American Hot Wax (USA, 1978) 91 min color Dir: Floyd Mutrux. PROD: Art Linson. SCR: John Kaye. STY: John Kaye, Art Linson. MUSIC: Kenny Vance. DOP: William A. Fraker. CAST: Tim McIntire, Fran Drescher, Jay Leno, Laraine Newman, Jeff Altman, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. (Paramount)
Tim McIntire gives the performance of his too-short career in this superb biopic as Alan Freed, who may or may not have originally coined the phrase “rock ’n roll”, but brought the music to a wider (spelled: “white”) audience, while spinning platters as a disc jockey at WINS in New York. We vicariously live the energy and excitement of the era in its look and music. (Director Floyd Mutrux is one of the true masters at employing pre-recorded songs for maximum emotional effect, as seen in Aloha Bobby and Rose and Dusty and Sweets McGee.) Nostalgia can be a selective process, but because this movie was made in a more “enlightened” age, it smartly doesn’t ignore the hypocrisy and racism of the time. One need look no further than the scene in which Laraine Newman’s character (as an aspiring songwriter) practices her “ABC” number with the black doo-wop singing group The Chesterfields in her apartment, while her disapproving mother looks on. This film touches upon Freed’s payola scandal, yet it more emphasizes his great struggle (and eventual defeat) in trying to keep his rock ‘n’ roll act on the road, much to the consternation of adults who saw the music as a threat to their children. Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis play themselves in the thrilling concert finale, depicting the infamous “rock ’n roll riot” which was the beginning of the end for Freed, but proof positive that “you can’t kill rock ’n roll”. Although it ends with heartbreak, like the selective process of nostalgia, one more remembers the wonderful little moments, as when Freed interviews the kid president of the Buddy Holly Fan Club on the air. It is fascinating just to watch Freed stroll through his world- a veritable playground where adoring fans and aspiring musicians approach him along every step of the way.
Originally published in Vol. #1, Issue #10 (“Summer in the 70s”).
Greg Woods
Greg Woods has been a film enthusiast since his teens, and began his writing "career" at the same time- prolific in capsule reviews of everything he had watched, first on index cards, then those hardcover dollar store black journals, then an old Mac IIsi. He founded The Eclectic Screening Room in 2001, as a portal to share his film love with the world, and find some like-minded enthusiasts along the way. In addition to having worked in the film industry for over two decades, he has been a co-programmer of films at Trash Palace, and a programmer/co-founder of the Toronto Film Noir Syndicate. He has also written for Broken Pencil, CU-Confidential, Micro-Film, and is currently working on his first novel. His secret desire is for someone to interview him for a podcast or a DVD extra.