Raetsonwe Redundant and unnecessary.

Pluskylang Great Film overall

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

ActuallyGlimmer The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Mark Turner With the passing of Chuck Berry this past week it was an amazing coincidence that Kit Parker Films had recently released a feature starring Berry in a supporting role, GO JOHNNY GO. The film is also one of the first offerings under the new banner the company is using, The Sprocket Vault.I was familiar with the name Kit Parker from my college days, a time when his company was just starting out. At that time his company handled a number of 16mm films for rental, most of them classics from the golden days of Hollywood. By classics I'm not talking huge budgeted studio features, the studios had the rights to those. But Parker made a name for himself and his company by offering great old films at decent rental prices. When video and then DVD rolled around he transferred those films and continues to market them.GO JOHNNY GO tells the story of young Johnny Melody (Jimmy Clanton) (with a name like that he's destined for showbiz), an orphan who's out on his own now and looking to make his mark as a professional singer. He knows he has talent, now all he needs is a break. Fortune smiles on him when he runs into Julie Arnold (Sandy Stewart), a young girl he knew in the orphanage who was adopted. They share dreams, both wanting to become singers and plan to meet up again sometime.Both of them get the chance when radio personality Allan Freed and his PR man decide to have a contest giving some young singer the chance to become the next big star with a spot on his rock and roll road show. This is where Berry steps in as a musician who works for Freed as well as being a star himself. Julie is recording her record to submit when she runs into Johnny again, spending his last money of his recording.The submissions roll in and Freed hears Johnny's song. The PR man and Berry insists that the kid has potential. But he doesn't have a phone. His plan to call run astray when Freed and his group step out to visit a club. Fortunately Julie and Johnny are at the same club! And yet they miss their chance to talk to Freed! Good heaven's what will happen next? Watch and see to find out.Throughout the film there are performances by some of the top solo artists and groups of the day. That is one of the things that makes this movie so special and one to add to the collection of every classic rock and roll fan. Those performers include Richie Valens, Jackie Wilson, The Flamingos, Eddie Cochran, Harvey Fuqua, Jo-Ann Campbell and the Cadillacs. All are tremendous fun to watch, listen to and enjoy. Even Berry gets the chance to perform his classic "Memphis" and do his signature duck walk.In the fifties and sixties movies like this were being made to meet the demand of fans who wanted to see their favorite music stars. It wasn't like today when everyone can click on YouTube on their cell phone and watch a performer. These moves were made on the cheap but they still offered a combination of story, musical performances and entertainment as well as a huge heap of charm that drew fans in. Now you can enjoy it as well with this release.In addition to getting the best quality print that can be found of this film it also offers a commentary track featuring Richard M. Roberts, Randy Skeetvedt and Brent Walker. There is also a copy of the original trailer as well. If you grew up listening to this music you'll want to add this one to your collection.

krorie This is one of several Hollywood movies made in the 1950's attempting to be cool by featuring the new "fad"(to them) called rock 'n' roll. The only time Hollywood ever featured real rock 'n' roll from the early days of the new teen music was when rock artists with hit records were allowed to perform on the big screen. The Hollywood concocted rock 'n' roll was unbearable then and even more so today. The best of the rock 'n' roll films by far was "The Girl Can't Help It," which was clever and humorous, plus featuring many of the big rock artists of the day including an outstanding scene showing Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps. Of all the others this one "Go, Johnny, Go" succeeds the best and as has been noted by others is the only place you can see the multi-talented seventeen year old superstar Richie Valens strutting his stuff on the big screen just before his tragic death.Since there was no such animal as a music video, most teens heard their favorite rock stars on vinyl or on the radio. From time to time rock phenomena would appear on television on such shows as Ed Sullivan and Steve Allen. Dick Clark's "American Bandstand" seldom let the rock performers do their own thing. Most of the time the artists were asked to lip-synch their recordings. A major exception to this rule was Jerry Lee Lewis who insisted that he be allowed to do his hits live with his band. Therefore, it was truly a treat to get to see rockers on the big screen.This movie has one of the best lists of great rock performers of the decade. There were many so-called asphalt Elvises around by 1959, especially the notorious Fabian, but lumping Jimmy Clanton with them is a mistake. Like Ricky Nelson, Clanton had a feel for the music he made. His looks left much to be desired but his songs were not half bad, particularly his one big hit "Just a Dream," one of my favorite teen ballads from the period.Fans of early rock 'n' roll will get a kick out of watching the antics of such wonderful do wop groups as the Flamingos and the The Cadillacs. What an entertaining stage show these groups must have delivered. The only other do wop group to surpass these two were the outrageous Coasters. The legendary Jackie Wilson, who even impressed the King himself, Elvis, when he saw him in Las Vagas, shows why he was one of the seminal entertainers of the decade. Chuck Berry not only performs some of his best songs--possibly Johnny B. Goode is his best--but does a decent job acting as well. Too bad he was set up by the government and had to spend time in prison not long after this movie was produced. Then the viewer gets to see the talented Eddie Cochran, one of the best songwriters/musicians of the era. Harvey Fuqua helped make the Moonglows a hit but the rest of the do wop group added that little extra oomp needed to have it all jell. Still Harvey is fine as a solo act.Allen Freed, who not long after this picture was produced was crucified by the press and made the fall guy for the payola scandal, adds a touch of authenticity to the movie, though he leaves a little to be desired in the acting department. Many in the US government--somewhat of a holdover from the McCarthy period-viewed rock 'n' roll as subversive, never mind that the Communists felt the same way but for a different ideological reason. By promoting the asphalt Elvises such as Fabian, Frankie Avalon, and Paul Anka the politicians hoped to stifle the real rock stars. The government put Chuck Berry in jail, drafted Elvis, wrecked Allen Freed's career prodding him to succumb to alcoholism, and encouraged Little Richard to pursue a calling to be a preacher. Indirectly the government aided the free press in publicizing Jerry Lee Lewis' third marriage to his thirteen year old cousin. All this and more...but the beat goes on.The story told in "Go, Johnny, Go" is a juvenile one about Freed, a rock promoter, making Jimmy Clanton a star through a talent search. This time it's innocuous enough and doesn't get in the way of some of the best music this side of heaven. Rock on, cool cats, rock on!

pakhuntz A very vapid plot with the "worst kind of juvenile delinquent" really a choir boy he portrays in one scene.However the music and being able to see the performers, many of whom you won't see elsewhere, more than make up for it. The Cadillacs, Jo ann Campbell, chuck berry, Jackie Wilson, et al are all worth the price of admission. Sandy Stewart does a wonderful job with "Heavenly father." The simpleness portrayed in the 50's to bring you the artists is really fun to watch today, especially for the music lover.

lzf0 This is the fifth, and final motion picture to feature legendary disc jockey Alan Freed and his assortment of musical guests. With each film, Freed took a larger role. His acting is so wooden that Nelson Eddy looks like Olivier next to him! He was also the producer of this Hal Roach production and his role is central to the plot. Now Chuck Berry is a different story. Besides performing "Johnny Be Good", "Memphis, Tennessee", and "Little Queenie", Berry plays himself and is a major catalyst to the flimsy plot. He is absolutely natural and charming. Most of the plot belongs to singers Jimmy Clanton and Sandy Stewart. Their acting is surprisingly natural. Of course, Stewart is no rocker and is a little uncomfortable with some of the music. She was more in her element when she recorded the hit single "My Coloring Book". At least Freed spares us the embarrassment of his out of tune and out of time singing that we had to endure in "Rock, Rock, Rock". However, the plot never does resolve. It just stops.