Great movies/films/documentaries about the roots of rock 'n' roll?

April 21, 2011 11:21 AM

Great movies/films/documentaries about the roots of rock 'n' roll?

We just enjoyed Nowhere Boy, Backbeat, and The Times and the Hours, all about John Lennon. Also luved Ray, about Ray Charles. Are there any similar (or different, but great) movies about Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Elvis, Aretha Franklin, Dylan, the Beatles, Hendrix, the Stones, etc?

posted by goethean to Society & Culture (18 answers total)

The Buddy Holly Story.
posted by Oriole Adams at 11:24 AM on April 21, 2011 [1 favorite]

All You Need Is Love is what you are looking for. A BBC TV series about the history of American pop music; it was made in the 70's, but is fantastic.
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 11:28 AM on April 21, 2011

Here's a link to the episodes.
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 11:30 AM on April 21, 2011

Best answer: I really liked the Quincy Jones-produced The History of Rock and Roll.
posted by arveale at 11:31 AM on April 21, 2011

"Great Balls of Fire"
posted by tomswift at 11:31 AM on April 21, 2011

This Is Elvis.
posted by Rash at 11:32 AM on April 21, 2011

"The Girl Can't Help It" is my favorite and from the era (Little Richard, Gene Pitney, Eddie Cochran and more)
John Carpenter's "Elvis" with Kurt Russell
posted by goalyeehah at 11:40 AM on April 21, 2011

The Rutles: All You Need is Cash (mock documentary.)
posted by usonian at 11:51 AM on April 21, 2011 [1 favorite]

Don't Look Back
posted by rhizome at 12:17 PM on April 21, 2011 [1 favorite]

Standing in the Shadows of Motown
posted by The Deej at 12:35 PM on April 21, 2011 [1 favorite]

Oh, The Compleat Beatles! Its primary focus is the Beatles, of course, but the beginning of the story rather uniquely touches on the environment out of which they emerged, both geographically ("nothing much ever came out of Liverpool") and in terms of the popular music and influences of the time (skiffle, shiny-haired non-threatening pop stars, Little Richard and Elvis).
posted by kittyb at 1:00 PM on April 21, 2011

... or the Beatles Anthology.
posted by Rash at 1:02 PM on April 21, 2011

American Hot Wax, about legendary DJ Alan Freed, "who was instrumental in introducing and popularizing rock 'n' roll in the 1950s," "is often credited with coining the term 'Rock 'n' Roll'," and who hosted one of the first rock and roll concerts.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:01 PM on April 21, 2011

Who Do You Love? is a pretty good bioflic of Leonard Chess.
posted by IndigoJones at 3:03 PM on April 21, 2011

Best answer: Hail Hail Rock'n'Roll is your Chuck Berry biopic.
posted by AmbroseChapel at 3:31 PM on April 21, 2011

Best answer: It Might Get Loud is about the history of the electric guitar. It features Jimmy Page, The Edge, and Jack White discussing the history of the instrument. Neat film IMO.
posted by BenS at 10:31 PM on April 21, 2011

Best answer: The miniseries Rock & Roll that aired on PBS in the nineties was incredible. Sadly, due to the high cost of clearing the music, it is unavailable on DVD. Some of the episodes are available on YouTube.
posted by catastropher at 1:11 PM on April 22, 2011

Best answer: Seven Ages Of Rock from the BBC was also excellent.
posted by catastropher at 1:15 PM on April 22, 2011