Why Do Fools Fall in Love is a 1998 American biographical drama film directed by Gregory Nava. Released by Warner Bros., it is based on the true story of Frankie Lymon, the lead singer of the pioneering rock and roll group The Teenagers for one year. Moreover, the film highlights the three women in his life, each of whom claims to have married Lymon and lay claim to his estate.

Written by Tina Andrews, Why Do Fools Fall in Love stars Halle Berry, Vivica A. Fox, Lela Rochon, and Larenz Tate, who portrays Lymon. Little Richard also appears in the film as himself..

"I Want You Back", one of the singles from the soundtrack, by Melanie Brown featuring Missy Elliott, peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart.

Plot

Lymon was aged 13 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 success quickly tapered off. Lymon's career was essentially over by the time he was aged 18, and he died of a heroin overdose seven years later.

Jumping between the 1950s–1960s and 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 R&B vocal group The Platters; Elizabeth Waters (Vivica A. Fox), a petty thief from Philadelphia; and Emira Eagle (Lela Rochon), a schoolteacher from Augusta, GA. The end credits show archival footage of the real Frankie Lymon performing his 1958 solo single "Goody Goody".

Little Richard also makes a courtroom appearance, and Miguel A. Nunez Jr. portrays Little Richard in scenes set in the 1950s.

The film ends with Emira winning Lymon's estate.

Cast

Halle Berry as Zola Taylor Vivica A. Fox as Elizabeth "Mickey" Waters Lela Rochon as Emira Eagle Larenz Tate as Frankie Lymon Paul Mazursky as Morris Levy Pamela Reed as Judge Lambrey Alexis Cruz as Herman Santiago Jon Huertas as Joe Negroni David Barry Gray as Peter Markowitz Miguel A. Nunez Jr. as Young Little Richard

Clifton Powell as Lawrence Roberts Lane Smith as Ezra Grahme Ben Vereen as Richard Barrett Paula Jai Parker as Paula King Marcello Thedford as Drug Dealer Norris Young as Jimmy Little Richard as himself Aries Spears as Redd Foxx J. August Richards as Sherman Shirley Caesar as minister/singer at funeral

Background The screenplay of the film, written by actress-turned-screenwriter Tina Andrews, took 15 years to be produced. Director Gregory Nava used most of the technical staff from his prior film Selena.

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

Distribution The film was first presented at the Urbanworld Film Festival on August 8, 1998. The film opened in wide release on August 28, 1998 (1,369 theaters), and sales on the opening weekend were $3,946,382. Why Do Fools Fall in Love ran for eight weeks and eventually grossed $12,506,676 in the United States. At its widest release, the film was shown in 1,377 screens.The Numbers box office data. Last accessed: December 25, 2007.

Reception Critical response Roger Ebert 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." Ebert, Roger (August 28, 1998), "Reviews: Why Do Fools Fall in Love". . Chicago Sun-Times. Accessed: August 11, 2013.

Film critic Peter Stack liked the film, believing that director Nava smartly juggles a lot of elements in the picture. Stack 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."Stack, Peter (January 1, 1999), "Captivating 'Fools' Hits Right Notes Superb Acting in Pop Idol's Biopic". . San Francisco Chronicle, film review, Section D-16. Accessed: August 11, 2013.

Accolades Wins ALMA Award: Outstanding Latino Director of a Feature Film, Gregory Nava, 1999 American Black Film Festival: Black Film Award; Best Actor, Larenz Tate, 1999

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

Soundtrack

Two soundtrack albums were released for Why Do Fools Fall in Love by Warner Music Group. Why Do Fools Fall in Love: Original Versions from the Movie, released on September 8, 1998, by Rhino Records, contained 14 songs, including five of Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers' original recordings. Also included are original hits by Little Richard, The Platters, The Shirelles, Otis Redding and others.Why Do Fools Fall in Love: Original Versions - Soundtrack, AllMusic. .

Why Do Fools Fall in Love: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture was released on the same day as Original Versions from the Movie, but on Warner's East West Records label in conjunction with Elektra Records and The Goldmind Inc. Save for one vintage Little Richard song, it features new hip-hop and contemporary R&B recordings practically unrelated to the actual film (one track, Gina Thompson's "Why Do Fools Fall in Love", interpolates the Teenagers' hit and is featured over the film's end credits). Produced by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott and Timbaland, the soundtrack album features songs by artists such as Elliott, Busta Rhymes, En Vogue, Destiny's Child, Coko of SWV, and Melanie Brown.

It peaked at number 55 on the Billboard 200 and number 15 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and spawned the singles "I Want You Back" by Melanie Brown featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott (which peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart), En Vogue's "No Fool No More" (which peaked at number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100), and Destiny's Child's "Get on the Bus" (which peaked at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart). Singer Lil' Mo also made her debut with the single and music video for "Five Minutes".

Track listing

References

External links