Why Do Fools Fall In Love (1998)
- Starring:
- Halle Berry, Vivica A. Fox, (more)
- Director(s):
- Gregory Nava
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Format(s):
- DVD
| Digital SD
View All Versions to rent and buy
Synopsis of Why Do Fools Fall In Love
Gregory Nava directed this biographical drama on the brief but intense life of singer Frankie Lymon who stayed with the popular Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers group only for a year. Lymon was 13 years old when the group 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 turned solo, but then it all fell to pieces. Lymon's career was over by the time he was 18, and he died of a heroin overdose eight years later. Jumping from the '50s to the '80s, this 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 Platters R&B group; Elizabeth Waters (Vivica A. Fox), who turned prostitute to cover costs of Lymon's recovery from addiction; and schoolteacher Emira Eagle (Lela Rochon). Little Richard also makes a courtroom appearance, while Miguel A. Nunez Jr. portrays Little Richard in scenes set in the '50s. Shown at the 1998 Urbanworld Film Festival (NY). ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 116 mins
Complete Cast of Why Do Fools Fall In Love
- Halle Berry - Zola Taylor
- Lela Rochon - Emira Eagle
- Paul Mazursky - Morris Levy
- Pamela Reed - Judge Lambrey
- David Barry Gray - Peter Markowitz
- Clifton Powell - Lawrence Roberts
- Ben Vereen - Richard Barrett
- Marcello Thedford - Coop
- J. August Richards - Sherman
- Vivica A. Fox - Elizabeth Waters
- Larenz Tate - Frankie Lymon
- Little Richard - Himself
- Alexis Cruz - Herman Santiago
- Miguel A. Nuñez Jr. - Young Little Richard
- Lane Smith - Ezra Grahme
- Paula Jai Parker - Paula King
- Norris Young - Jimmy
- Jon Huertas - Joe
- Director(s):
- Gregory Nava
- Writer(s):
- Tina Andrews
- Producer(s):
- Paul Hall, Stephen Nemeth
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Adult Situations, Substance Abuse, Sexual Situations, Profanity)
- Looking for special editions of Why Do Fools Fall In Love?
- See All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions









