New York Doll (2005)

Sincerely I remain, Arthur Kane

In his eulogy as song "NY Doll", Robyn Hitchock sang, "People touch you. How do I explain?" This sentiment could also apply to this truly wonderful look at the life, more the latter life, of Arthur "The Killer" Kane. And what an intriguing picture it paints of this former New York Doll and glam/punk-rock icon. The Arthur Kane most of us knew was the bedazzled, lurching creature that anchored the New York Dolls in the 1970s, a quiet foil to David Johansen's flamboyant stage persona (think of the dynamic between John Entwhistle and Roger Daltry, or lack thereof, and you get the idea). In fact, Kane was once referred to as "the only living statue in rock-and-roll."

But this film brings Kane into sharp focus in the early 2000s. Not the drug casualty that rumor had him to be, and certainly not anything like his former self in the Dolls, aside from the lumbering, stoic demeanor being still evident. No, the Killer was alive & well, a recovering alcoholic who had been sober for years, and was now working as a volunteer librarian in the genealogy center at the Los Angeles Temple for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is truly an odd vision to see this man, known for his outlandish glam attire and frothy hairdo, appearing as a way more than normal man in a white dress shirt and tie. And that's where the film starts to get really interesting.

To say more would do an injustice to the beauty of this tale of Kane's last years. Needless to say, though, it is a true story that is both sad and heart-warming in the most human and least expected of ways. "People matter," Robyn Hitchcock sang, "and then they go again." May 19, 2008

Touching...

I am just so fascinated and in love with this story.

I have caught it twice on Showtime...I know the New York Dolls, I was too young to have discovered them in the '70's. Well, ok, truth be told I was an 8-year old busy trying to be Major Tom of "Space Oddity"...so I overlooked the Dolls.

But in the 1980's discovered them and loved them. I got a chance to see David Johanson live pre-Buster Poindexter and also saw Johnny Thunders. So those were the only two Dolls I knew of.

I have re-discovered them AGAIN, having seen them just this past February (2008) in Chicago. Wow. They are just as good as ever...Syl Sylvain, and the new guitarist Steve Conte...of course Syl is a legend also and the new guitarist is fantastic. Even looks a bit like Johnny did back in the day.

I knew *of* Arthur "Killer" Kane, but that was all until I saw this documentary. I am enthralled.

There is a great deal of old Dolls footage, and I love the interviews of Chrissie Hynde, Sir Bob Geldof, and Morrissey. These are the artists I really grew up idolizing in the '80's.

I dont'want to give away too much about the film. Everyone else has covered the details. The guitars in the pawn shop, Arthur's conversion to Mormon, the reunion concert in London...everything.

Everyone knows Arthur has passed away. But the way it happened....incredible.Just amazing.

Everything in this man's life was *so* meant to be. There are no ifs, ands or buts. That makes it so touching. He was such a sweet and gentle man. And a *Killer* bass player. I wish I would have had the chance to have seen him in person, as well.

Arthur, you were one in a million. Count me among your fans...and I hope we will meet someday... April 21, 2008

Doll Redux Redemption

Many great reasons abound to watch the film "New York Doll," about the weirdo world of Arthur Kane. It's an accurate documentary on a difficult subject with which to be objective: the post-rock-stardom life of a well known musician who bottomed out without financial success. Kane had been by far the weirdest individual of one of America's weirdest bands after all.

It provides the only cool footage of Kane's band, the legendary USA glamsters of the early 1970's The New York Dolls, besides Bob Gruen's excellent, exhaustively documented "All Dolled Up."

It's a true bridge between organized religion and rock & roll craziness, the Apollonian/Dionysian ideal, insofar as the filmmaker, a fellow Mormon like the film's subject, had to travel the same psychic distance to understand Kane as Kane had to in order to understand his newly embraced religion.

It shows the New York Dolls reunion in London's 2004 Meltdown, fun in itself, with footage of an astonishing insight of understanding backstage. Flamboyantly extroverted lead singer David Johansen immediately intuits that he's gone too far teasing Kane about the latter's newly embraced religion, instantaneously does an about face, backs off and joins in Kane's pre-gig band prayer. I like this.

Kane passed away within days of the reunion. Luckily this testament to his redemption remains. March 4, 2008

Rock Redemption

I heard about the movie and ended up luckily going to the premier in Salt Lake. The Dolls are a little before my time but I was aware of them and their influence. I completely loved this film, it is pretenseless, pure and riveting. I was unaware of the ending before hand and found myself touched by it. Well done. December 27, 2007

A great documentary...

I caught this documentary on the Sundance channel and had to buy a copy. I remember the Dolls from high school and had their albums. Other than David Johanssen, I hadn't known what happened to the other Dolls.

Arthur "Killer" Kane is now a hero of mine. I haven't ever seen such a humble and gentle soul in my life. To come back from the brink of insanity is fantastic. To live a life that by most people's standards is not much, and yet do it with true humility is incredible.

I was also touched by the Mormon church's involvement in Kane's later life. I don't want to reveal much, but for them to get Kane's guitars out of hock so he could play was very moving. I have greater respect for the church for the way they dealt with Kane. They were incredible themselves.

A truly great documentary...Rest in Peace Arthur Kane. August 3, 2007

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