American Hot Wax (1978)

I had never heard of Alan Freed before watching this film, so I didn't know of his vital role in introducing Rock & Roll to America (and his coning of the term.

I guess I had heard about this film, because it was a box office bomb, and I am always interested in seeing if these bombs had something spectacular to offer, which was overlooked (as if often the case).

I was amazed at the cast, as I had never seen Jay Leno or Laraine Newman in a film before. though they each had there place on TV. Fran Drescher, know for The Nanny, nearly a decade later, also had a big role in this film, but she did appear in a few significant films before hitting it big on TV.

While this is certainly a story that needed to be told, without knowing the significance of Alan Freed, or knowing that he introduced the world to Rock & Roll, his seems like just a routine story of a DJ putting on a show.  No big surprises, or tense moments or twists.  Watching the film, without knowing any background, it seems odd that anyone was concered that the show might not go on.

Even odder, the police and the IRS have a heavy hand fighting against the show, and seem to have taken some actions which were illegal.  Again, prior to watching this film, I had no idea of the significance of the show Alan Freed had put on in Boston, and all the trouble that stirred up, though that doesn't justify the police's actions during his show in New York.

The soundtrack to this film is spectacular, crammed with classic golden oldies.  Even more amazing is the appearance of some of the actual Rock & Roll legends in this film that Alan Freed introduced to the world.

After reading up on Alan Freed, I realize that he has some problems, as he was playing songs that he often had a license to, which appearntly was a highly questionable and perhaps illegal at the time of his DJ days.  Consdiering his vital role in introducing the world to Rock & Roll, it is disappointing to say the least that the notation of his contributions were removed from the Rock & Roll hall of fame.  Another case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

I wonder if this film was given the green light to to George Lucas success with American Graffiti and the follow up success of Happy Days.