Really fun package of 50s rock and pop acts brought back together by promoter Richard Nader for a series of concerts in the early 70s. It's an interesting time capsule as enough time had passed for these shows to be nostalgic, but the artists themselves were mainly only in their 40s, so it wasn't entirely a last-gasp oldies program either (especially when you look at today with McCartney and Jagger headlining stadiums in their 70s). And, the evidence is on film - most of these artists still had the chops.
Bookened by headliner Chuck Berry (who had a #1 song in '72) the concert footage is quite good with supporting acts like Bill Haley and the Comets, Fats Domino, the Coasters (introduced by Rob Reiner!) and The Shirelles all turning lively short sets backed by Bobby Comstock's band. But, it's when Bo Diddley hits the stage that the show really ratchets it up. Electrifying. And, then enters the self proclaimed "King of Rock & Roll" Little Richard -- and he manages to live up to his diva preening. When sings 'Rip It Up' he isn't kidding as he mounts a stack of speakers and...well...you'll just have to see it yourselves!
Directors Robert Abel and Sidney Levin frame the film with lots of footage and photos from the 50s, including bits of the artists in the film from their heydays. Taking a page from Michael Wadleigh's WOODSTOCK, they also use split screens to capture the action (and to show the vintage material side by side). Both techniques are a bit over-used here. You have Chuck Berry wielding his ax in his late prime - why cut away to footage of politicians, malts shops and TV episodes?
That minor critique aside, LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL is a terrific time capsule - even if folks didn't quite appreciate it at as such at the time. It's an integral contribution to the 50s retro boom of the early 70s (Grease, Happy Days, AMERICAN GRAFFITI). A darn shame that, apparently, song and film clip rights have kept it off of DVD. A Soundtrack album exists (sans Berry, unfortunately) and it can be found sometimes on the internet. Find it.
Review of Let the Good Times Roll
