AudioFileZ The New York Dolls. They make the success of The Ramones look massive. Truth is both bands didn't get nearly enough of their deserved airplay or record sales while they existed, The Dolls almost none in comparison. Many years of repeatedly new generations discovering these great bands rights the wrongs somewhat even if the artists pockets are still receiving only a pittance of what this music must be, in truth, generating. But, there's something beyond the old story of the starving hard working artist here. Unlike The Ramones The Dolls were but a blip on the radar as they shortly imploded among-st death, drugs, and an ever changing musical landscape. One of them left the music business entirely.As for history, it's fickle of course. In The Dolls case it had a coda that was positive. Morissey of The Smiths, an influential artist of the 90's, had the vision to get the surviving Dolls together again for at least one reunion show. It proved providentially wonderful as shown here, particularly for Arthur "Killer" Kane bassist for the band. Though he had been out of the business for approximately thirty years he had a wish that he could somehow reunite with his old mates. His story is a compelling one. A man who had found his Spiritual center he was very content living as an employee of The Mormon Church in a very modest way. Still it seems he had a need for a musical resolution, maybe more so with his old chum David Johansen. It really seems like a blessing for Arthur as this film simply tells. If the concert was for the fans it was more for Arthur and then for David and Sylvain in short order. It was a triumphant return to England where their famous TV appearance was called "mock rock" by host Bob Harris on November 26th 1973 and is where drummer Billy Murcia had died just a year earlier.Arthur as the film shows definitely had an inner peace about him. He was a very humble and kind soul it is clear. He may have needed some closure that never was as for his New York Dolls existence; it seems he was truly blessed and received it. In less than six months after the show he was becoming ill and received a serious diagnosis. Perhaps this final chapter was meant to be. It's truly uplifting how his church family supported this momentary return to his other life. They didn't down it or cast a shadow on it, instead fully supporting his wish to reunite his old band when given the chance. I think it made a good man more at peace and fulfilled. Filmmaker Greg Whiteley did a wonderful job of showing the special man and musician Arthur Kane was.

frankiecheezoli Mormons allow certain people; ones that are famous (Steve Young), have power (Mitt Romney, Harry Reid), come from the "right" pioneer family, etc. to pretty much do whatever they want. They are not expected to follow the Mormon social norms or the strict callings, teachings, and "check lists" of the Mormon gospel. Part of the sick Mormon culture is celebrity worship. ("Did you know Larry King's wife is a Mormon, oh that's so special to have one of us married to him, blah, blah, blah.")The former Mormon prophet, Spencer W. Kimball, commanded that every worthy, young man must serve a mission -- but Mormon NFL player Steve Young chose to be a football player, with the blessing of the church, instead of going on a Mormon mission -- and now he gives Mormon-sanctioned talks to Mormon young men about how a mission is the most important thing they can do. Mormon males are so pressured to go on missions that Utah has the highest youth male suicide rate. (Utah also has the highest antidepressant usage and other alarming social, health and financial statistics.)Simply, if Arthur hadn't ALREADY had success before he joined the Mormon church they would have FROWNED upon him trying to follow his rock 'n' roll dream -- and either would've shunned him or reprimanded him. Period.I suggest to anyone that is naive enough to disagree to JOIN THE MORMON (LDS) CHURCH and try to pursue a rock 'n' roll dream. ... Or any other dream that's doesn't provide a high return rate of tithing to the Mormon church. (This is why the Mormon-owned Brigham Young University excels and focuses on business education instead of humanitarian studies.)Let me repeat, Arthur (being a Mormon since 1989) was oppressed by the Mormon culture. Any natural "aggressiveness" and AMBITION that Arthur could've used to fulfill his dream sooner was stifled.The movie isn't about Arthur. It's made by a Mormon to show that a rock 'n' roll star is "one of us." It's made by a Mormon for Mormon public relations. The Mormon PR undertones were obnoxious and insulting to the viewers and to the subject. This is his directorial debut -- about a subject he knew nothing about and had no passion for. All to jump on that goofy, amateurish, short-lived "Mormon movie" bandwagon. He did now know the extent of Arthur's fame UNTIL Arthur told him (he was Arthur's "home teacher") about the upcoming reunion. There was no film planned before then. Nothing. ("Reunion? Fame? Hmm...")Cheap.(IMDB lists this as the one and only film of Mr. Whitely's. Hmm.)What the movie DID SHOW was that being a Mormon is conforming, disheartening, and a waste of life.The disgusting and inhumane comment from the elderly Mormon man at the end made my jaw drop. He said that it's good he died so he didn't have to suffer, etc. and HAVE MEDICAL BILLS. I hope god "blesses" me with an early death before I also get large amounts of medical bills too. If we're all lucky we can all die without large medical bills! A very common Mormon attitude. ("Opps, another kid died out mountain climbing on the Wasatch Front. That's okay, we have 5 more! He's in the Celestial Kingdom now and it was Heavenly Father's plan.")Watching the movie was difficult. The sleazy car salesmen-like Mormon Bishops and "home teacher" were obnoxiously sick, phony and pretentious. The movie left me sad and depressed, and it seems that's how Arthur lived the last part of his by being a Mormon -- like an uncountable amount of Mormons.There's way too much to write on this subject. Please visit exmormon.org to see what harm the Mormon church does to people, their families, and their emotional and financial health if you think the church is as open-minded as this "director" tries to portray.R.I.P. Arthur.

maupho I watched "New York Doll" with intense fascination and moment by moment trepidation, wondering at what point the staunch beliefs of the Mormon church would clash with the life of former rock star Arthur "Killer" Kane. To my utter surprise, as reflected by the "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" performance by David Johansen (which is one of the most brilliant juxtapositions ever in music), the empathetic sensitivities of Kane's rocker friends to his conversion to the church and the church's non-judgmental support of his life and dream of reuniting with "his friends" revealed a natural symbiosis I never thought I would see. It has literally renewed my faith in people!

ac65350 Wow...what a movie. Here's a guy that has been to hell and back and lived through it! Arthur Kane is warm, sensitive individual who pulled himself up from the bootstraps and was a rock and roll survivor. This movie is like a Rock And Roll Forrest Gump. I can't wait to purchase the movie when its out on the market. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't much on the other New York Dolls until the movie progressed and I fell in love with Arthur. And I know a lot about Jerry Nolan, Thunders, Johannsen and Sylvain, but Arthur was one of the Dolls I didn't know anything about. Don't walk to go see this movie, but run. Bring a friend and a tissue, and say a prayer after you see this movie for the NY Dolls.