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Great Balls of Fire! (1989)

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Average Rating: 5.8/10
Reviews Counted: 24
Fresh: 15 | Rotten: 9

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 0 | Rotten: 2

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Average Rating: 3/5
User Ratings: 25,186

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Movie Info

Until its last ten minutes or so, this filmed biography of controversial recording star Jerry Lee Lewis plays like a live-action cartoon. As played by Dennis Quaid, "the killer" is a very mixed-up individual: a saintly sinner, a world-wise na�f, a skilled performer with zero sense of discipline, a loving husband who uses his wife for a punching bag. The story takes place during the years 1956 through 1958, as Lewis rises to the top of the charts with such hits as "Crazy Arms," "A Whole Lotta

PG-13, 1 hr. 48 min.

Drama

Directed By: Jim McBride

In Theaters: Jun 30, 1989 Wide

On DVD: Jun 4, 2002

Orion Pictures Corporation

Great Balls of Fire! Trailer & Photos

Cast

Dennis Quaid
Jerry Lee Lewis
Winona Ryder
Myra Gale Lewis
Alec Baldwin
Jimmy Lee Swaggart
John Doe
J.W. Brown
Stephen Tobolowsky
Jud Phillips
Trey Wilson
Sam Phillips
Steve Allen
Himself
Lisa Blount
Lois Brown
Joshua Sheffield
Rusty Brown
Mojo Nixon
James Van Eaton
Jimmie Vaughan
Roland James
David Ferguson
Jack Clement
Robert Lesser
Alan Freed
Lisa Jane Persky
Babe
Paula Person
Sam's Secratary
Valerie Wellington
Big Maybelle
Booker T. Laury
Piano Slim
Tav Falco
New Bass Player
Priscilla Harris
Honky-Tonk Angel
Keith Henry McDaniel
Haney's Big House Dance...
David A. Penhale
Reporter #1
Michael St. Gerard
Elvis
Rufus Thomas
Haney's Big House Dance...
John Tordoff
Cockney Porter
Peter Cook
English Reporter
Jerry Lee Lewis
Ruth Kettlewell
Dowager
Bonnie Beutler
Rebel Room Dancer
Ashley Paige Cook
Mona
Bert Dedman
Young Jerry
Mark W. Johnson
Sheriff
Susan Lonergan
Rebel Room Dancer
Jody Lynne
Party Doll
John Mulrooney
Talk Show Host
W.W. Painter
Onlooker
Crystal Robbins
Frankie Jean
Ryan Rushton
Young Jimmy
Carol Russell
Mamie Lewis
David Sibley
English Reporter
Linn Sitler
Realty Agent
Kim Smith
English Reporter
Chris Solari
Rebel Room Dancer
Juliette Claire Spirson
Lewis Infant
Bruce Stuart
Bank Teller
Sara VanHorn
Minnie Belle
Snowy Winters
Rebel Room Dancer
Joseph Woodward Jr.
Wedding Preacher
Judith Holstra
Joe Bob Briggs
Dewey 'Daddy-O' Phillip...
Steven O'Donnell
Heckler #2

Critic Reviews for Great Balls of Fire!

All Critics (32) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (15) | Rotten (9) | DVD (3)

Fire is a fascinating, often terribly compelling failure. Much like Lewis's life, I suppose.

August 26, 2009 Full Review Source: BrianOrndorf.com

| Comment

Brian Orndorf

BrianOrndorf.com

Underrated Dennis Quad performance as rocker Jerry Lee Lewis.

March 19, 2009 Comment

Steve Crum

Video-Reviewmaster.com

Quaid is surprisingly good and has plenty of fun in this musical biopic.

November 15, 2005 Comment

James Plath

Movie Metropolis

Average biopic.

September 21, 2005 Comment

Alex Sandell

Juicy Cerebellum

Dennis Quaid actually manages to make Jerry Lee Lewis likeable.

June 17, 2005 Comment

Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

Vastly entertaining biopic.

April 8, 2005 Comment

Forrest Hartman

Reno Gazette-Journal Source: Reno Gazette-Journal

Quaid nails it. Just nails it.

April 15, 2004 Comment

Widgett Walls

Needcoffee.com

Ryder and Quaid seem to be in two different movies, but Baldwin is brilliant.

June 26, 2003 Comment

Nell Minow

Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

An outrageous bio-pic with Quaid over the top as Jerry Lee Lewis

June 20, 2003 Comment

Bob Bloom

Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

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Audience Reviews for Great Balls of Fire!

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I loved this biography movie, and I don't usually like biopics that much. The actors are fantastic, and it's full of all the great songs from Lewis. I highly recommend this movie to both fans of the actors and Jerry Lee Lewis.

September 6, 2010

AJ Verser

Super Reviewer

Ok movie.

December 24, 2007

Tim Salmons

Super Reviewer

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