Watch Cadillac Records Online

In this tale of sex, violence, race and rock and roll in 1950's Chicago, CADILLAC RECORDS follows the exciting but turbulent lives of some of America's musical legends, including Muddy Waters, Leonard Chess, Little Walter and Howlin' Wolf, Etta James and Chuck Berry.

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. The label started selling albums at the back of Chess' Cadillac, and had launched the careers of legendary musical personalities such as blues singers and harmonica and guitar players Little Walter and Howlin' Wolf, blues musician Muddy Waters, soul legend Etta James and guitarist singer-songwriters Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley.

Originally, Matt Dillon was slated to play the role of Chess, but the role was ultimately given to Academy Award-winner Adrien Brody due to scheduling conflicts with Dillion. Early announcements of the cast also included Columbus Short as Little Walter, Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters, and R&B singer Beyonce Knowles as Etta James. As production increased the roster had grown to include Canadian actress Emmanuelle Chriqui as Revetta Chess, Tammy Blanchard as Isabelle Allen, and comedian Cedric the Entertainer as Willie Dixon. Final line ups of the cast also grew to include rapper Mos Def as Chuck Berry, and Gabrielle Union in the role of Geneva Wade, Muddy Waters' girlfriend.

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 Beyonce Knowles.

American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and music producer Steve Jordan will produce the soundtrack to the film. Knowles recorded five songs for the soundtrack, including a cover version of Etta James' "At Last" which will be released on December 2, 2008 as its lead single. Mos Def, Jeffrey Wright, Columbus Short, and Eamonn Walker recorded songs for the soundtrack, and Raphael Saadiq, Knowles' sister Solange, Mary Mary, Nas, Buddy Guy and Elvis Presley also appears on the album. The soundtrack will be released in single- and double-disc editions.

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