

The film was in wide release for ten days. The first week's gross were $3,807,986 and the total receipts for the two-week run were $13,691,550. The film opened in wide release in the United States on June 30, 1989.
# ALL I NEED IS JESUS BY JIMMY SWAGGART MUSIC VIDEO MOVIE#
Director Jim McBride admitted that it was never his intention to tie his film to the facts, and stated "This movie does not represent itself in any way to be a historical documentary. Despite this, co-writer Silver was upset by the lack of accuracy in the film, claiming it was "phoney". The story was co-written by Myra Gail Lewis (her autobiography Great Balls of Fire!), the former wife of Jerry Lee Lewis, with Murray Silver. When Jimmy offers one more chance to become saved and get right with God, Jerry Lee again refuses, declaring, "If I'm going to hell, I'm going there playing the piano!" The caption preceding the closing credits reads, "Jerry Lee Lewis is playing his heart out somewhere in America tonight." Production Jerry Lee and Myra attend a church service conducted by Swaggart. It was during one of these abusive episodes that Myra informs Jerry Lee that she is pregnant, and he collapses into Myra's arms, crying hysterically.



He is furious when requested to print a public apology in Billboard and becomes increasingly abusive toward Myra. Jerry Lee begins drinking heavily when record sales and concert attendances are significantly down. However, the scandal follows him back to the States. But it does not diminish Jerry Lee's confidence that his career will continue. As a result, his British tour is cancelled and he is deported from England. Jerry Lee is then condemned as a child molester and a pervert by the public. While Jerry Lee is touring in England 1958, a British reporter discovers he is married to his teenage cousin. The now-financially successful Jerry Lee buys a new car and gives it to his cousin, and when Jimmy praises the Lord for the gift, Jerry Lee replies, "Don't thank Jesus, thank Jerry Lee Lewis!" Jimmy's career kept him in constant conflict with his cousin's wild rock and roll career and brings out some uncomfortable exchanges between the two. Brown (John Doe), and eventually marries her (eloping to Mississippi), much to the anger and chagrin of her parents.Ī subplot deals with Jerry Lee's relationship with another cousin, (now-televangelist) Jimmy Swaggart (Alec Baldwin), who, during this period, was a struggling Pentecostal preacher. As Jerry Lee rises to the top of the charts with such hits as "Crazy Arms", "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On", and "Great Balls of Fire", he falls in love with Myra Gale Brown (Winona Ryder), the 13-year-old daughter of his first cousin (and bass player) J. Jerry Lee is a man with many different sides: a skilled performer with little discipline, and an alcoholic. Jerry Lee Lewis (Quaid) plays piano (as opposed to a guitar like most other rock artists) during rock and roll's early years from 1956 to 1958.
