Cadillac Records

Infobox Film
name = Cadillac Records


caption =
director = Darnell Martin
producer = Sofia Sondervan
Andrew Lack
Beyoncé Knowles
writer = Darnell Martin
starring = Adrien Brody
Beyoncé Knowles
Cedric the Entertainer
Columbus Short
Jeffrey Wright
music =
cinematography =
editing =
distributor =
released = December 5, 2008
runtime =
country = United States
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id = 429778
imdb_id = 1042877

"Cadillac Records" is an upcoming biographical film and a musical drama written and directed by African-American film director Darnell Martin. Exploring the 1950s musical era, the film chronicles the life of the influential Chicago-based record-company executive Leonard Chess, and the singers who recorded for Chess Records.

The film stars American actors Adrien Brody as Chess, Cedric the Entertainer as Willie Dixon, Mos Def as Chuck Berry, Columbus Short as Little Walter, Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters and Beyonce Knowles as Etta James

Background

Leonard Chess was a record-company executive from Chicago, Illinois, the co-founder of the 1950 American record label Chess Records. He ran the legendary company with his brother, Phil, through the 1950s and '60s.Cite news |last=Rodriguez |first=Jayson |title=Beyonce To Portray Legendary Blues Singer Etta James In 'Cadillac Records' |url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1581909/20080220/story.jhtml |work=MTV News |date=2008-02-20 |accessdate=2008-03-28] The label started selling albums at the back of Chess' Cadillac,Cite news |author=Hollywood reporter |title=Beyonce Producing, Starring in 'Cadillac Records' |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20178953,00.html |work=Entertainment Weekly |date=2008-02-20 |accessdate=2008-03-28] and had launched the careers of legendary musical personalities such as American blues singers and harmonica and guitar players Little Walter and Howlin' Wolf, American blues musician Muddy Waters, American soul legend Etta JamesCite news |last=Tilly |first=Chris |title=Beyonce Signs to Cadillac Records |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/853/853389p1.html |work=IGN |date=2008-02-20 |accessdate=2008-03-28] and American guitarist singer-songwriters Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley.Cite news |last=Simmons |first=Leslie |title=Matt Dillon playing Chess in music movie |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/filmNews/idUSN1527557320071015 |work=Reuters |date=2007-10-15 |accessdate=2008-03-28]

Production

Writing

The screenplay was written by film director Darnell Martin.

Casting

Originally, American actor Matt Dillon was slated to play the role of Chess, but was given to American actor Adrien Brody due to his conflicting schedules. [Cite news |author=Hollywood reporter |title=Brody, Wright Starring in 'Cadillac' |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20172936,00.html |work=Entertainment Weekly |date=2008-01-22 |accessdate=2008-03-28] Casts include American actors Columbus Short as Little Walter and Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters and American R&B singer-actress Beyoncé Knowles as Etta James. The roster also includes Canadian actress Emmanuelle Chriqui, actor and American comedian Cedric the Entertainer as Willie Dixon and American actress Tammy Blanchard.Cite news |author=IGN staff |title=Cadillac Cast |url=http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/846/846750p1.html |work=IGN |date=2008-01-22 |accessdate=2008-03-28] Cite news |last=Haves |first=Dade |title=Brody, Wright set to drive 'Cadillac' |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117979390.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 |work=Variety |date=2008-01-21 |accessdate=2008-03-28] Rapper/actor Mos Def later joined the cast as Chuck Berry as did actress Gabrielle Union as Muddy Water's girlfriend Geneva Wade. [cite news|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117983173.html?categoryid=13&cs=1|author=Winter Miller|title=Duo drives 'Cadillac'|publisher=Variety Magazine|date=2008-03-30|accessdate=2008-08-06]

Filming

The filming of "Cadillac Records" started in February 2008, in New Jersey and Mississippi, United States. Martin directed the film, and shot for Sony BMG Film.

"Cadillac Records" was produced by Andrew Lack and Sofia Sondervan, and co-executive produced by Beyoncé Knowles.

Music

American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and music producer Steve Jordan will produce the music for the film.Cite news |Simmons |first=Leslie |title=Beyonce Starring In Chess Records Film |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003712722 |work=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |date=2008-02-20 |accessdate=2008-03-30] Beyoncé is set to record four songs for the soundtrack, including a cover version of Etta James "At Last", to be released by Music World Entertainment and Columbia Records.

Cast

* Adrien Brody as Leonard Chess
* Beyoncé Knowles as Etta James
* Emmanuelle Chriqui as Revetta Chess
* Mos Def as Chuck Berry
* Gabrielle Union as Geneva Wade
* Columbus Short as Little Walter
* Norman Reedus as Chess
* Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters
* Cedric the Entertainer as Willie Dixon
* Tammy Blanchard as Isabelle Allen
* Eamonn Walker as Howlin' Wolf
* Eric Bogosian as Alan Freed
* Shiloh Fernandez as Phil Chess
* Jay O. Sanders as Mr. Feder

References