Lonely Boy

I have seen Lonely Boy dozens of times, primarily because the student cinema guild in Ann Arbor appears to have owned a print of it and inserted this into the program whenever a short was needed. I was therefore amazed to recognize scenes quoted directly from Lonely Boy in the Jeanne Shrimpton somewhat forgettable film "Privilege" which appeared and vanished in 1968 or so. I have never established who or why these quotes appear, but I would love to know more.

Talk about wholesome! One fan has 555 photos of this fella on her wall and parents and screaming youngsters seem to have taken to this charming and handsome young man with equal enthusiasm. This documentary follows this man from Ottawa to Atlantic city stardom - in just five years. He isn't exactly camera shy, down to his underwear in the first five minutes as he rather hastily prepares to go on stage - even is his appearance features a completely different suit - continuity I guess. "The bells were ringing, the birds were singing" - no, his lyrics aren't exactly challenging but when he gives an interview, he comes across as a decent lad who grew up, shed 170lbs, and turned himself into an heart-throb. He's quite candid about his appeal. He reckons 60% of his success comes from his perceived sex appeal, and he doesn't mind that at all, trying to stop and chat with fans when he can. Irvin Feld, his manager, is honest is admitting that even at just nineteen, his act has already had a nose job! We follow his career as it takes him to some of the big clubs where his personality was minting his cash for him. A born entertainer - and a schmoozer too. He is clearly very comfortable around people and the cameras, and it does look natural as he rehearses - solo and with his band, jokes and at times comes across as very Elvis-esque. It's maybe a touch adulatory, and the contributors who feature do tend to big him up just a little too much, but on the evidence of the crowds we see and on the sizeable chunks of his performances included, this is a man going places with an acting career surely on the cards.

You can see the influence this film has had on countless other documentaries, and even feature length films, when you watch it. The jittery, being right there style that is presented in this film was very new at the time it was made, and it was good. It wasn't merely presenting the facts, but presenting them in a way that shapes how the audience will react to them.

I thought the film was really exciting, even in 2003, and it is an inspiration.

If you're wondering why Paul Anka refuses to throw in the towel and admit that his time in the spotlight is over (have you heard his recent rendition of "Eye of the Tiger" sung as if he's performing in a piano lounge?) just watch "Lonely Boy" for your answer.

How could anyone keep their head firmly below the clouds when they're surrounded by yes-men--fans and managers alike--proclaiming that they're the next best thing to the coming of the Messiah? I think my favorite moment comes when Anka's manager tells the camera, in all seriousness, that Anka is the most important artist since Shakespeare.

All of the people in this are unintentionally hilarious, but the documentary as a whole is a rather sad look at one man's brief moment at the peak of his fame and his refusal to let it go.

Grade: A

Many of the great documentaries and shorts made by the National Film Board of Canada are not well known even in their native country. I read about this film in the Oxford History of World Cinema (pp.733, 734) and was lucky enough to see it on television. This is no mere educational experience as so many documentaries are, but a true work of art. The imagery and the use of music (even though I am not a huge Paul Anka fan) are striking. There is no better study of teen idols and their effect on fans (mostly teenage girls). The directors, Wolf Koenig and Roman Kroiter, should be granted far more recognition.