all know Berry was capable of incredibly dark and felonious acts (dating all the way back to the late 1950s), which Hackford doesn’t go near to maintain the party mood.

“Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll” details life with Berry on his private property (bragging about his money, of course) and covers the rehearsal period leading up the concert. Sprinkled throughout are moments where Berry reconnects with locations from his past, recalling interactions with racism that partially fueled his inner drive to succeed, returning to the Fox Theater, where he wasn’t allowed to see a movie as a child due to the color of his skin. The birthday concert almost seems anticlimactic in “Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll,” as Hackford finds more interesting asides with interviews (sadly, cousin Marvin Berry doesn’t appear), including Keith Richards, who helped to organize the event, but doesn’t really have anything nice to say about Berry, even calling him on his sloppy playing (which one can hear in the film). Still, performers such as Linda Ronstadt, Julian Lennon (whose inclusion here is tied to his connection with father John, a die-hard Berry fan), Robert Cray, Eric Clapton, and Etta James help to keep Berry on his toes, adding some exciting moments to the second half of the picture.

Chuck Berry Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Shout Factory brings "Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll" to Blu-ray with an older scan. The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation can't avoid its age, with softness carrying throughout the viewing experience. Detail doesn't jump off the screen, but some basic textures are appreciable, including Berry's polyester outfits and suits on the backing band. Household decoration and location visits struggle with clarity. Close-ups retain most sweaty looks and facial contortions. Colors are satisfactory, finding concert lighting the most dynamic, preserving the style of the event. Primaries are secure, best with clothing and Berry's personal decorating style, which favors deep reds. Skintones are a bit bloodless, but remain natural. Grain is chunky at times. Delineation is adequate. Source is in decent shape, with some mild judder and speckling.

Chuck Berry Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix provides a forceful listening experience for "Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll," leading with the performance sequences, which retain a raw energy and defined musicianship, including mangled notes from Berry. The track isn't overwhelmed, but a few crackly highs are encountered. Vocals are distinct. Interview segments are equally clear, isolating personality nuances and emphasis. Atmospherics bring out urban tours and room interaction, defining changes in locations.

Chuck Berry Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• 2006 DVD Introduction (3:58, SD) finds director Taylor Hackford in Ocean Park, CA, offering a welcome to viewers and sharing his intent with the supplementary material on the disc, which he hopes will inform future generations on the history of rock 'n' roll music.

• Concert Rehearsals (53:49, SD) showcase extended footage from the tense preparation period, with Hackford providing an intro and anecdotes from the days, with additional insight from musician Steve Jordan.

• "The Reluctant Movie Star" (66:27, SD) is an eye-opening overview of the production process, with emphasis on Chuck Berry's troublemaking when it came time to actually step in front of a camera. Hackford provides tales from the early days of the shoot, where Berry wouldn't do anything without being paid in cash, refusing to even show up. In his frustration, Hackford created "diaries" of the incidents, capturing lost days and negotiations with the subject of his film. Additional perspective is provided by producer Stephanie Bennett, production manager Tom Adelman, musician Steven Jordan, recording engineer Mike Frondelli, Berry's manager Dick Alen, and music editor Curt Sobel.

• "Witnesses to History #1" (58:17, SD) supplies the full meeting of Bo Diddley, Little Richard, and Chuck Berry, with the trio covering all topics including their careers, racism, and interactions with Elvis Presley.

• "Witnesses to History #2" (SD) provides full interview segments with Jerry Lee Lewis (31:36), Bo Diddley (32:04), Don and Phil Everly (33:11), Willie Dixon (21:32), Roy Orbison (31:16), Sam Phillips (32:56), and Ahmet Ertegun (31:24).

• "Chuckisms" (17:38, SD) collect personal moments with the star.

• "The Burnt Scrapbook" (30:43, SD) is casual meeting between Berry and Robbie Robertson, with the men paging through Berry's personal scrapbook, which triggers numerous stories and memories.

• Final Words (2:51, SD) is an offering of gratitude from Hackford for sitting through the supplements.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:51, SD) is included.

Chuck Berry Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It appears as though Hackford went into the project with the best intentions, ready to bring Berry's legacy to the big screen, only to end up with a troublesome subject who never really wants to talk about music, only financial successes. "Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll" is a bizarre film, and when the concert comes around, fans will find Berry working hard to put on a big show, tearing through the hits and delivering all the poses. It's the rest of the documentary that's even more compelling, with Hackford accidentally working past a glossy celebration of music history, exposing an extraordinarily idiosyncratic, obsessive, and self-centered man in the process.