Great Balls of Fire!

Great Balls of Fire! (known in Spanish as Great Balls of Fire!, Balls of Fire or Great Ball of Fire) is a 1989 American biographical film starring Dennis Quaid as the pioneer of rock'n'roll, Jerry Lee Lewis. The film, directed by Jim McBride, is based on the biography written by Myra Gale Brown.

Deals with the early musical career of Jerry Lee Lewis from his rising fame as a rock and roll star, leading many to believe he would replace the "king of rock and roll" Elvis Presley in 1950 to his controversial marriage to his niece second, Myra Gale Brown (13 years old), who brought her stardom to a quick end.

In 1990, Winona Ryder won Best Actress at the Young Artist Awards.

Plot

Jerry Lee Lewis played the piano (as opposed to a guitar, like most other artists) and was a pioneer of rock and roll from 1956 to 1958. Lewis is a man with many different sides: he is a skilled artist, although with little discipline, and is an alcoholic.

Moving to Memphis, Tennessee, Lewis is welcomed into his home by his first cousin, bassist J.W. Brown, who takes him to Sun Records for Sam Phillips to listen to his music. Soon after, Lewis rose to the top of radio with his hits & # 34; Whole Lotta Shakin & # 39; Goin On" and "Great Balls of Fire". At the same time, he falls in love with Myra Gale Brown, the 13-year-old daughter of his first cousin J.W. Brown. Both run away to the state of Mississippi, where they secretly marry.

While Lewis travels to England, a British reporter discovers that he is married to his teenage cousin, Myra. Jerry Lee is then condemned as a pedophile and a pervert by the public. Consequently, his British tour is canceled and he is deported from England. This does not lessen Jerry Lee's confidence that his career will continue. However, the scandal follows him to the United States. Jerry Lee Lewis gives up alcohol as record sales and concert audiences plummet.

Lewis is furious when Billboard magazine asks him to sign a public apology, and becomes increasingly abusive towards Myra. During one of these violent episodes, Myra informs him that she is pregnant. He collapses in Myra's arms, screaming hysterically.

Jerry Lee Lewis and Myra attend a church service led by their evangelical cousin Jimmy. When Jimmy offers him the chance to save himself and be forgiven by God, Lewis rejects him, declaring, "If I go to hell, I'll go away playing the piano!", and passionately kisses Myra outside the church.

Then a photo appears of Jerry Lee Lewis with Myra and their newborn son.

The caption that precedes the closing credits reads: "Tonight, Jerry Lee Lewis is playing his heart out somewhere in America."

Cast

• Dennis Quaid (1954-) like Jerry Lee Lewis.
• Winona Ryder (1971-) as Myra Gale Brown after Myra Gale Lewis.
• John Doe (1953-, singer and musician) like J. W. Brown, the bassist and cousin of Lewis, and Myra's father.
• Lisa Blount (1957-2010) as Lois Brown.
• Stephen Tobolowsky (1951-) as Jud Phillips.
• Trey Wilson (1948-1989) as Sam Phillips.
• Alec Baldwin (1958-) as the evangelist Jimmy Swaggart.
• Steve Allen (1921-2000, animator and litrist) as himself.
• Joshua Sheffield like Rusty Brown.
• Mojo Nixon (1957-, musician) like James Van Eaton.
• Jimmie Vaughan (1951-, guitarist and singer) like Roland Janes.
• David Ferguson (1962-, Sonidist) as the sonidist and musician Jack Clement (1931-2013).
• Robert Lesser as the disc-jockey Alan Freed (1921-1965).
• Lisa Jane Persky (1955-) as Babe.
• Paula Person as the secretary of Sam Phillips.
• Peter Cook (1937-1995), as the British journalist.