Harry Nilsson was the sort of performer your mother would’ve wanted you to be, assuming she didn’t know anything about Nilsson’s personal life, which she probably didn’t. Nilsson wrote pop songs that other singers were born to cover, although Nilsson himself had a voice that other performers would’ve died for, and of course many of them from that era actually did.
His quirkiness as a popular artist ensured the inconsistent sales of his albums, and at one time he was in danger of being remembered primarily as John Lennon’s drinking buddy during the latter’s extended lost weekend in Los Angeles in 1973. But quirkiness has a way of leading a second life, and perhaps this film will give that to Nilsson’s unique career.
From the press kit:
Directed by Emmy and Grammy nominee John Scheinfeld (The U.S. vs. John Lennon, We Believe), the powerful and incredibly emotional WHO IS HARRY NILSSON combines compelling interviews with Harry’s friends and colleagues, rare and never-before-seen archival footage, home movies and excerpts from Nilsson’s recently discovered oral autobiography.
The star-studded documentary features interviews with Micky Dolenz, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Al Kooper, Randy Newman, Yoko Ono, Van Dyke Parks, the Smothers Brothers, Jimmy Webb, Paul Williams, Robin Williams, Brian Wilson and many more as well as members of the Nilsson family. The result is a vibrant and definitive portrayal of an uncompromising artist.
– Lormer Films
