New York Doll

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Starring: Arthur Kane
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Type: DVD
Directed By: Greg Whiteley
Studio: First Independent
Release Date: 2006-04-04
Arthur Kane of the legendary band the New York Dolls rockets to the top of the glam rock scene. Then with the death of a band member, the group bottoms out and eventually splits up. Arthur disappears from the music scene and in a surprising twist of fate, becomes a Mormon librarian. Years later, Morrissey (of the Smiths) offers Arthur the opportunity to go back into the spotlight and revisit a life he thought was lost forever. New York Doll is a heartfelt story about second chances and an incredible music journey.

Attention Garage Rockers, Moz Lovers, and Mormons!
How do you go wrong with a documentary about the New York Dolls, Morrissey, and Mormonism? Yes, the film NEW YORK DOLL offers this all, but more importantly, it offers the truly bittersweet story of one man who's ultimate wish is fulfilled just when he needs it most.

You'll learn the story of Arthur Kane, who tasted rock glory as the bassist for the New York Dolls, only to lose it all as the group imploded in a storm of addiction, egos, and too much too soon. Arthur was left with a terrible drinking problem, and the memory of once being on top of the world, one that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

Luckily, Arthur has two guardian angels, Morrissey and Mormonism. After losing everything he had and turning into a complete drunk, Arthur manages to get sober and find stable, although slightly less glamorous employment, based on his dedication to the Church of Mormon. With the help of his faith, he lives a quiet peaceful life but constantly dreams of reuiniting with his old bandmates to reclaim their glory that was cut short way too soon.

Now enter Arthur's second guardian angel, one many might argue is much holier than the Church of Mormon and happens to be the NY Dolls biggest fan- Morrissey. When he's given the chance to organize a music festival, Morrissey invites the Dolls to play, which means Arthur's wish will be answered- his band will reunite and he'll experience rock stardom once again.

I don't want to give too much away, but NEW YORK DOLL is a film full of impossible turns, some glorious and some tragic. Besides the astonishing plot, another great element of this film is the dynamics of the personalities involved. Arthur's lifestyle when he reuinites with his bandmates in 2004 is a lot different from the one he led in the 1970s, but with the help of his sweet demeanor he's accepted for the church loving library that he's become. Another bonus to the film are terrific interviews with Morrissey describing the impact music can have on someone's life and explaining why it meant so much to him to bring the Dolls back together.

This film is a must for Moz fans, Dolls fans, or anyone at all! Don't miss NEW YORK DOLL.

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."

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...

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.

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.