I saw this in the theaters when it came out, and had high hopes for a factual telling of the story of Alan Freed. Since my husband and I own an oldies record store, we have a good knowledge of the groups and the history. We were sorely disappointed. The problem is that the movie mixed fact and fiction. If it was a generic story about an "Alan Freed-like" disc jockey, and they gave all of the singers and actors phony names, it would have been fine. Unfortunately, by calling the disc jockey Alan Freed, they had an obligation to be somewhat truthful about the events in his life. I realize poetic license is to be expected in most movies about real life figures, but this was so fictional it was embarrassing.
Here are some of the major goofs. Alan Freed never had a secretary or chauffeur like those played by Fran Drescher and Jay Leno. When the young boy was waiting in line, Alan asked him what he was going to do for summer vacation. Later on, he wanted to make a dedication to Buddy Holly on his birthday, but Buddy's birthday was Sept. 7, not in June. All of the groups were fictitious and based on real life groups which was not bad, but having them audition was crazy. The singer who was supposed to represent Lavern Baker would have already been an established singer. Same for the young girls, who represented Patience & Prudence. They were popular in 1956. Which brings me to the date they set the movie in. In 1959 Alan Freed was no longer producing oldies shows. The show that had the riot was in 1956. Teenager Louise was not a real life character, she was based on Carole King. However,Carole King didn't discover the Chesterfields(Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers), and she never wrote Since I Don't Have You. In 1959 Jerry Lee Lewis was blackballed because he married his cousin in 1958. He didn't have his comeback until years later. So he never would have appeared in an oldie show in that year.
I know the producer of the film, and he has been in the music business for years, and still performs.I like him very much. He is a talented and accomplished singer and musician, but he missed the boat on this movie. That is another reason for my disappointment. I expected a lot more from him.
For those who don't know the history of early Rock & Roll and Alan Freed, enjoy the movie. Those who do know the history, prepare to be disappointed.
Here are some of the major goofs. Alan Freed never had a secretary or chauffeur like those played by Fran Drescher and Jay Leno. When the young boy was waiting in line, Alan asked him what he was going to do for summer vacation. Later on, he wanted to make a dedication to Buddy Holly on his birthday, but Buddy's birthday was Sept. 7, not in June. All of the groups were fictitious and based on real life groups which was not bad, but having them audition was crazy. The singer who was supposed to represent Lavern Baker would have already been an established singer. Same for the young girls, who represented Patience & Prudence. They were popular in 1956. Which brings me to the date they set the movie in. In 1959 Alan Freed was no longer producing oldies shows. The show that had the riot was in 1956. Teenager Louise was not a real life character, she was based on Carole King. However,Carole King didn't discover the Chesterfields(Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers), and she never wrote Since I Don't Have You. In 1959 Jerry Lee Lewis was blackballed because he married his cousin in 1958. He didn't have his comeback until years later. So he never would have appeared in an oldie show in that year.
I know the producer of the film, and he has been in the music business for years, and still performs.I like him very much. He is a talented and accomplished singer and musician, but he missed the boat on this movie. That is another reason for my disappointment. I expected a lot more from him.
For those who don't know the history of early Rock & Roll and Alan Freed, enjoy the movie. Those who do know the history, prepare to be disappointed.