Let the Good Times Roll

My wife and I saw this when it was first released (not that I ever recall it being re-released!) at a 1-screen theater in the Philadelphia area. It had been heavily advertised on a local "oldies" radio station, and many of the viewers showed up dressed for the era - saddle shoes, poodle skirts, etc. My wife and I enjoyed the show, both as a historical overview and a concert. I was fortunate enough to come across a SOUNDTRACK ALBUM (LP) which included the 2-track stereo format with narration on one side and music on the the other channel. Interestingly, though the liner notes explicitly referred to this movie as the source for the soundtrack, there is no mention anywhere in print or in song of Chuck Berry. Anyone know why??

This rockumentary blends concert footage and archival clips into a thoroughly entertaining time capsule. The artists are fantastic, clad in wild costumes and performing against glittery, Vegas-style backdrops. I especially enjoyed the Shirelles (referred to as "the Coppertone Rockettes"), looking and sounding sensational. As they sing "Soldier Boy" on one half of the screen, the other half shows footage from The Day the Earth Stood Still and From Here to Eternity. This photography is sharp (especially the aforementioned split-screen technique), complete with backstage footage and shots of the joyfully stunned audience. Some conservative-themed archive footage (demonstration of a proper dress code, a starched suit smashing a record and declaring that "rock 'n' roll has got to go!") serves as a telling semi-parody of the repression and conformity of the '50s and early '60s and an example of how this jubilant new strain of music helped break it down. The opening title sequence, with Shirley and Lee's "Let the Good Times Roll" playing against flashes of hula hoops and Chevrolet Bel Airs, is worth seeing by itself. VH-1 used to show this movie occasionally.

I saw this film as a kid growing up in New Jersey and it really knocked me out. The performances were electrifying and the visuals only amplified that electricity. Little Richard, standing on the piano while the crowd went berserk is a stand-out. I sincerely hope that some saint is toiling away to get this released onto DVD sometime in the near future.

This movie begins with the opening lines to Shirley and Lee's "Let the Good Times Roll." I started singing along, and sang along to every single song until the very end. The punchline: I was there with two guys I worked with, who barely knew me, and there were only about fifty people in the theater. What a movie! It rocked from beginning to end... The stars in this movie were the Beatles of their day, the Stones of their day... Many of them have made major comebacks due to Public TV extravaganzas (So, where's the DVD?) The split screen is fun, giving the movie a pretentious look: "This is serious business, younsgters" on one side of the screen, and "We're having a whale of a time" on the other side of the screen. I have begun a campaign to get it re - released -- I kid you not! I want my DVD!

My wife and I saw Let The Good Times Roll when it first came out in the early 70's. We were dancing in the aisle. I hadn't seen it again for about 25 years. Then it was on American Movie Classics. I have 7 VCR's, and every one of them had a blank tape in, just to be sure I got a good copy. They all came out good. What I don't understand is why it's not available to buy.