Great Balls of Fire! (1989)
Average Rating: 5.8/10
Reviews Counted: 24
Fresh: 15 | Rotten: 9
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 0 | Rotten: 2
liked it
Average Rating: 3/5
User Ratings: 25,690
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 naïf, 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
Jun 30, 1989 Wide
Jun 4, 2002
Orion Pictures Corporation
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 -
-
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 -
-
Joe Bob Briggs
Dewey 'Daddy-O' Phillip... -
Steven O'Donnell
Heckler #2
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All Critics (32) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (15) | Rotten (9) | DVD (3)
Fire is a fascinating, often terribly compelling failure. Much like Lewis's life, I suppose.
Underrated Dennis Quad performance as rocker Jerry Lee Lewis.
Quaid is surprisingly good and has plenty of fun in this musical biopic.
Average biopic.
Dennis Quaid actually manages to make Jerry Lee Lewis likeable.
Vastly entertaining biopic.
Quaid nails it. Just nails it.
Ryder and Quaid seem to be in two different movies, but Baldwin is brilliant.
An outrageous bio-pic with Quaid over the top as Jerry Lee Lewis
Not a total success, but it does have a sense of style
Dennis Quaid is amazing, this could be the film of his career
Surely contains some quality components, but the movie as a whole may leave an unpleasant taste in your mouth.
Audience Reviews for Great Balls of Fire!
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
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- Jerry Lee Lewis: If I'm going to hell, I'm going there playin the piano.
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Movie: ID: 11199 Title: Great Balls of Fire! Release Date: 1989-06-30 00:00:00.0 MPAA: 3 Status: 1
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Foreign Titles
- Great Balls of Fire (DE)
- Gran bola de fuego (ES)
