Why Do Fools Fall in Love (film)

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For the 1956 song by Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, see Why Do Fools Fall in Love (song)
Why Do Fools Fall in Love

Theatrical poster
Directed by Gregory Nava
Produced by Executive Producers:
Mark Allan
Harold Bronson
Gregory Nava
Producers:
Paul Hall
Stephen Nemeth
Written by Tina Andrews
Starring Halle Berry
Vivica A. Fox
Lela Rochon
Larenz Tate
Music by Stephen James Taylor
Cinematography Edward Lachman
Editing by Nancy Richardson
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release date(s) August 28, 1998
Running time 116 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $7,500,000
Official website
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998) is an American romantic drama, directed by Gregory Nava. The screenplay was written by Tina Andrews. The film stars Halle Berry, Vivica A. Fox, Lela Rochon and Larenz Tate.[1]

The motion picture is a biographical film of the brief but intense life of singer Frankie Lymon, who was part of the R&B group Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers for one year. Moreover, the film highlights the three women in his life.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Lymon was thirteen years old when the teenage group Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers erupted from radios and jukeboxes with their 1956 hit, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" and appeared in the movie Rock, Rock, Rock (1956).

After Mr. Rock and Roll (1957), Lymon started a solo singing career, but it all fell apart. Lymon's career was over by the time he was eighteen years old, and he died of a heroin overdose eight years later.

Jumping from the 1950s to the 1980s, the film traces the rise and fall of Lymon (Larenz Tate) in a series of flashbacks as courtroom claims on Lymon's royalties are outlined by three women: Zola Taylor (Halle Berry) of the Platters R&B group; Elizabeth Waters (Vivica A. Fox), who became a prostitute to cover the costs of Lymon's recovery from addiction; and schoolteacher Emira Eagle (Lela Rochon).

Little Richard also makes a courtroom appearance, while Miguel A. Nunez Jr. portrays Little Richard in scenes set in the 1940s.

The film ends with Elizabeth winning Frankie's estate, however later the ruling is overturned by the Court and Emira gets Frankie's estate.

[edit] Background

The screenplay of the film, written by actress-turned-screenwriter Tina Andrews, took fifteen years to be produced. Director Gregory Nava used most of the technical staff from his prior film Selena.[2]

[edit] Filming locations

Filming locations include: Jacksonville, Florida; Los Angeles, California; and Starke, Florida.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Critical reception

Roger Ebert, film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, was disappointed in the screenplay and ultimately Nava's direction of the film, and wrote, "There are several angles this material might have been approached from, and director Gregory Nava tries several without hitting on one that works. By the end of the film we're not even left with anyone to root for; we realize with a little astonishment, waiting for the court verdict, that we don't care who wins."[3]

Yet, film critic Peter Stack liked the film and believes director Nava smartly juggles a lot of elements in the picture. He wrote, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love is a fresh, enlightening example of how to take a tragic American show-business story and make it funny, warm and terrifically entertaining...[it] brims with joyful spirit and raucous comedy...[and the film] deftly juggles a surprising number of elements, but they all work."[4]

[edit] Distribution

The film was first presented at the Urbanworld Film Festival, New York, on August 8, 1998.

The film opened in wide release on August 28, 1998 (1,369 theatres) and sales the opening weekend were $3,946,382. Why Do Fools Fall in Love ran for 8 weeks domestically (66 days) and eventually grossed $12,506,676 in the United States. At its widest release the film was shown in 1,377 screens.[5]

[edit] Soundtrack

Soundtrack Cover
Soundtrack Cover

The film was an obvious showcase for great period music of the 1950s. As such, an original motion picture soundtrack was released by Rhino Records on September 8, 1998. The CD contained fourteen tracks including five of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers's original recordings. Other performers in the sountrack include: Little Richard, The Platters, the Shirelles, Otis Redding, and a few others.

A second CD was released on the same date by East West Records featuring music by Lymon and the Teenagers, performed by modern artists such as En Vogue, Melanie Brown, Missy Elliott, Destiny's Child, Coko, and others.

[edit] Awards

Wins

Nominations

  • ALMA Awards: Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film in a Crossover Role, Miguel A. Núñez Jr.; Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role in a Feature Film, Alexis Cruz, 1999.
  • American Black Film Festival: Black Film Award; Best Screenplay, Tina Andrews; Best Soundtrack, 1999.

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Why Do Fools Fall in Love at the Internet Movie Database.
  2. ^ Savada, Elias. Nitrate Online Review, August 28, 1998.
  3. ^ Ebert, Roger. Chicago Sun-Times, film review, August 28, 1998.
  4. ^ Stack, Peter. San Francisco Chronicle, "Captivating 'Fools' Hits Right Notes Superb acting in pop idol's biopic," film review, Section D-16, January 1, 1999.
  5. ^ The Numbers box office data. Last accessed: December 25, 2007

[edit] External links


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Films directed by Gregory Nava

The Confessions of Amans • El Norte • A Time of Destiny • My Family/Mi Familia • Selena • Why Do Fools Fall in Love • Bordertown •
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American films of the 1990s
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