New York Doll

You needn't be a fan of rock ‘n' roll to be amused and moved by this 2005 documentary on Arthur “Killer” Kane, bass player for the early 1970s band the New York Dolls, forerunners of punk who seemed on the verge of major success before they disbanded in a haze of drugs, alcohol, and acrimony. Though Kane was luckier than some of the other band members (several died quite young), his follow-up musical efforts went nowhere, and he spiraled downward into self-destructive obscurity until 1989, when he converted to Mormonism and began working in the church's Family History Center Library in Los Angeles. Kane never gave up the dream of reuniting with the surviving Dolls (even though he'd been forced to pawn his guitars and was at odds with former lead singer David Johansen), so when an invitation came to join Johansen and guitarist Sylvain Sylvain for a performance at a London festival, he embraced the opportunity. Filmmaker Greg Whiteley (who'd met Kane at a church in L.A.) decided to record the now almost courtly, deeply religious ex-rocker's journey—from his decision to get his guitar out of hock, through the New York rehearsal sessions, and finally on to the London gig. While not downplaying Kane's eccentricity or the effect of his newfound religion, New York Doll neither turns him into a figure of fun nor a plaster saint, resulting in a film that's not only heartwarming but also more than a little poignant. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include a 19-minute bonus interview with Morrissey, an interview with director Greg Whiteley (6 min.), a two-minute segment featuring David Johansen playing a classic hymn, and trailers. Bottom line: a small but solid extras package for a fine documentary.] (F. Swietek)