Great Balls of Fire!

Starring:Dennis Quaid, Winona Ryder, John Doe, Stephen Tobolowsky, Trey Wilson, Alec Baldwin, Steve Allen, Lisa Blount, Joshua Sheffield, Mojo Nixon, Jimmie Vaughan, David Ferguson, Robert Lesser, Lisa Jane Persky, Paula Person, Valerie Wellington, Booker T. Laury, Michael St. Gerard, Carol Russell, Crystal Robbins
Director: Jim McBride
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Dennis Quaid's delightfully over-the-top performance dominates this 1989 biopic about the life, times, and music of rocker Jerry Lee "the Killer" Lewis. It's all here: his snazzy threads, his devil-may-care Southern charm, his mane of golden hair, his underage girlfriends (Lewis's infamous marriage to his 13-year-old cousin, played here by Winona Ryder, and its effect on his career is a big part of the story), his fascination with "the devil's music" (much to the chagrin of cousin Jimmy Swaggart, portrayed by Alec Baldwin), and of course the classic tunes like "Great Balls of Fire" and "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On." Director Jim McBride plays the whole thing broadly, for laughs, much like Quaid plays Lewis. The result is tongue-in-cheek entertainment with a strong musical component, made all the more so by the fact that all the singing and playing on the soundtrack is done by Lewis himself. --Sam Graham

Description

They called it "the devil's music." To this, Jerry Lee Lewis whooped: "If I'm going to hell, I'm going there playing the piano!" Dennis Quaid gives a "rousing performance" (Gene Shalit, "The Today Show") as the defiant rock 'n' roll superstar who broke all the rules. Co-starring Winona Ryder as Jerry Lee's teenage bride and Alec Baldwin as Jerry Lee's evangelical cousin Jimmy Swaggart, and featuring scorching piano and vocals re-recorded by the legendary Lewis himself, Great Balls of Fire! is a wild ride back to the early days of rock 'n' roll that will leave you "B-B-B-Breathless"! In 1956, Louisiana bad boy Jerry Lee Lewis (Quaid) moves to Memphis, determined to dethrone Elvis with his "ferocious, God-given talent." When Jerry Lee bangs out the bass chords with his feet,fans howl for more. When he finishes a performance by setting his piano ablaze, they mob the stage.But when he marries his 13-year-old second cousin Myra (Ryder)...the scandal nearly kills "The Killer's" career.

Customer Reviews:

i don't mean this item.......2007-06-29

As a mastter of facxt i did'nt mean this item.it's a moovie and not a show,so i returned it back as a return item.Buy the way would you please tell me if you got it and when i suppose to reciev my refund.

Tank's a lot
gideon arbel

Music.......2007-05-12

I bought the sound track for Jerry Lee Lewis's rendition of Old Man River.

Which in my opinion is the best arrangement and recording of that piece of gospel music that I have ever heard.

The Real Jerry Lee is Much Nicer Than This.......2007-05-10

This is a fun movie and the music is fantastic. I'm not griping really because I can see why they did this: Jerry Lee Lewis's stage persona is bombastic, over-the-top and larger-than-life. That's fine. I get it. HIs on-stage persona is really just show-biz. I once met him and he's really not like that. He's really a very nice, thoughtful southern gentleman. That's the truth. Yes, to people in his band he's a demanding perfectionist (so is McCartney, big deal). But to meet him and approach him he treats everyone with respect and kindness and is nothing like his onstage character.

That said, if you like him and his music you should definitely check this out bearing in mind it's a cartoon.

I'm just glad the killer is still alive and working the ivories.

Great Balls of Fire! sets me on fire........2007-01-29

I am a 15 year old who likes older time periods. I love the '50s and all of its wonderful musicians. So when I found out there was a movie about Jerry Lee Lewis I just had to see it.
I ordered the DVD and watched it and immediately fell in love. The story line is amazing. There are funny parts and there are romantic parts that made my heart melt. Jerry Lee's relationship with Myra was really sweet. The music was great. Shortly after I purchased the DVD, I also bought the movie's soundtrack.
Wonderful movie. Highly Reccomended. Dennis Quaid did a great job as Jerry Lee Lewis.

Not like Jerry Lee's life.......2006-11-30

This movie told a good story and I like it, but the sad thing is that this movie is absolutly nothing like Jerry Lee Lewis's life. Most of the things that happened in the movie are totally fiction. Jerry is more serious that the clown that Dennis Quaid acted out. Now the music on it is a total different story, it is just wonderful. The music is Jerry Lee Lewis singing, not dennis quaid and it is just great. Wynona did a good job of being Myra in my opinion, and I think you will find her laugh in the movie very humerous. But I would advise you to buy the movie because it is just a really good story, and the sound track is definatly wonderful!
Thanks
Hali

Average customer rating:

Great Balls of Fire
Starring: Jerry Lee Lewis
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Jerry Lee Lewis - I Am What I Am
Jerry Lee Lewis and Friends
Great Balls of Fire!
Jerry Lee Lewis - The Story of Rock and Roll

ASIN: B000FCUT54
Release Date: 2006-11-14

Average customer rating:

i don't mean this item
Music
The Real Jerry Lee is Much Nicer Than This
Great Balls of Fire! sets me on fire.
Not like Jerry Lee's life

Great Balls of Fire! [Region 2]
Starring: Dennis Quaid , Winona Ryder , John Doe , Stephen Tobolowsky , and Trey Wilson
Director: Jim McBride
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Buddy Holly Story
La Bamba
Sweet Dreams
Jerry Lee Lewis - I Am What I Am
Coal Miner's Daughter - 25th Anniversary Edition

ASIN: B00009B0O3

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

i don't mean this item.......2007-06-29

Music.......2007-05-12

I bought the sound track for Jerry Lee Lewis's rendition of Old Man River.

Which in my opinion is the best arrangement and recording of that piece of gospel music that I have ever heard.

The Real Jerry Lee is Much Nicer Than This.......2007-05-10

Great Balls of Fire! sets me on fire........2007-01-29

Not like Jerry Lee's life.......2006-11-30

Average customer rating:

Castillo: Great Balls of Fire
Starring: Castillo in Great Balls of Fire
Manufacturer: Tango Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Kids & Family | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000GDIBWU
Release Date: 2006-08-29

DVD:

DVD

Lost in Space: Season 2, Vol. 2 [4 Discs] [1965] (REGION 1)

DVD: Sunset Story

Dave Matthews Band - The Central Park Concert