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

With Chuck Berry set to turn 80 in October, this spectacular reissue of Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n' Roll, director Taylor Hackford's 1987 concert documentary, is certainly timely...and revealing. Music fans already know that Berry can justifiably call himself "the father of rock 'n' roll"—his songs "Maybellene," "Johnny B. Goode," "Roll Over Beethoven," "Rock & Roll Music," and so on—defined the genre, as did his guitar playing, and he was worshipped by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, both of whom recorded several Berry tunes. In fact, when the film's producers decided to mark his 60th birthday with a gala concert in his native St. Louis, Keith Richards volunteered to put together the band, and a host of other big names—including Eric Clapton and Linda Ronstadt—were happy to take part. But while the concert was an unqualified success, presented here with a crisp new transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, dealing with the star (he was also one of the film's producers) proved to be torturous for filmmakers and musicians alike. Berry, it seems, is a decidedly prickly fellow and an inveterate skinflint. Instead of paying a regular band, he'd just arrive at a gig and go onstage with whoever the promoter had rounded up to back him (including a very young Bruce Springsteen), and once willingly went to jail—his third of three terms in the slammer—instead of paying his back taxes. For this film, Berry tried to renegotiate his own deal every day, and would refuse to be filmed unless he was paid in cash. Two days before the climactic St. Louis concert, Berry announced that he was leaving town for a gig in Ohio, where he made some extra jack but ruined his voice, with the result that his vocals all had to be overdubbed after the fact. These and other dark revelations can be found in the hours of excellent bonus materials on discs two, three, and four of this set, along with many more agreeable moments (like Chuck jamming with Clapton, Richards, and Etta James, or nostalgically poring over his scrapbook with Robbie Robertson). This well-packaged, beautifully presented 'ultimate collector's edition' (the film is also available in a two-disc set for $29.99) is a fascinating portrait of a complex character. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Graham) [Blu-ray Review—Nov. 19, 2019—Shout! Factory, 120 min., PG, Blu-ray: $24.99—Making its debut on Blu-ray, 1987’s Chuck Berry: Hail! Hail! Rock ‘N’ Roll features a fine transfer and a DTS-HD 5.1 soundtrack. Extras include a 'Witnesses to History #2' collection of interviews with Jerry Lee Lewis, the Everly Brothers, Willie Dixon, and others (218 min.), 'The Reluctant Movie Star' making-of documentary (67 min.), 'Witnesses to History #1' with Berry, Little Richard, and Bo Diddley (58 min.), concert rehearsals (54 min.), 'The Burnt Scrapbook' retrospective with Berry and Robbie Robertson (31 min.), 'Chuckisms' remarks (18 min.), the 2006 DVD introduction by director Taylor Hackford (4 min.), and 'Taylor Hackford’s Final Words' (2 min.). Bottom line: this classic rock concert doc makes a welcome debut on Blu-ray.]