American Hot Wax

PG

1978

1 hr. 31 min.

Musical

List

67%

6 Reviews

Tomatometer

85%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Alan Freed (Tim McIntire) is the focus of this biopic loosely based on the controversial Cleveland disc jockey who reportedly coined the phrase "rock n' roll" and introduced rock music to a generation. Spinning records at New York radio station WINS, Freed promotes rock concerts with the help of Mookie (Jay Leno) and secretary Sheryl (Fran Drescher). Always stirring controversy, Freed confronts conservatives and racists who seek to silence the music.

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Audience Member

I'm probably a bit over-sentimental, but I was captivated by this historical drama on Alan Freed.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

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Audience Member

Damn this ended up being a pretty good film. Laraine proved she could do drama and not just live comedy. Jay Leno was surprisingly good and everybody else just played it good.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Audience Member

A man who coined the words Rock n Roll died penniless. Watch the greatest guy that every lived in music history here. Any lover of rock n roll history will LOVE this! Truely a great bio-drama, this is one film that any lover of rock n roll history should see and therefore adore. Wait for the last third of the show..PLEASE. HIGHLY recommended by me, thank God Youtoube.com allows it to be shown as it is not for sale on the open market. A tremendous film that should not be missed by ANY early rock fan. [img]http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRei3HevPYMXvNo0Dfo9bzbG3yDPDPT6fThjaZDDknAN8b8dIKTEQ[/img] Alan Freed is often credited with coining the term "Rock 'n' Roll." The film starred Tim McIntire as Freed, as well as Fran Drescher, Laraine Newman, Melanie Chartoff, and Jay Leno in supporting roles. [img]http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSgUBruRJvNaV_zTQYpj7bxiurCPwpjiCZPZ_Haiah95G1KNprEcQ[/img] You MUST wait for the show to begin here at this point.... great stuff, really ! American Hot Wax is a 1978 biopic film directed by Floyd Mutrux and written by John Kaye telling the story of Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed, who was instrumental in introducing and popularizing rock 'n' roll in the 1950s. Be sure to wait for the last half of the film when the stage show begins. It's incredible, its dynamite! A clip from the last half of the film: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qETbU2EtxFE This film, by Paramount Pictures no less, has been unreleased for purchase for years! No way could you see it. Till now.... See this film now and know the real story behind the early days of Rock n Roll. SEE the entire film here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0KPx8j_89k [img]http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTsQHeseFOmyAzNf62LgUa4TaHeX8mOKyAy3DtWieEoCifQ9VT4[/img] Chuck Berry heads an all star cast at the show 80% This excellent, well acted nostalgic look at the birth of rock 'n' roll is driven more by its amazing soundtrack and less by plot. [img]http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTXkW9fOcxWpKuhx8K3hciW9jdjyEPGEqMRWousklUMTQ6Wz8gCyA[/img]

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

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Audience Member

One of, if not the best rock and roll movie. The end concert is not to be missed.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Audience Member

This excellent, well acted nostalgic look at the birth of rock 'n' roll is driven more by its amazing soundtrack and less by plot.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

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Audience Member

I saw this back in the day and there's really not much plot, but man oh man -what a lineup of who's who at the live concert at the end. WOW!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Floyd Mutrux

Director

Tim McIntire

Alan Freed

Fran Drescher

Sheryl

Jay Leno

Mookie

Laraine Newman

Teenage Louise

Jeff Altman

Lennie Richfield

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Richard Brody

New Yorker

The director, Floyd Mutrux, shares the earthshaking thrills in sharp-angled, hard-edged images filled with exuberant performances, as in a recording-studio scene, centered on the song “Come Go with Me,” where, in the heat of the moment, history is made.

Sep 26, 2022

Full Review

Gary Arnold

Washington Post

If you can believe what you see in "American Hot Wax," the only person in the New York record business taking bribes in 1959 was the janitor at Freed's radio station.

May 7, 2017

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Roman Kozak

Billboard

In between there are some fine moments that capture the spirit of the music.

Mar 24, 2023

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Kathey Clarey

Fresno Bee

American Hot Wax moves at a fast pace not unlike the music that is almost constantly playing in the background.

Aug 5, 2021

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Bernard Drew

Gannett News Service

Perhaps a reel is missing.

Nov 1, 2019

Full Review

Richard T. Jameson

Parallax View

... a solid stellar performance by Tim McIntire, and if he doesn't manage to save the film, he gives it a much-needed center of gravity.

Sep 18, 2010

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Synopsis

Alan Freed (Tim McIntire) is the focus of this biopic loosely based on the controversial Cleveland disc jockey who reportedly coined the phrase "rock n' roll" and introduced rock music to a generation. Spinning records at New York radio station WINS, Freed promotes rock concerts with the help of Mookie (Jay Leno) and secretary Sheryl (Fran Drescher). Always stirring controversy, Freed confronts conservatives and racists who seek to silence the music.

Director: Floyd Mutrux
Screenwriter: John Kaye
Production Co: Paramount
Rating: PG
Genre: Musical
Original Language: English