Smartorhypo Highly Overrated But Still Good

Intcatinfo A Masterpiece!

SteinMo What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

Aspen Orson There is definitely an excellent idea hidden in the background of the film. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find it.

GManfred I lived through this era but I didn't see this one the first time around. Now I know why. Word probably got out that the songs were obscure and not the songs these performers were known for. The problem is compounded by a very lame plot which was meant as a filler in between songs, and you have a movie you can easily pass on.Several big 50's names are here, but as I mentioned no famous songs. The story centers around singer Jimmy Clanton and Alan Freed, a 50's disc jockey unknown to audiences nowadays. Clanton is trying to break into show business and Freed is sponsoring a contest for an unknown singer on his show - you can almost write the script yourself from this point. The sole bright spot is a youthful-looking Chuck Berry, who does his patented duck walk while playing his guitar, and sings "Johnny Be Good" and "Memphis", which was made popular a few years later by Johnny Rivers. Berry is the only reason for my rating, which is too high without him.

mpetko64 saw this movie by accident on ACM. having been a teenager in the mid fifties i do not recall ever hearing jimmy Clayton sing. i must say that in the style of other teen throbs of that era who made it big with mediocre talent am surprised he did not make it as well. when you look back at the many singers of that time frame it is truly amazing how many fine singers and singing groups there were especially afro-American performers with huge talent that fell by the wayside.when i watch the singers of today i cant understand what they are singing or what makes them popular compared to those of the years gone by. any way what ever happened to Clayton?

Charles M. LaBow Go, Johnny, Go! Was the only film in which Richie Valens (Richard Steven Valenzuela) appears on screen. This is significant. 17 year old Valens was killed only a few months after filming, in the plane crash with The Big Bopper (Jiles Perry Richardson) and Buddy Holly, on February 3, 1959.Go, Johnny, Go! wasn't released until the spring of 1959.The crash itself, also has some unusual circumstances attached to it. The plane had been chartered by Buddy Holly so that he could join his band at the next stop, Fargo, North Dakota. Valens, Holly, "Jape" as the Big Bopper preferred to be called, and Dion and the Belmonts had been traveling on a bus throughout the Midwest on the "Winter Dance Party, 1959" tour. The bus had been having engine problems and the interior heating system was not working. As a result, "Jape" was coming down with the flu and asked Buddy Holly if he could have Holly's bass player's seat on the plane. The bass player for Holly at that time, was Waylon Jennings. Jennings gave up his seat and the Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens, and Buddy Holly took off at 1:00 AM in the morning from Clear Lake, Iowa and entered rock and roll history only eight miles from the airport.At the time of the crash, Ritchie Valans's singles, "La Bomba" and "Donna" made him the most popular artist on the bill.

pmh861 This is the quintessential 50's rock and roll movie. With about 20 songs from performers such as Jimmy Clanton (the lead), Chuck Berry, Eddy Cochran, Jackie Wilson, Ritchie Valens and The Cadillacs and more, if you like 50's rock, then you will like the music in this one. This is definitely not a movie for plot or acting, but instead just plain musical fun.Some of the best performances are Jump Children by the Flamingos and Please Mr. Johnson by the Cadillacs. Also, the rare clip of the legendary Ritchie Valens makes this movie well worthwhile. It's too bad he didn't perform one of his hits like Donna, La Bamba or Come On Let's Go, but instead wailed with Ooh, My Head! A lot of this movie is very campy and adds to its charm. Because of this and especially because of the music I'd rate this a 7+ on a scale of 10. Jimmy Clanton was a good choice for the lead. His voice and mannerisms bring back memories of a much more innocent era.