GREAT BALLS OF FIRE

US, 1989, 108 minutes, Colour.
Dennis Quaid, Winona Ryder, Alec Baldwin, Lisa Blount, Stephen Tobolowsky.
Directed by Jim Mc Bride.

The parallel is made between Jerry Lee Lewis and his cousin Jimmy Swaggert. Swaggert moves away from the jazz music when they are children, denounces rock 'n roll from street corners, asks for Jerry Lee to convert to God instead of giving himself to Satanic rock and roll. The irony is not pointed out explicitly about the mid 1980s discrediting of Jimmy Swaggert.

Film is based on a biography of Jerry Lee Lewis by his wife, Mira. It is co-written and directed Jim Mc Bride (Breathless).

1. The popularity of Jerry Lee Lewis? The impact of his music in the mid 50s? His career, crisis? In retrospect?

2. Louisiana settings, Tennessee? Authentic atmosphere? Period? New York and the paramount theatre concert? England?

3. The music, the traditions of jazz in Louisiana, the emergence of Rock and Roll, the influence of Elvis Presley and his popularity, Jerry Lee Lewis and his piano and Rock and Roll? Beat and rhythms? The response of the American audience, teenagers? The style of the music, the lyrics? The relationship to sexuality? The banning of records, the religious denunciations? The importance of the contrast between the charts and the churches?

4. The film as a successful biopic? The source in Lewis's wife's book? The perspective? Recreation of the period, seen in retrospect? The information at the end? The collaboration and advice of Jerry Lee Lewis?

5. 1944, the two boys, sneaking out to listen to the jazz? Jimmy Swaggert not staying? Jerry Lee Lewis staying? The importance of the contrast between religious and hits? The south and rock and roll? The rallies? Lewis and his beliefs? Going to church? The relationship with Swaggert, the coin, the denunciations, the street corner, the preaching, the gift of the car, the final plea for conversion in the church? The ironies of the 80s?

6. Dennis Quaid's lively impersonation of Lewis? Style, mimicking, exaggeration? Lewis's life, his living in Memphis, the importance of Elvis - seeing him, his songs, the movies, Elvis's going into the army, the visit to the office? Lewis hopes to be the king of Rock and Roll? The initial songs, piano playing style, the recording with his cousin, going to live with Lois and the family? Friendship with Mira? At home, the anxiety about the record, hearing it played on the radio, the police chase? the contract and his eager signing? Success,. the ugly gigs? Composing such songs as Shake, controversy about the lyrics? Jimmy Swaggert, the money, the car? Going to the Paramount theatre, the rivalry with Chuck Berry? The setting the piano on fire?

8. Mira, her admiration for Lewis, her age, place in the family, school? Friendship, discussions about Nuclear War, watching TV and the film Five? Admiring Jerry Lee with her friends? Gradual falling in love, the proposal, crossing the state line for the marriage, the reaction of her parents, her father with the gun? The Phillip Brothers and their trying to settle things? The tour of England, the arguments about going or not, her going, the plane ride, the reaction of the British press? The opposition? The police, the failed concert and Lewis's reaction, being ousted from Britain, no fans on the return, the need for an apology? His standing by Mira? The affect on their lives?

9. Lois and her husband, liking Lewis, the improvements to their financial status, playing with him, their concern about Mira, the reaction to the marriage, the clash and the angers, the gun, the compromise, the tour of England? Going back to normal life after the tour of England.

10. Mira and her inexperience, her dream of the house and Lewis supplying it, at school, her friends, the experience of a young teenager? The change with her marriage, the house, inept housekeeping, blaming herself for the failure of the tour? their fidelity over the years?

11. The Philips Brothers and their skill, entrepreneurs, their work, hopes for Jerry Lee? Money, contracts, the gigs? Fears about the lyrics? Organising the tours? Worried about where Jerry Lee lived, the marriage, the English tour?

12. The importance of fans, the waving of people to Jerry Lee, signing autographs? The charts - and the visualising of the climb to the top of the charts and the fall?

13. Rock and Roll as a transition from more traditional music to more modern? Its place in pop culture? The music of the 50s, its effect on morals and behaviour? Later developments of Rock and Roll? Jerry Lee Lewis as victim and contributing to the change?

14. The tribute to him, his voice and piano playing, his role as and advisor, the final comments about him?