Cadillac records is an account of the chess story that depends more on music than history, which is perhaps as it should be. In this tale of sex, violence, race and rock and roll in chicago of the 1950s and 60s, the film follows. Beyonce belts it out on cadillac soundtrack billboard. Walker is electrifying as howlin wolf and beyonce playing etta james has. The film is not thank goodness another dutiful musical biopic, but rather the group portrait of a remarkable, volatile constellation of artists, including little walter columbus short, chuck. This film is worth catching if you like the music of howlin wolf, muddy waters, chuck berry and others. Lack, who now works at bloomberg, says he long wanted beyonce for the role of james and usher for chuck berry.
Met adrien brody, jeffrey wright en beyonce knowles. Cadillac records gets nothing right, especially the facts. The few berry hits in the film are owned by marshall chess, lens son. Beyonces choreographer frank gatson talks about chuck berrys legacy as a physical performer. The film was released in north america on december 5, 2008 by tristar pictures. Though richards and berry have since had a falling out, berrys influence on richards is huge in the history of rock. Since musical biopics combine two of my favorite movie genres, ive seen all the likely candidates you can name, from the glenn miller story 1954, lady sings the blues 1972, and whats love got to do with it 1993, to ray 2004, walk the line. Jeffrey wright as waters, beyonce knowles as etta james and mos def as chuck berry are unforgettable. Either way, the 1964 show packed a lineup that would include eight future rock hall inductees. Artiesten als muddy waters, etta james, chuck berry en howlin wolf namen er. Rock n roll offers a candid insight into chuck berry keith richards worked like a dog to get chuck berrys.
Apr 18, 2018 what creative aspects she did have control over far outshine the rest of the film. Chuck berry mos def and etta james beyonce knowles, who also. I think i really became conscious of how popular he was when this sounds kind of silly to say, but i grew up in the 80s michael j. Not only is it extremely unlikely but it drags the movie on a different path for far too long. Cadillac records 2008 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The release will be available for purchase on november 19. Cadillac records is the story of chess records, a chicagobased label started by leonard chess played by adrien brody in 1950 for black musicians, launching the careers of etta james beyonce, muddy waters jeffrey wright, little walter columbus short, howlin wolf eamonn walker, and chuck berry. Nov 17, 2008 lack, who now works at bloomberg, says he long wanted beyonce for the role of james and usher for chuck berry. Berry revealed a genuine surprise on tuesday, his 90th birthday, when he. The film is a fascinating record of the evolution of a black musical style, and the tangled motives of the white men who had an instinct for it.
Cadillac records cadillac records 2008 film cinemagia. May 15, 2017 chuck berry was playing in my house and my grandparents house so his music was always around. Fans of musical dramas may experience some deja vu while watching cadillac records. Beyonce channels etta james in cadillac records december 5. Mar 17, 2020 either way, the 1964 show packed a lineup that would include eight future rock hall inductees. Adrien brody, jeffrey wright, beyonce, mos def en eric bogosian. Adrien brody stars as leonard chess, the polish immigrant who made the careers of muddy waters, howlin wolf, chuck berry and etta james.
Why zachary levi wont quit trying to make a movie happen. C adillac records is a film about the rise and fall of chess records, created just after the second world war in chicago by leonard chess adrien brody, the ambitious son of. Here, she plays lilly, a reluctant member of darrens cuba gooding, jr. Right, mos def as chuck berry in the sony bmg film cadillac records. James brown, the stones, the beach boys, chuck berry, marvin gaye, smokey robinson, the supremes, and. Beyonces etta james portrayal the cadillac of biopic roles. I think that this is a good movie for the music fans, but people with little patience for poor beyonce performances will grow tired of it at times. Muddy waters, leonard chess, little walter, howlin wolf, etta james and chuck berry. Mar 24, 2017 beyonce s choreographer frank gatson talks about chuck berrys legacy as a physical performer. Beyonce also set to star as etta james in the story of chess records. Etta james gespeeld door beyonce willy dixon cedric the entertainer chuck berry mos def little walter columbus short. Its artist roster included etta james, muddy waters, chuck berry, howlin wolf, buddy guy, willie dixon, and dozens of others. If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it chuck berry, said john lennon at least according to urban legend. Cadillac records tells the story of the beginning of rock.
Shout factory will release on bluray taylor hackfords film chuck berry hail. Dec 05, 2008 in this tale of sex, violence, race, and rock and roll in 1950s chicago, cadillac records follows the exciting but turbulent lives of some of americas musical legends, including muddy waters, leonard chess, little walter, howlin wolf, etta james and chuck berry. Etta james crushes it in chuck berry film rehearsal. Cadillac records is about the rise and fall of chess records, which. Dec 05, 2008 fans of musical dramas may experience some deja vu while watching cadillac records. In the 1950s, leonard chess, a polishborn jew in chicago, along with his brother phil not seen in this film produced race records by african american blues and rock and roll legends like muddy waters, howlin wolf, chuck berry and etta james. Beyonce stars as james in the film, which chronicles the rise and fall of iconic. Waters, howlin wolf, etta james, willie dixon, chuck berry and little walter. Berry has already served as the subject for one of the better rockumentaries. Movies beyonce, etta james and cadillac records stars come out for movies premiere shes one of my heroes, knowles says of james, the legendary singer she portrayed in the film.
Cadillac records is a 2008 american biographical drama film written and directed by darnell martin. Fox played the chuck berry thing in back to the future. Wolf, bo diddley, chuck berry and etta james, plus many others who birthed. Oct 18, 2016 if you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it chuck berry, said john lennon at least according to urban legend. The definitive chuck berry documentary was created surrounding a huge show put together by the rolling stones keith richards for berry s 60th birthday in 1986. Short, chuck berry mos def, willie dixon cedric the entertainer and the great etta james beyonce knowles. A history of chuck berrys biggest billboard hits billboard. Beyonce s etta james portrayal the cadillac of biopic roles, says costar. The film stars adrien brody as leonard chess, cedric the entertainer as willie dixon, mos def as chuck berry, columbus short as little walter, jeffrey wright as muddy waters, eamonn walker as howlin wolf, and beyonce as etta james.
Buy products related to chuck berry movie products and see what customers say about chuck berry movie products on free delivery possible on eligible purchases. Dec 05, 2008 the film is not thank goodness another dutiful musical biopic, but rather the group portrait of a remarkable, volatile constellation of artists, including little walter columbus short, chuck. Leaving us waiting for more scenes with muddy waters, little walter, and chuck berry. The brothers bloom are the best con men in the world, swindling millionaires with complex scenarios of lust and intrigue. Chuck berry new documentary steve hoffman music forums.
The daily beast s rachel syme talks with cadillac records director darnell martin about getting beyonce, mos def, and jeffrey wright to channel chicagos blues legends. Cadillac records gets nothing right, especially the facts about. Whatever your opinion of that star turn, im still beating a drum for the idea of the film etta james should be at least as well known as aretha franklin. Cadillac records 2008 frequently asked questions imdb. Hiphops dante mos def smith sixteen blocks, 2006 performed berrys hits surprisingly well and had the duck walk down, but his part was quite small, as berry was serving time for taking underage girls across state lines for most of the film. Rock n roll 1987, starring chuck berry, eric clapton, bo diddley, etta james, and johnnie johnson. Cadillac records in theaters friday december 5th youtube. The movie focuses upon how chess promoted its artists muddy waters jeffrey wright, little walter columbus short, etta james beyonce, chuck berry mos. But ushers schedule couldnt work, so we got mos def, and he does a. Cadillac records stars beyonce as etta james, mos def as chuck berry, adrien brody and leonard chess and jeffrey wright as muddy waters.
Final line ups of the cast also grew to include rapper mos def as chuck berry, and gabrielle union in the role of. Nov 11, 2008 beyonce s cover of etta james at last will lead the soundtrack for cadillac records, due dec. It was directed by jerry zaks and written by peter martin wortmann and robert conte, and stars alessandro nivola as chess. Cadillac records tells the story of popular record label chess records, as well as several small biopics revolving around muddy waters, chuck berry, etta james, and a few other blues recording artists. It was directed by jerry zaks and written by peter martin wortmann and. The film explores the musical era from the early 1940s to the late 1960s, chronicling the life of the influential chicagobased recordcompany executive leonard chess, and a few of the musicians who recorded for chess records. Mar 20, 2017 chuck has his own way of showing appreciation. With adrien brody, jeffrey wright, beyonce, columbus short.
Cadillac records cant handle the truth houston press. Beyonces cover of etta james at last will lead the soundtrack for cadillac records, due dec. Dec 04, 2008 berry has already served as the subject for one of the better rockumentaries. Five top artists influenced by the great chuck berry the late musician, gone too soon at age 90, was one of rock n rolls true legends. Wright, little walter columbus short, chuck berry mos def, willie dixon cedric the entertainer e a incrivel etta james beyonce knowles. Bluesmen work their musical mojo for chess records the new. Watch etta james just crush it in the last band rehearsal before the big show in this clip from the behindthescenes of the feature film hail. The film is a fascinating record of the evolution of a black musical style. In particular, mos def makes a terrific berry, all flash and confidence, and wright offers a memorably soulful take on waters, whether hes strutting, singing, suffering or all three. Adrien brody as leonard chess and beyonce as etta james. Cadillac records is hollywoods version of the chess records story.
Chuck berry is set to appear at this years bestival music festival at lulworth castle in. If you want to know about the influence of cadillac records on pop music, recording artists that came before elvis such as muddy walters, howlin wolf, little walter and the great chuck berry etc, then this film i s for you. Cadillac records is a fun, fast, flashy introduction to the world of chess records. Chuck berry was playing in my house and my grandparents house so his music was always around. In this tale of sex, violence, race, and rock and roll in 1950s chicago, cadillac records follows the exciting but turbulent lives of some of americas musical legends, including muddy waters, leonard chess, little walter, howlin wolf, etta james and chuck berry.
Cadillac records is a film about the rise and fall of chess records. Five top artists influenced by the great chuck berry. For those who crave to know more of the story, this is the real score to a movie which could never really be made. Chuck berry to be played by mos def in new film uncut. Beyonce performs with kendrick lamar in the music video freedom from the album lemonade recorded for parkwood and columbia records. But ushers schedule couldnt work, so we got mos def, and he does a terrific.
Beyonce, etta james and cadillac records stars come out for. This movie was released on dvd and bluray from sony pictures home entertainment. James brown, the stones, the beach boys, chuck berry, marvin gaye, smokey robinson, the. Beyonce s first lead role in a theatrical movie came when she was just 22 years old, in 2003s crowdpleasing, gospelthemed comedy the fighting temptations. Thats willie dixon played by cedric the entertainer, an american musician and songwriter credited for writing many of the songs performed by such blues musicians as muddy waters born mckinley morganfield, howlin wolf born howlin wolf, and little walter jacobs and such rockandroll greats as chuck berry and bo diddley. I was maybe 7 or 8 and saw him on tv this guy, this icon i used to watch every award show. Berry says my singing days have passed the blender. The month after the film was released, beyonce performed at last at the inauguration ball of barack obama. Mos def as chuck berry beyonce knowles as etta james 109 minutes rated r for pervasive language and some sexuality. Cadillac records chronicles the rise of leonard chess adrien brody chess records and its recording artists including muddy waters jeffrey wright, little walter columbus short, chuck berry mos def, willie dixon cedric the entertainer and the great etta james beyonce knowles. The film stars american actors adrien brody as chess, cedric the entertainer as willie dixon, mos def as chuck berry, columbus short as little walter, jeffrey wright as muddy waters and beyonce. The definitive chuck berry documentary was created surrounding a huge show put together by the rolling stones keith richards for berrys 60th birthday in 1986.
Beyonces etta james portrayal the cadillac of biopic roles, says costar. Cadillac records is a 2008 american biographical drama film written and directed by darnell. Got to big up beyonce for producing this film and her outstanding performance as ettta james, wicked vocals do your thing b. This is joyous, emotionally charged, and even dangerously subversive music, making the best of chess records an essential purchase. I was maybe 7 or 8 and saw him on tv this guy, this icon i used to watch every award show and. Nov 19, 2010 chuck berry finds out his song is has been stolen right before he gets arrested for man act. The film explores the musical era from the early 1940s to the late 1960s, chronicling the life of the influential chicagobased recordcompany executive leonard chess, and a. Cadillac records 2008 letterboxd your life in film. Though richards and berry have since had a falling out, berry s influence on richards is huge in the history of rock. Berry revealed a genuine surprise on tuesday, his 90th birthday, when he announced that he would release a new. Dixons works have since been recorded by such groups as cream, led zeppelin, the yardbirds, the rolling stones, the doors, the allman brothers band, and the grateful. On checking the cast i was surprised to see berry was played by mos def an actor i was disappointed by in the film version of the hitchhikers guide to. Although, having said that, a standout is an overplay of elvis singing my babe.