Allan Arkush on

Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll!

Released 1987
Distributor Universal Pictures

Directed by Taylor Hackford, this revealing 1987 documentary celebrating Chuck Berry’s 60th birthday turns into an exploration of the great rocker’s curdled world view as much as a tribute to his music; by film’s end we realize the two are inexorably intertwined. Along with signature performances from Keith Richards (who conceived the event) and Eric Clapton, there are scintillating and hilarious reminisces from Bruce Springsteen and (via archival footage) John Lennon. 

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About Allan Arkush

A record collector and film buff from birth, Allan Arkush brought his two loves together in directing the cult classic Rock ‘n’ Roll High School. Back in the day Allan was directing and executive producing television series like Heroes, and Crossing Jordan.  He has also directed episodes of Ally McBeal, Moonlighting, St. Elsewhere, Fame, A Series of Unfortunate Events and TV Movies like Elvis Meets Nixon and Shake Rattle & Rock as well as the mini-series, The Temptations, for which he won an Emmy. He used to have a lost film, Get Crazy, but Kino/Lorber found it in time for Christmas 2021. His day job is teaching Film production & history at the AFI.

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