Jersey Boys Dvd

Jersey Boys is a 2014 American musical drama film directed and produced by Clint Eastwood, based on the 2005 Tony Award-winning jukebox musical of the same name. The film tells the story of the musical group The Four Seasons. Original band members Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio (who also composed the film’s music) serve as executive producers.

Jersey Boys was released in the United States on June 20, 2014. It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the musical numbers but criticized the narrative and runtime, and grossed $67 million worldwide.

Plot

In Belleville, New Jersey in 1951, Tommy DeVito performs together with his brother Nicky, and their friend Nick Massi, as The Variety Trio. He meets 16-year-old Frankie Castelluccio, a barber’s son, already well known in the neighborhood for his singing voice. Frankie has the admiration of Genovese Family mobster Angelo “Gyp” DeCarlo, who takes a personal interest in him.

One night, the group attempts a robbery of a safe, resulting in the police later arresting them. In court, Frankie is let off with a slap on the wrist, while Tommy is sentenced to six months in prison. After his release, Tommy reunites with the group, and adds Frankie as lead singer. Frankie changes his professional name to Frankie Vally, and then Frankie Valli. At a performance, Frankie is entranced by a woman named Mary Delgado. He takes her to dinner, and they are soon married.

The group, now called “The Four Lovers”, is in need of a songwriter after Nicky leaves. Tommy’s friend, Joe Pesci, tells him about a talented singer-songwriter, Bob Gaudio, and invites him to hear the group perform. Gaudio is impressed with Valli’s vocals, and agrees to join.

The band, having recorded several demos, attempts to attract interest, but has little success. One day, in New York City, producer Bob Crewe signs them to a contract. However, they quickly realize that it only allows them to perform back-up vocals for other acts. Crewe says that the group does not have a distinctive image or sound yet. Inspired by a bowling alley sign, the band is renamed “The Four Seasons,” and they sing a new song Gaudio has written, “Sherry”, to Crewe, who agrees to record it.

“Sherry” quickly becomes a commercial success, followed by two more, “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Walk Like a Man”. However, before an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, Valli is approached by mobster Norman Waxman, a loan shark for one of the other Five Families, who claims that Tommy owes him $150,000. Frankie goes to DeCarlo, who gets Waxman to allow the group to pay the debt, which turns out to be considerably larger. Tommy must go to work for the mob’s associates in Las Vegas until it is paid. Nick, irritated by Tommy’s irresponsibility, not being involved in the group’s decisions, and never being able to see his family, also leaves the group.

Having to tour constantly to pay off the debt, the band hires a set of studio musicians, and becomes Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, with Gaudio now acting solely as songwriter and producer. Valli learns from his now ex-wife, Mary, that his daughter, Francine, now a drug addict, has escaped from home. Valli meets his estranged daughter and regrets not acting as a better father for her when she was growing up. He also arranges for Gaudio to offer her singing lessons and for Crewe to cut a demo for her.

A few years later, the group has finally paid off Tommy’s debt. However, this coincides with the news of Francine’s death by drug overdose. Frankie and Mary both grieve for their daughter. Gaudio composes a new number for Valli to sing, his first as a solo artist. At first, Frankie is hesitant, as he is still in mourning, but eventually agrees. The track, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”, becomes a commercial success.

In 1990, the Four Seasons are about to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The band performs “Rag Doll” onstage, their first performance together in over twenty years. The music fades as the four men take turns addressing the audience. Tommy, in an ironic twist, now works for Joe Pesci, who has gone on to become an Oscar-winning actor (his award-winning role was a fictionalized account of another real-life gangster named for Tommy DeVito). Nick claims to have no regrets about leaving the group, enjoying the time he spends with his family. Bob has retired to Nashville, Tennessee. Lastly, Frankie states that the best time he had during his time with the Four Seasons was before their success, “when everything was still ahead of us and it was just four guys singing under a street lamp.”

Cast

John Lloyd Young as Francis “Frankie” Castelluccio/Valli
Erich Bergen as Bob Gaudio
Michael Lomenda as Nick Massi
Vincent Piazza as Gaetano “Tommy” DeVito
Christopher Walken as Gyp DeCarlo
Renée Marino as Mary Delgado
Kathrine Narducci as Mary Rinaldi
Lou Volpe as Anthony Castelluccio
Freya Tingley as Francine Valli (age 17)
Elizabeth Hunter as Francine Valli (age 7)
Grace Kelley as Francine Valli (age 4)
Mike Doyle as Bob Crewe
Rob Marnell as Joe Long
Johnny Cannizzaro as Nick DeVito
Donnie Kehr as Norm Waxman
Jeremy Luke as Donnie
Joey Russo as Joe Pesci
James Madio as Stosh
Erica Piccininni as Lorraine
Steve Schirripa as Vito
Barry Livingston as Accountant
Miles Aubrey as Charles Calello
Troy Grant as Ed Sullivan
Billy Gardell as Georgie
Francesca Eastwood as Waitress