A decade after its television debut, Mr. Rock ‘N’ Roll: The Alan Freed Story is set to become available on DVD July 7 through Eagle Rock Entertainment. Starring bloated brat-packer Judd Nelson as the Ohio disc jockey who coined the term “rock and roll” and helped to introduce “race music” to millions of white teenagers, the film has been adopted by the same entertainment group that introduced the popular Live at Montreux DVD series.
Film fans have touted this movie, which also stars Paula Abdul, as a precursor to box office hits like Ray and Dreamgirls, but it’s the controversial subject — Freed himself — that’s managed to preserve interest in this movie for 10 years. It doesn’t hurt that the film also features the music of perennial favorites Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Jackie Wilson, and Bo Diddley. Freed, who was one of the first inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, died in 1965.
Watch the Mr. Rock ‘N’ Roll trailer: