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New York Doll

1 disc
Region 1 USA/CA (info)

Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, Greg Whiteley's NEW YORK DOLL is a revealing look at a simple, humble man who was once caught up in the maelstrom of sex, drugs, and rock & roll. In the early 1970s, the New York Dolls became an underground sensation, dressing up in outrageous clothing and blasting a new kind of glam rock that would leave a lasting legacy. In 2004, British superstar Morrissey asked the surviving Dolls--David Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain, and Arthur "Killer" Kane--to reunite for the first time in 30 years. However, during the intervening decades, Kane had lived a very different kind of life, having become a devout Mormon, following a bizarre suicide attempt. This fascinating documentary follows Kane, showing him to be a sweet, slow-talking, calm, relatively ordinary man who works in a Mormon library, rides the bus, and lives a rather mundane existence--especially for a former rock star. Kane is completely forthcoming with Whiteley, a fellow Mormon, discussing his ups and downs, his hopes and dreams, and his deep-seated faith, in a heart-wrenching film that includes plenty of great footage of the Dolls as well as interviews with Morrissey, Johansen, Sir Bob Geldof, Chrissie Hynde, and a riotous pair of women who worked with Kane at the Mormon Family History Center Library.
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Additional Info

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): F10130
Critic Reviews

"Greg Whiteley's small, tender documentary portrait NEW YORK DOLL looks at life after rock 'n' roll as experienced by Arthur Kane, the original bassist for the legendary glam-punk band the New York Dolls."
New York Times
"[Kane] remains haunted by demons of failure....[A] modestly touching journey..." -- Grade: B
Entertainment Weekly
"As far as rock docs go, this is top-shelf stuff, all the way to the heartfelt reunion concert..."
Movieline's Hollywood Life
3.5 stars out of 4 -- "[A] sad and funny doc about Kane's unlikely journey to find peace of mind and one final moment of fame."
Rolling Stone
4 stars out of 4 -- "With respect and sympathy, NEW YORK DOLL portrays a man who balances the incongruity of mourning his lost life in rock and thriving in his new life at church."
Mojo
4 stars out of 5 -- "Don't be surprised if you leave the cinema in tears. A beautiful film about a beautiful soul."
Uncut
"[Whitley] offers an affectionate but unsentimental sketch of a slightly bewildered but spirited Kane."
Sight and Sound
3 stars out of 5 -- "A celebratory film of the late rocker that is both touching and tragic."
Ultimate DVD