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New York Doll - The Story Of Arthur 'Killer' Kane Details

2005 Certificate 12
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 899 members

A recovering alcoholic and recently converted Mormon, Arthur "Killer" Kane, of the rock band The New York Dolls, is given a chance at reuniting with his band after 30 years. Read more

Starring New York Dolls
Director Greg Whiteley
Genres Documentary

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New York Doll - The Story Of Arthur 'Killer' Kane

A recovering alcoholic and recently converted Mormon, Arthur "Killer" Kane, of the rock band The New York Dolls, is given a chance at reuniting with his band after 30 years.

Starring New York Dolls
Director Greg Whiteley
Studio OPTIMUM HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 1 hr 18 mins
Certificate Certificate 12
Genres Documentary
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: 07 Aug 2006
Production year: 2005
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews of New York Doll - The Story Of Arthur 'Killer' Kane

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  • An exhilarating and moving doc about one of rock's great unsung heroes

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  • Most helpful member's review of New York Doll - The Story Of Arthur 'Killer' Kane

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  • 9 out of 11 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Moving and awe inspiring

    In 2004 Morrissey goaded 70s glam-punk band the New York Dolls into reforming for a festival. This film follows Arthur Kane, the band's bassist, in the lead up to the festival, telling the story of what happened since the Dolls split up and he faded into obscurity. He was madly jealous at seeing his former bandmates getting bit parts in minor 1980s movies, and despaired at his own failed attempts to re-enter show business. A difficult time involving alcoholism and a failed suicide bid followed. But somehow the film finds him stable, a librarian and mormon, a quiet man as he always had been -- 'the only living statue in rock and roll'.

    This is the only rockumentary I've ever enjoyed. Unlike the others (e.g. 'Dig') it doesn't just present us with some unpredictable violence, drug taking and other standard rock-star behaviours in the expectation that we'll be blown away by how out-there they are. It tells a genuinely interesting story, well. It is wonderful mainly because Arthur Kane is such a likeable character -- an island of modesty and solidity amongst the excesses and falseness of the scene he was a part of -- and because the film's lightness of touch allows you to discover this for yourself. It's also a good introduction to the New York Dolls. The footage of them is thrilling and makes you understand what the fuss was about (even if, like me, you were born after they split up and had hardly heard of them before).

      • A customer from Brighton, England
  • Most recent members' review of New York Doll - The Story Of Arthur 'Killer' Kane

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  • 9 out of 11 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Moving and awe inspiring

    In 2004 Morrissey goaded 70s glam-punk band the New York Dolls into reforming for a festival. This film follows Arthur Kane, the band's bassist, in the lead up to the festival, telling the story of what happened since the Dolls split up and he faded into obscurity. He was madly jealous at seeing his former bandmates getting bit parts in minor 1980s movies, and despaired at his own failed attempts to re-enter show business. A difficult time involving alcoholism and a failed suicide bid followed. But somehow the film finds him stable, a librarian and mormon, a quiet man as he always had been -- 'the only living statue in rock and roll'.

    This is the only rockumentary I've ever enjoyed. Unlike the others (e.g. 'Dig') it doesn't just present us with some unpredictable violence, drug taking and other standard rock-star behaviours in the expectation that we'll be blown away by how out-there they are. It tells a genuinely interesting story, well. It is wonderful mainly because Arthur Kane is such a likeable character -- an island of modesty and solidity amongst the excesses and falseness of the scene he was a part of -- and because the film's lightness of touch allows you to discover this for yourself. It's also a good introduction to the New York Dolls. The footage of them is thrilling and makes you understand what the fuss was about (even if, like me, you were born after they split up and had hardly heard of them before).

      • A customer from Brighton, England
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Rating breakdown

899 Member ratings
  • 100
134
  • 90
93
  • 80
202
  • 70
162
  • 60
111
  • 50
68
  • 40
45
  • 30
32
  • 20
35
  • 10
17

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    • A recovering alcoholic and recently converted Mormon, Arthur "Killer" Kane, of the rock band The New York Dolls, is given a chance at reuniting with his band after 30 years. ...