StunnaKrypto Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Beystiman It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Iseerphia All that we are seeing on the screen is happening with real people, real action sequences in the background, forcing the eye to watch as if we were there.

Billie Morin This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

Mark Turner With the passing of Chuck Berry this past week it was an amazing coincidence that Kit Parker Films had recently released a feature starring Berry in a supporting role, GO JOHNNY GO. The film is also one of the first offerings under the new banner the company is using, The Sprocket Vault.I was familiar with the name Kit Parker from my college days, a time when his company was just starting out. At that time his company handled a number of 16mm films for rental, most of them classics from the golden days of Hollywood. By classics I'm not talking huge budgeted studio features, the studios had the rights to those. But Parker made a name for himself and his company by offering great old films at decent rental prices. When video and then DVD rolled around he transferred those films and continues to market them.GO JOHNNY GO tells the story of young Johnny Melody (Jimmy Clanton) (with a name like that he's destined for showbiz), an orphan who's out on his own now and looking to make his mark as a professional singer. He knows he has talent, now all he needs is a break. Fortune smiles on him when he runs into Julie Arnold (Sandy Stewart), a young girl he knew in the orphanage who was adopted. They share dreams, both wanting to become singers and plan to meet up again sometime.Both of them get the chance when radio personality Allan Freed and his PR man decide to have a contest giving some young singer the chance to become the next big star with a spot on his rock and roll road show. This is where Berry steps in as a musician who works for Freed as well as being a star himself. Julie is recording her record to submit when she runs into Johnny again, spending his last money of his recording.The submissions roll in and Freed hears Johnny's song. The PR man and Berry insists that the kid has potential. But he doesn't have a phone. His plan to call run astray when Freed and his group step out to visit a club. Fortunately Julie and Johnny are at the same club! And yet they miss their chance to talk to Freed! Good heaven's what will happen next? Watch and see to find out.Throughout the film there are performances by some of the top solo artists and groups of the day. That is one of the things that makes this movie so special and one to add to the collection of every classic rock and roll fan. Those performers include Richie Valens, Jackie Wilson, The Flamingos, Eddie Cochran, Harvey Fuqua, Jo-Ann Campbell and the Cadillacs. All are tremendous fun to watch, listen to and enjoy. Even Berry gets the chance to perform his classic "Memphis" and do his signature duck walk.In the fifties and sixties movies like this were being made to meet the demand of fans who wanted to see their favorite music stars. It wasn't like today when everyone can click on YouTube on their cell phone and watch a performer. These moves were made on the cheap but they still offered a combination of story, musical performances and entertainment as well as a huge heap of charm that drew fans in. Now you can enjoy it as well with this release.In addition to getting the best quality print that can be found of this film it also offers a commentary track featuring Richard M. Roberts, Randy Skeetvedt and Brent Walker. There is also a copy of the original trailer as well. If you grew up listening to this music you'll want to add this one to your collection.

dougdoepke No need to recap the wispy plot. Many of the names may be familiar from R&R's early period—Berry, Cochran Valens, Wilson— but their stylings are not. Looks to me as though the sounds were toned down to suit a white middle-class audience, whose adults tended to identify hard core R&R with juvenile delinquency. That's particularly the case with Chuck Berry who could do a driving beat with the best of them. Not here however. The producers have even added white bread Jimmy Clanton to headline, even though his crooning style better suits pre-R&R. The movie is clearly a commercial product, running a bit scared of the raucous style it's gently alluding to. For a much less compromised glimpse of those early years, catch The Girl Can't Help It (1956).

sol On top of the world of Rock & Roll teenage heart throb Johnny Melody is without a doubt the hottest thing that ever hit the music charts since "The King" Elvis Aaron Presley himself hit the charts back in 1954.Johnny almost didn't make it and it was his own arrogance and out and out stupidity that would have landed him in the can, jail, if it wasn't for his mentor and supporter manager and music promoter Alan Freed.Freed took the rap for him, by playing drunk, when Johnny tried to rob a jewelry store on Christmas Eve some two years ago. On that cold and dark evening the love sick kook slammed a brick into the storefront window of a jewelry store and just stood there like he forgot what he was supposed to be doing, robbing a $45.00 gold heart pin for his girlfriend, and waited like a brainless moron for the cops to come and arrest him.We go into a long flashback as Freed, after Johnny finishes his act, reminds Johnny how fate is really strange and how if it wasn't for him going out of his way to save Johnny's sorry a** he would have ended up a hardened criminal instead of the new American Idol. A singer that wild and hysterical teenage girls, as well as women in their twenties and thirties and even forties, by the tens of thousands would like to go out on a date with; and even more fantastic pick up the tab.Being orphaned, he was left at the steps of the orphanage, at an early age Johnny was into music but the music, Rock & Roll, he was into wasn't exactly what the head, Mr. Martin, of the church quire that Johnny was trying out for cared for. Hurt and humiliated at being kicked off the quire Johnny ran away from home, or the orphanage, determined to strike out for himself as a Rock & Roll singer. With no job, he was fired as an usher in a theater, or money he didn't even have enough cash to make a demo recording to sent the Rock & Roll promoter Alan Freed to hear his great and untapped talents.Freed interested in Johnny's singing ability is more then willing to give him a chance but has other things on his mind like the big Rock & Roll show he has planned at the Brooklyn Paramount. That causes Johnny to feel that he was given the cold shoulder and brush off by the legendary Rock & Roll promoter and acts accordingly, like the big jerk that he is. Sulking in his beer and not wanting to have anything to do with improving himself Johnny doesn't take the time to notice that people, Alan Freed included, have their own problems and commitment to attend to and take care of like he should do for his own.Freed does with the encouraging of his top honcho Bill and assistant, as well as member of his troupe, Rock & Roll singer Chuck Berry play Johnnys, he somehow got the cash to make one, demo record "My Love is Strong" on his radio show. After he heard it Freed was so impressed by it that he decided to get whoever this Johnny is to hear it on the radio and call in to identify himself. This so he can give him the opportunity to strut his stuff on the stage in front of a live and cheering crowd of Rock & Roll music fans.Johnny as you would expect seems to be the only person in NYC to not listen to the show as he's in the car with his girlfriend Sandy and turns off the radio, broadcasting The Alan Freed Rock & Roll Radio Show. Johnny is still ticked off at Freed for not letting him do his thing, which Freed was just about to do, in showing what a Rock & Roll sensation he's capable of being. Feeling like a sack of horse manure in not being able to get Sandy the Christmas present that he promised her, the golden heart pin, Johnny plans to rob the jewelry store where the pin is on the display in the window. In the end Johnny gets his butt saved from being thrown into prison by Alan Freed and Sandy who got to the scene, the jewelry store, before the cops did. That saved the bumbling klutz from blowing the big chance, becoming a Rock & Roll teenage Idol, that he always dreamed off but was just too dim-witted to see it even when it was right in front of him!

Woodyanders Legendary 50's rock disc jockey Alan Freed's last and best movie with Freed not only starring (he gives perhaps his most comfortable and engaging performance here), but also producing as well. Freed plays wise, kindly, worldly mentor to an eager beaver orphan (and failed choirboy!) who needs Freed's endorsement to make it as a big-time rock star. Granted, the trite rags-to-riches central story ain't much; ditto the nondescript direction, drab, static cinematography, flat TV movieish production values, and very basic editing. However, one doesn't evaluate this type of golden age of rock feature on either its technical finesse or narrative expertise; it's simply how smokin' the music is that's the chief concern. Fortunately, said music really cooks. Chuck Berry exudes his customary suave confidence belting out the stone cold aces classics "Johnny Be Goode" and "Memphis, Tennesse." Adorable Jo-Ann Campbell happily chirps the saucy "Mama Can I Go Out." The Flamingoes bring down the house with the raucous party platter "Jump, Children." Harvey pleasantly croons the catchy, charming "Don't Be Afraid of Love." The Cadillacs goof it up something silly on the funny Coasters-style novelty numbers "Jay Walker" and "Please Mr. Johnson." Rockabilly giant Eddie Cochran does a killer rendition of the stupendously boss "You Better Know It." Richie Valens moans outrageously through the socking "Ooh My Head." Lead actor/singer Jimmy Clanton, an affably boyish Louisiana-born lad with a strong bluesy rasp of a voice, commendably holds his own amid this fantastic wealth of remarkable musical talent: the snazzy "Ship On a Stormy Sea," the dreamy "Don't You Know," the lovely "Angel Face," and the pretty, swoony ballad "Once Again" are all first-rate tunes. And the flick's disarmingly effervescent evocation of the nifty 50's rock milieu definitely hits the sweetly nostalgic spot: the kids are decent and clean-cut, the adults tolerant and understanding, the songs all possess cheery, upbeat messages, there's nary a trace of irony or cynicism to be found throughout, and even notoriously jerky skinflint Chuck Berry almost succeeds in coming across like a nice guy (!).