NEW ORLEANS, LA, – AMERICAN MOVIE CLASSICS will present HOLLYWOOD ROCKS THE MOVIES: THE EARLY YEARS as the centerpiece of a three-day event celebrating classic rock and roll films airing Sunday, July 2 through Tuesday, July 4. The feature-length documentary, which chronicles rock and roll music in the movies from 1955 to 1970, will premiere on Sunday, July 2, at 10:00 PM (ET). Rock and roll legend Ringo Starr narrates the special.
The movies included in ROCKSTOCK, like the documentary, run the gamut of the rock and roll genre. They include MONTEREY POP (1967), ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK (1956), WOODSTOCK (1970), HAVING A WILD WEEKEND (1965) and BYE BYE BIRDIE (1963), among many others.
From ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK (1956) to WOODSTOCK (1970), HOLLYWOOD ROCKS THE MOVIES charts the dawn of teen “rock” music to “The Summer of Love” and beyond. From “Rhythm and Blues” and “Rock and Roll,” to “Motown” and the “Mersey Beat,” the original documentary illustrates how rock cinema has mirrored the youth culture with its songs and stories.
Through film and television performances, newsreels and interviews, HOLLYWOOD ROCKS THE MOVIES will show how rock and roll revolutionized the record and movie industry. The special features commentary from rock and pop pioneers including Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Brian Wilson, Dick Dale, Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell, Pat Boone, Fabian, Chubby Checker, Lesley Gore, Nancy Sinatra, Mickey Dolenz and many other music greats. In addition, rock and roll filmmakers, including Richard Brooks (BLACKBOARD JUNGLE), William Asher (BEACH PARTY), Walter Shenson (A HARD DAY’S NIGHT), Steve Binder (THE T.A.M.I. SHOW) and D. A. Pennebaker (MONTEREY POP) are featured.
Featuring performances by early rock and roll legends such as Big Joe Turner in SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROCK (1956), Bill Haley and His Comets in ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK (1956), Little Richard in THE GIRL CAN’T HELP IT (1956), and Elvis Presley in LOVE ME TENDER (1956), HOLLYWOOD ROCKS THE MOVIES illustrates how movies were a driving force in bringing rock music into the mainstream in the 1950s.
In the 1960s, Hollywood capitalized on the popular California sound of musicians like The Beach Boys and Dick Dale and His Del-Tones in a series of sand-and-surf movies. HOLLYWOOD ROCKS THE MOVIES features performances by young recording stars Lesley Gore, Jackie DeShannon, Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon who starred in such hit films as BEACH PARTY (1963), SURF PARTY (1964) and THE GIRLS ON THE BEACH (1965).
In 1964, The Beatles exploded onto the screen in A HARD DAY’S NIGHT. HOLLYWOOD ROCKS THE MOVIES explores the British invasion and showcases performances by The Beatles and other British bands. The special examines the social impact of rock movies, including ALICE’S RESTAURANT (1969), MONTEREY POP (1969) and WOODSTOCK (1970).
HOLLYWOOD ROCKS THE MOVIES: THE EARLY YEARS (1955-1970) is produced by Van Ness Films, Inc., in association with Foxstar Productions, Fox Television Studios and AMERICAN MOVIE CLASSICS. The documentary is executive produced by Kevin Burns, produced by Edith Becker and written by Ed Singer. Executive Producer for AMERICAN MOVIE CLASSICS is David Sehring.
AMERICAN MOVIE CLASSICS is the premiere 24-hour movie network featuring award-winning original productions about the world of American film. With one of the finest, most comprehensive libraries of classic films from the 1930s through the 1980s and a diverse blend of original series, documentaries and interstitials, the service offers in-depth information on timeless and contemporary Hollywood classics. Through the network’s multiple platforms — AMC’s Website (www.amctv.com), AMC’s original broadband programming and AMC Magazine — the entertainment provider informs passionate movie fans about the history behind the films. AMC is available in 72 million homes.
Contact:
Dina White
Jaime Saberito
516-803-4350
Fenot Tekle
Lynn Weiss
310-998-9300