Customer Reviews

New York Doll

5 star:		(59)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The New Yorks Dolls are one of the most influentual bands in the history of modern music. They gave birth to the Glam and Punk movements of the 1970's and were the primary fashion influence of the hair bands of the 1980's. Most of my own favorite bands probably would have never existed if the Dolls had not existed first. And honestly, I don't think they ever wrote a bad song.
Anyway, as someone who was born Mormon, but grew up "punk" and now exists somewhere between the two this movie spoke to me on more levels than one. I was afraid it might seem like Mormon propaganda (it does not) or might make fun of Mormonism (it also does not.) It is very honest and I was moved to tears several times.
The extra features on the DVD are must sees and hearing David Johansen sing one of my all-time favorite hymns (Come, Come Ye Saints) was just amazing. Arthur Kane has joined his friends and bandmates beyond the veil but the legacy his band left (and his more quiet works in the service of the church) live on to inspire us.

Glam,punk rockers The New York Dolls became more popular and influential after their two studio albums and break-up in 1975--then when they were in their prime.

They inspired a varied group of musicians -- some of whom (Chrissy Hynde, Iggy Pop, Morrissey, Bob Geldorf appear on camera here).

The most famous band member is musician/actor David Johansen who became better known as Buster Poindexter for many years.

This documentary is about another original member, Charles 'Killer' Kane- the base player who faded into neary poverty, drug and alcohol addiction and obscurity shortly after the band broke up.

Greg Whiteley, a devout Mormon and aspiring film-maker began making "New York Doll" a couple of years after he met one of his Mormon brothers, Arthur Kane who quickly explained he was once known as `Killer' Kane the bassist for the legendary punk rock band, New York Dolls. In a truth-is-stranger-than-fiction development, Kane got wind of a rumor that what he had prayed for nearly 30 years to happen----The New York Dolls were going to re-unite.

Wait a minute 'Killer Kane' wound up an LDS member? Yep.
When several of Kane's congregational members raised $300 dollars and gave it to him to get his old bass guitars out of hock at the pawn-shop, Greg Whiteley decided to grab a camera and start filming what was going on. At the very least Arthur Kane was a unique interesting individual that would make a good subject for a documentary even if the re-union of the Dolls did not happen.

Whitely was absolutely right, his documentary New York Doll, an intimate portrait of Arthur Kane and a brief history of the New York Dolls, does indeed make a fascinating, surprisingly touching and moving documentary.

"Killer' Kane, the statuesque tall bassist for the outrageous New York Dolls a quiet, humble born-again religious librarian?

It's hard to believe that the soft spoken, white shirt and tie wearing, Arthur Kane who we meet riding a series of busses to get to work was once a punk glam boy. It's hard to believe that Morrissey invited the Dolls to re-unite for his 2004 Meltdown Festival in London. We learn that Morrissey was an avid fan and almost an all out groupie of the New York Dolls when he was 13 years old.

It's also hard to believe that the three surviving members of the Dolls mostly in their early 50s would get back together again and be able to create music truly worth listening to without completely embarrassing themselves.

We get a concise history of the Dolls and learn about their influence from Chrissie Hynde, Bob Geldoff, Mick Jones (of the Clash) and Morrissey. The Dolls (and Bowie's Ziggy Stardust band) broke through the formulaic heavy metal (with their ten minute drum solos) and dull progressive rock bands (with their ten minute synthesizer solos). They created some excellent songs (sounding like something Green Day would release today) while wearing platform heels, tight leather pants, huge hair, mascara, lipstick and swatches of material that transformed them into disheveled transvestite hookers.

So did Arthur Kane's dream of a reuniting with David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain actually happen? Was it a huge success, a pleasant bit of nostalgia or an utter embarrassment? Did Arthur say prayers before going on stage? Did he patch up the feud and bitter feelings he had about David?

This is the bitter-sweet story about what happened. Since it is about one of the most outrageous punk rock bands from the 70s, trying to explain this is a `bittersweet' story is an ironic challenge.

This is not a VH1 Behind the Music kind of profile. It is much more than that. It is a tender but honest portrait of an extremely fragile human being--Arthur Kane. Sure I wish we would have heard and seen a bit more music than we do in the movie, but you can buy the albums for that.
The film will touch you. The story is sad, but strangely uplifting.


The film is very short (only 78 minutes) and the DVD has a few extras--like an 8 minute interview with the producer/director and a long interview (part of which is used in the film) with Morrisey. Unfortunately we don't get to see any full length performances of the Dolls--but don't let that stop you for a moment from watching this stranger than fiction documentary.

It is rated PG-13 because of some strong language.

Having missed "New York Doll" at the Sundance Film Festival (it was sold-out) and the local theaters (couldn't get the wife to go to a documentary about another "rock 'n' roll casualty"), I was destined to await the release of the DVD. I'm sorry now that I didn't see it sooner.

The story of Arthur "Killer" Kane is typical and atypical. Typical in the sense of the prototypical 1970s rocker, who found fame and near-fortune, only to throw it all away in the name of excess and a larger-than-life ego, leaving him destitute, lonely and in ill-health...even suicidal.

But in a way, Kane's story is atypical. Instead of Kane turning into the next Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin or Pete Ham, he stumbles upon the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) religion - Arthur would say it was divinely guided - that gives him internal peace and a change of heart. You seem to witness a man now at peace. At peace with his rock 'n' roll past and bitter relationships with his past bandmates. At peace with the denial of fame and fortune. At peace with his current simple lifestyle working at the local LDS Family History Center. At peace with normal people (whose presence he would have distained years earlier). In a way, it seems it took him a lifetime of hell to find heaven. How fitting that he died so poor in a temporal sense, yet so rich in spirit.

The three most poignant moments for me was went former Dolls lead singer, David Johansen makes his 'rock god' entrance into the New York rehearsal studio and to watch Arthur's uncertain face to see how his old friend and rival would react to his presence. When they embrace, you can see the years of distrust and bitterness disappear. The second moment was the discussion between Arthur and David moments before their reunion concert about Mormonism's Word of Wisdom (health code forbidding smoking, drinking and drugs) and adherence to the Ten Commandments. It is humorous, but also enlightening that even David admits (through his own trials) that he has made similar decisions to quit such behavior (all except his addiction to smoking and "one commandment.") The final touching moment was Arthur leading the reunited New York Dolls in a prayer before their concert. I don't think I've ever heard a Christian prayer asking for the Lord's blessing upon a rock concert before, but I honestly believe that God was on the stage that night with Arthur and the rest of the New York Dolls.

What a great movie for all ages, backgrounds and faiths. When Christ spoke of, "blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven" he was referring to Arthur. May God bless Arthur "Killer" Kane.

As an excommunited member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for some 11 years, I stumbled across this documentery while in the midst of a severe personal and spiritual torment.
Arthur Kane and the New York Dolls were not familiar to me, but I bought the DVD because it simply looked "untraditional"in the LDS genere, and peaked my curiosity. I sent my husband and kids out as I was expecting something loud and perhaps controversial.
Indirectly, the gentle spirit of Arthur Kane's transformation settled bits and pieces of my rattled nerves, and my soul. For a completely non-preachy film, it was full of indirect words of hope and healing. Perhaps his soul was at my re-baptism, as his story was a small, but significant insight that helped me understand my trials to be blessings in disguise.

Any fan of The Dolls would appreciate this affectionate portrait of Killer Kane, someone who despite the rugged reputation found a very un-rock 'n' roll solace in the Morman church. Although addled with the usual had-it-and-lost-it trappings of a rocker down on his luck, or as Kane says of himself, "I've been demoted from rock star to schlep on a bus," the story of Arthur is, ultimately, one of redemption. As we follow Arthur in the heady days leading up to the 2004 Dolls reunion at the Morrissey curated Festival Hall show, you feel the palpable excitement of a man getting another shot at doing God's will.

Even if you have no idea who the New York Dolls were, and even if you dislike rock and roll, NEW YORK DOLL is still a touching and vibrantly alive film. It's a sin this movie came and went in 2005 with little fanfare -- it's easily one of the best of last year.

The few extras are top notch, particularly the stand alone version of the hymn David Johansen sings during the credits. After experiencing the final five minutes of the movie, hearing his rendition of that piece will tingle your spine.

A GREAT documentary.

If anyone knows New York City, you know that the two boots cinema is the place to see the coolest movies. i caught Dr. strangelove ther last sunday and am going to see Primer on the big screen next week. It is fitting that this is where New York Dolls played in Manhattan. NY Doll is one of those movies that is destined to be a classic. The main subject of the documentary - Arthur Kane, the bass player for the seminal rock band the New York Dolls - has got to be one of the most watchable people ever put on film. He is just compelling and weird and touching and tragic and inspiring....seriously, you could not make up a guy like Arthur Kane. I'm sure this movie becomes one of those late night weekend cult classics, but the reason I came to Amazon was to order a copy to show my Grandma. That's the crazy thing about this movie: it is about rock and roll and drug/alcohol addiction, and excess and tragedy - but it is a family film. I doubt that there is any swearing in the movie and someone I met outside the theater told me it was a big hit with religious people in Utah - ehich somehow makes it more 'punk' in my mind. killer movie about "killer kane".

The movie really shines for a number of reasons: a.) It tells the story of "Killer" Kane...which really hadn't been told before, b.) The production, storyline, and graphics make it easy to follow and bring you into the film, and c.) The testament by so many rock celebrities to this guy (great footage and interviews!)

I saw it at Sundance and walked away very moved from the simple yet powerful story of Arthur and the whole band. The Dolls were/are revolutionary and notorious. But this movie will show you that these guys are real people...great people. And Arthur was a person you really got to know and love.

Contrary to a very small group of critics, there is in no way any proselytizing. The story tells itself. As Lyn Todd said in the film, "I'm always happy when someone finds something they can believe in." - Amen.

Watch this, buy this - it's THAT good!

I saw this movie in a crowded theater in Hollywood. From the looks of the audience, many were expecting a 'rockumentary'. Personally I didn't know what to expect. I just like to see lots of different kinds of movies, especially documentaries.

When the lights came up, there was hardly a dry eye in the house. But we weren't sad. We were smiling through our tears. Everyone around me had been profoundly affected by what we had seen on the screen. That sounds hokey, but I'm serious. No one got up for a while. It was as if we had to allow the impact of this powerful story sink in before we went on with our lives.

It's not about rock and roll, or religion, or groupies, or the price of fame - although it's about all of these things. It's a story of redemption. It's a story about holding onto a dream while everything else falls apart.

This movie is hilarious in parts and completely heartbreaking in others. Other times, it is a compelling backstage look at celebrity life with cameos by some very famous people. New York Doll can't be categorized, except to say "Go See It".

There is a reason that this movie is getting high praise. It's not the camera work, which is amateurish at best. It's not the careful planning, because if there ever was a case of a filmmaker stumbling on a perfect story, this is it. What makes this film so good is absolute honesty framing a near perfect story.

When I first started this dvd I was leery. It started with this guy, Arthur Kane, a stuttering former musician with a mostly failed life. He had achieved a level of acceptance as a convert to the Mormon Church which led to a simple life. As an employee of the Church at the Family History Center, he was leading a quiet life, a friendly life with people around him who accepted him for being Arthur and had no idea that he'd been the bass guitarist for the New York Dolls, the original glam-rock band. In his music days he was a hard-drinking wild dressing rock star with a penchant for excitement and a taste for the illicit.

As I said, I was leery. As a former Mormon, I was immediately suspect as the filmmaker included interviews with church authorities and Arthur's home teachers (as it turns out, the filmmaker himself was one of Arthur's home teachers, which explains his "right place at the right time" success in making a powerful documentary). Arthur stuttered through his explanations of his previous life and his conversion. He seemed unsure about everything in his life, an unlikely hero in any story much less his own.

But that changed with the revelation that Arthur was to go to a reunion concert in London being organized by Morrisey (formerly of the Smiths, now solo). Then we see Arthur revealing his history and discussing his anxiousness at being reunited with former bandmate and estranged friend David Johansen. Interviews proceed throughout by friends from the seventies, musicians who admired the Dolls and Arthur, and even his ex-wife whom he had beaten with cat furniture in a drunken rage before attempting suicide.

I admit that I got wrapped up in the movie and forgot all my trepidations, left behind with my own anxiety for Arthur "Killer" Kane. He hadn't played guitar in years and even had to borrow money to get his instruments out of perpetual hock at a local pawn shop. Would he be able to get into form, would he still "have it," would the tensions of reuniting be the major story, and would they actually get onto stage in London? All these questions became foremost in my mind, with Arthur's faith and the film making itself forgotten, just part of the scenery as it should be.

I can't really tell you any more, because it'll give away too much of a powerful story. I will say that he led his band-mates in prayer and I actually wanted to say Amen. And, I will say that I had tears in my eyes at the end. I will also say that if it'd been fiction, I'd have been screaming at the screen that it never happens that way in real life.

I'll also say, watch this movie.

- CV Rick