PaleyArchive ColorBars TopBanner2

CHUCK BERRY: BROWN EYED HANDSOME MAN (TV)

Summary

Narrated by Danny Glover, this documentary on Chuck Berry, nicknamed "the father of rock and roll," is a collection of interviews and performances by Berry, as well as covers of his songs by other music legends.

The program begins with a clip from Taylor Hackford's 1987 documentary on Berry's career, "Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll" in which Berry sings "Carol," accompanied on guitar by Keith Richards and Robert Cray. The scene segues into an interview with Eric Clapton in which he states that one "can only play rock 'n" roll as Chuck played it. He laid the law down for playing that kind of music." Flashing back with vintage photos, Berry's career is shown to have taken off in 1955 after he met Muddy Waters, who suggested that he meet with Leonard Chess of Chess Records. Berry subsequently hit it big with "Maybellene," which was played on "all-white" radio stations until deejays realized that Berry was black. However, teenage girls demanded Berry's return to the airwaves, after which "Wee Wee Hours" followed. Berry is seen performing "Maybellene."

Next, Berry participated in the 1956 film "Rock, Rock, Rock," in which he is seen singing "You Can't Catch Me." Berry then explains the origin of his trademark move, the duck walk, which he demonstrates. Berry's popularity intensified as other singers performed covers of his songs. Clips show the following: The Rolling Stones" performing "Around and Around" from the "Rolling Stones Gather Moss" tour in 1964; The Beatles singing "Roll Over Beethoven" from their Washington Coliseum concert in 1964; and Jimi Hendrix performing "Johnny B Goode" from the 1971 film "Jimi Plays Berkeley."

Returning to Hackford's 1987 documentary, "Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll," footage depicts Linda Ronstadt teaming with Berry to perform "Back in the U.S.A," accompanied by Richards and Cray. In another clip from "Hail!", Berry sings "Nadine." The next clip comes from Berry teaming with Billy Kingsley & Rockin' Horse in 1972's "Sounds for Saturday - Chuck Berry in Concert," in which they sing "Sweet Little Sixteen." Following footage of Berry's induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, he is seen at the site a decade later performing "Johnny B. Goode" with Bruce Springsteen. Next, Jeff Lynne's Electric Light Orchestra is seen performing the group's first big hit in America, a cover of "Roll Over Beethoven" - which incorporated portions of Ludwig van Beethoven's ninth symphony with Berry's classic tune - during ELO's 2016 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Another cover follows as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform "Carol" in 2002 during the group's Soundstage concert.

Next, Paul McCartney is seen performing a cover of "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" from 1999's "Paul McCartney: Live at the Cavern Club" in Liverpool, England. The last two clips return to "Sounds for Saturday" as Berry again teams with Kingsley & Rockin' Horse for "Let It Rock" and "Memphis." Following narration concerning Berry's death at age 90, tributes from various rock 'n' roll legends pay tribute to Berry's genius.

Details

  • NETWORK: PBS
  • DATE: November 30, 1999 10:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:54:26
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: 139891
  • GENRE: Music
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Music; African-American Collection - Music; Rock musicians
  • SERIES RUN: TV - PBS, 2020
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Ron Weisner … Executive Producer
  • Chuck Simon … Executive Producer
  • Richard Foos … Executive Producer
  • Keith Robinson … Producer
  • Nalini Boyce … Associate Producer
  • Mitch Marchand … Associate Producer
  • Eric Kulberg … Associate Producer
  • Danny Glover … Narrator
  • Beatles, The … Performer
  • Chuck Berry … Performer
  • Robert Cray … Performer
  • Electric Light Orchestra (See also: ELO) … Performer
  • Heartbreakers, The … Performer
  • Jimi Hendrix … Performer
  • Billy Kingsley … Performer
  • Jeff Lynne … Performer
  • Paul McCartney … Performer
  • Tom Petty … Performer
  • Keith Richards … Performer
  • Rockin' Horse … Performer
  • Rolling Stones, The … Performer
  • Linda Ronstadt … Performer
  • Bruce Springsteen … Performer
  • Eric Clapton … Guest
  • Leonard Chess
  • Taylor Hackford
  • Ludwig van Beethoven
  • Muddy Waters