American Hot Wax (1978): Cast, Box Office & Plot
American Hot Wax is a 1978 music drama directed by Floyd Mutrux, starring Tim McIntire as Alan Freed, Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis. It runs 1 hour 31 minutes and earned $7.9 million worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 31m (91 min)
- Director
- Floyd Mutrux
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is American Hot Wax About?
The premise of American Hot Wax without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Set in 1959 New York, the film follows Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed, who helped launch rock ’n’ roll to teenage audiences. Freed becomes a target, condemned by conservatives for corrupting youth, vilified by racists for promoting Black music to white listeners, harassed by police, and ultimately toppled by a payola scandal.
American Hot Wax Themes & Keywords
· 16 tags- payola
- disc jockey
- 1950s
- radio
- rock 'n' roll
- stage
- show
- scapegoat
- police
- performance
- musician
- doo wop
+4 more Show fewer
- music industry
- radio dj
- rock music
- actor shares first name with character
American Hot Wax Cast & Characters
Tim McIntire leads the cast as Alan Freed, with Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis. Directed by Floyd Mutrux; 47 actors are credited in all.
- Director Floyd Mutrux
- Tim McIntire as Alan Freed
- Chuck Berry as themselves
- Jerry Lee Lewis as themselves
- Charles Greene as Chuck Otis
Also Starring in American Hot Wax
· 43 more- John Lehne D.A. Coleman
- Jeff Altman Lennie Richfield
- Moosie Drier Artie Moress
- Artie Ripp Artie
- Laraine Newman Teenage Louise
- Arnold McCuller Member of The Chesterfields
- Fran Drescher Sheryl
- Jay Leno Mookie
- Charles Irwin Member of Timmy and The Tangerines
- Hamilton Camp Louie Morgan
- Screamin' Jay Hawkins Themselves
- Keene Curtis Mr. Leonard
- Pat McNamara Gordie
- Stephen Pearlman Peter Overmyer
- Bobby Johnson Tap Dancer
- Nora Denney Louise's Mom
Show all 47 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Matthew Tobin Artie's Dad
- Al Maines Tap Dancer
- Mary Peters Big Red
- Kenny Vance Prof. La Plano
- Joe Esposito Member of The Planotones
- Stewart Steinberg Stone
- Andrea Robinson Girl Backstage
- Dina Ousley Stage Manager's Date
- Al Chalk Member of The Chesterfields
- Sam Harkness Member of The Chesterfields
- Brenda Russell Member of The Delights
- Richard Forbes Donahue
- Marion Perkins Artie's Mom
- Will Thornbury Sid
- Bruce Sudano Member of The Planotones
- Joyce King Member of The Delights
- Harold 'Red' Keller Stage Manager
- Elmer Valentine Union Man
- Carl Weaver Member of The Chesterfields
- Jack Edward Ellis Phillips
- Eddie Hokenson Member of The Planotones
- Stephanie Spruill Member of The Delights
- Yolande Howard Member of The Delights
- Jeanne Sheffield Member of Timmy and The Tangerines
- Gail Kantor Girl Backstage
- Patricia Clinger Girl Backstage
- Mark Diamond Stagehand
American Hot Wax Plot Summary
What happens in American Hot Wax from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In late-1950s New York City, WROL disc jockey Alan Freed, [Tim McIntire], promotes his upcoming rock ‘n’ roll show at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater, headlined by Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis. Freed’s radio program is hugely popular with teenagers, and the Paramount concert is expected to sell out, even as authorities worry they might once again shut him down as they did with his Boston show. A. Coleman [John Lehne], targets Freed for allegedly inciting teenagers to wild and immoral behavior by broadcasting raucous and sexually suggestive rock ‘n’ roll songs, many of them by black musicians. WROL station management dislikes Freed’s unconventional programming, including playing songs the station has banned such as Tutti Frutti by Little Richard.
Full summary
The whole story of American Hot Wax, scene by scene
American Hot Wax Box Office
American Hot Wax grossed $7.9 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$7.9M
- US & Canada
- $7.9M
How Well Do You Know American Hot Wax?
9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 9
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
Which real‑life disc jockey is portrayed as the main character in the film?
Cars in American Hot Wax
10 cars on screen, including the 1959 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 and the 1959 Buick Electra 225.
-
1959 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 Important role -
1959 Buick Electra 225 Minor role -
1957 Chevrolet Two-Ten Minor role -
1955 Buick unknown Background role
American Hot Wax Also Known As
Also known as “Viva o Rock'n Roll”.
- Also known as
-
- Viva o Rock'n Roll
Seen American Hot Wax?
Movies Like American Hot Wax
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Mr. Rock n Roll: The Alan Freed Story, Mister Rock and Roll and American Swing.
-
Mr. Rock n Roll: The Alan Freed Story 1999 -
Mister Rock and Roll 1957 -
American Swing 2009 -
Rock Around the Clock 1956 -
American Pop 1981 -
American Fabulous 1991 -
Glorifying the American Girl 1929 -
The Great American Broadcast 1941 -
Shake, Rattle and Rock! 1994 -
Black Wax 1983 -
Telling Lies in America 1997 -
Jailhouse Rock 1957
American Hot Wax FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of American Hot Wax, each answered in a sentence.
How long is American Hot Wax?
American Hot Wax runs 1 hour 31 minutes (91 minutes).
When was American Hot Wax released?
American Hot Wax was released on March 17, 1978.
Who directed American Hot Wax?
American Hot Wax was directed by Floyd Mutrux.
More films by Floyd Mutrux Who is in the cast of American Hot Wax?
American Hot Wax stars Tim McIntire as Alan Freed, Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis, among 47 credited actors.
How much did American Hot Wax make at the box office?
American Hot Wax grossed $7.9 million worldwide.
Does American Hot Wax have a post-credit scene?
No. American Hot Wax has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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